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March 17 1973
Many companies plan to host product
and artist presentations, including A&M, Ampex, Avenue of
America, Capitol, Columbia, GRT, London, Quality, RCA, UA, La
Buick Sound and WEA. In addition, Avenue of America will host
a dinner gala, featuring Abraham's Children, Rose, David George,
Greg Mitler and Side Effect. The Maple System will hold its annual
meeting (closed to nonmembers) during the conference.
The Police Busted
- Two members of the
band The Police were busted outside a concert hall in Hamilton,
Ontario. The lead singer bass player and keyboardist for the
group...(read More)
THE SILENCE THAT
ROARED - He
was a military man, a father, a husband and an individual that
reached out and captured his dream. The tall trees becam...(read More)
MY DINNER WITH LIBERACE Sittng on the edge of the bed in my Toronto
apartment, I pulled on my black jeans and Beatle boots. Looking
in the mirror, I ...(read More)
ELTON JOHN SAVES
THE DAY - It was a cold day. I really don't remember
what day it was, only that the night before was filled with all
the things that make up rock n' roll...(read
More)
Trippy trippy hippie dah dah. MANNA
was one of the first bands that Jimi put together. Along with
Chet Paszkowski on drums and Bruce Palait on guitar, the trio
would rehearse vigorously everyday in the basement of...(read
more)
Live at Hollywood On The Queensway
in Toronto, Ontario Canada. The band kicked off their Canadian
dates at this famous rock landmark. AC performed all their hits
including material from their latest cd 30. The new cd is filled
with cuts that have never been released, a couple of live songs
and some radio interviews.This disc also includes a 16 page booklet
with lots of neat pictures and stories. After the show the group
met with dedicated fans that waited with CD's, albums, books
and pictures hoping to get autographs and chat.Over the years
Abraham's Children went through some musical changes as well
as members , but the essence of the music still remains. The
meet and greet saw fans of all ages .The band plans on taking
a couple of days off and then continue on the road. Manager Marisa
Lang explained that many dates are being added and the possibilities
of Europe are looking good.
Canadian Cold Cuts - Jimi B (A&M) Jimi Bertucci's first album since
leaving Abraham's Children and Angel is worthy of his potential
as a solo artist, but its variety has left his style too vague
to establish a focal point. The two-sided-split concept he attempts
here is emphasized by the cover photography -- wave experiments
and sweet rock. Side one is fast and trendy, but falters at Shake
and Touch Me when he mixes the wrong ingredients, starting with
the basic riffs. Honourable mention goes to O'Dee an account
of Jimi's experience with a hermaphrodite that is as weird as
it's unique. The flip side belongs to AM and FM respectively
with ballads Wickless Dynamite and Strange Feeling displaying
a strong point in his writing and AOP anthem, All American Boy,
flashing his capability for an honest rocker. He penned all the
songs except Red White and Blue and Shake which were co-written
with BB Gabor. This album will probably receive lukewarm reception
from the consumers but with radio support it is the type to catch
on quickly into a brush fire. Although Jimi offers us nothing
revolutionary, he has battered freshness into his form of today's
music trends. His next step is to patent himself as a musician
of impressive variety and unique style, as is apparent in this
album. Rating Good (By Lola)
Harvey is still pursuing
his comedy schtick and Maury is there to support him. Although
his humor needs work or perhaps a writer.Harvey insists that
he made the right choice.
A WOW2210
PRODUCTION
Keith Elshaw
In The Grooves - Q107 FM Jimi B. Jimi B A
& M 9069 - Jimi ( Bertucci ) B's career has been incubating
for 10 years since he fronted " Abraham's Children, "
a band which had a lot of success in Canada. Through ups and
downs he has been writing material which documents a young man's
odyssey through the streets, his encounters with society's special
cases, his romantic dreams, and philosophical notations. A bassist
primarily, his music has a rhythmic attitude which is appealing.
The lyrics are catchy, poetic, topical. Jimi seems to be the
kind of performer we expect to be a star and sing to us about
our vulnerability whilst living in the grand style. He sounds
more like a New Yorker than a Torontonian- or maybe it 's just
that now we've grown up and can produce and recognize star qualities
in ourselves. Jimi B is a classy artist, and his debut album
should be well received, because it is all in the grooves
THE RECORD REVIEWS Jimi B - Jimi B A&m
SP -9069 Jimi Bertucci is a veteran songwriter on the Canadian
scene, and when he chooses to rock this album is first-rate -
check Red White & Blue, Shake and All American Boy, which
is a string AM grabber, Much of the rest, however meanders badly
and has little substance - if the artist could live up to the
promise of the three cuts mentioned, he's be a major star. Meanwhile,
All American Boy is one of the best rock songs of the last 12
months.*** (photoby
Josh Krogan)
Jimi B. (which is for Bertucci)
is another Canadian who is heading up the ladder of success.
It has taken Jimi 10 years to be called an overnight sensation,
but he is finally attaining a certain amount of that elusive
quantity know as stardom. For anyone who feels he might be a
trivia freak, it was Jimi B. who started Abraham's Children,
and yes it was their Goddess Of Nature that was released on the
United Artists Records. Score top marks for getting both those
right. Anyway, Jimi's self titled album on A&M Records should
help introduce him to some new fans. While there are some losers
here (Shake) there are some winners like All American Boy and
some good songs that are on the border of good (Bodies In The
River, Strange Feeling). The set will not be a runnaway hit,
but could garner a fair amount of interest. Barry Sweeney. (self portrait)
MUSIC EXPRESS JIMI B
A&M
9060 With his self-titled album Jimi B has decided once again
to venture out into the touchy world of rock. Jimi Bertucci started
out with Abraham's Children in the early 70s and managed a couple
of Canadian hits including, Good-bye Farewell in 1972 and Gypsy
in 1973. Jimi B hasn't recorded since Goddess of Nature in 1975.
For his first album, the Toronto native has enlisted BB Gabor
and other top session musicians. Gabor is probably best remembered
for capturing the publics imagination a couple of years ago with
Metropolitan Life and Soviet Jewellery. Handling all the song
writing and production Jimi B comes up with a pleasant album
of rockers that rely on catchy hooks, while his singing strains
to catch the sincerity of singerslike Springsteen and John Cougar.
Jimi B's preoccupation with the American Dream makes Red White
& Blue and All American Boy seem a bit contrived for a Canadian
kid. However Touch Me and Wickless Dynamite are standouts on
the positive side of the spectrum. (photo
Pickering High School circa 60s)
SOUND ADVICE By Brian
Wakil Artist: Jimi B
Album: Jimi B Label: A&M SP9069 Leave it to Toronto to produce
another fresh breeze in what has lately become a progressively
stale North American scene. Jimi B is an artist and album that
flaunts very periodic flashes of imagination in writing and performance.
In fact, Jimi B. could quite possibly be the most exportable
Canadian musical talent this year, unless something dramatic
surfaces. With the assistance of well known Toronto performers,
BB Gabor and Prakash John, the album becomes a veritable catapult
of influence and style. The moments of excitement out number
the more mainstream two to one. If the Cars hadn't lost direction
and interest and was still producing albums as progressive and
interesting as its first, it would probably not sound unlike
Jimi B. The big difference here is that Jimi B hasn't yet sacrificed
inventiveness for strict formula. News Advertiser
Now Magazine - Jimi B's Schizo JIMI B (A&M) Rating: NN Toronto's Jimi
B. might have only one name but he's got two musical personalities,
on this his first A&M record. Side one is a painful collection of music
which Jimi and his buddies B.B. Gabor and others sound like Cars-clones
(and the Cars don't even do good Cars these days). The first
side is full of annoying . vocal gimmicks and non melodic songs
reminiscent of bad B.B. Gabor. Gabor doesn't do Jimi any favors
by bringing along a tedious song Shake from his latest album.
Toronto's hottest bassist, Prakash John provides the only interesting
moments here. On side two Jimi does a complete turnaround and
moves from doing used Cars to classic Canuck-pop-rock in the
Prism, Saga, Loverboy mode. Lots of soaring vocals and "uplifting
guitar breaks". While not my cup of tea, it's pleasant stuff
and All American Boy should be the first single from the album.
There's some nice flashy guitar work, Jimi stops messing around
with his vocals and lets his pleasant voice shine through. Michael
Hollett ( photo by google)
ROCK LINES By Dirk Kiy Jimi B Jimi B Fist Fleet Street Furnished by A&M
Records - Although Canadian bands don't nearly get the amount
of push and air time that American and British rock bands do,
There are some very impressive homegrown bands going. Such in
the case with the new Jimi B album. Unfortunately with the good,
there is quite often, the not so good, and the Fist album falls
under that category. Let's start with the better album. Jimi
Bertucci was raised in "Little Italy" in Toronto and
has had some success back in the seventies with a band that some
of you may remember, called Abraham's Children, who's :Goddess
of Nature received some airplay. Jimi B has now come back with
a dynamite debut solo album which he wrote, produced and does
all the singing on. This is a Canadian album all the way, being
recorded in Toronto, and using some fine Canadian musicians,
such as bass player Prakash John (best known for his work with
Alice Cooper) and the fast rising BB Gabor. The album has a multitude
of different sounds, but side one is all new wave, from the very
strange start of "Red White and Blue," with its hints
of Peter Gabriel to the Cars - like "O Dee" which closes
the side.The other two cuts on the opening side are not as strong
as the two mentioned, but they are definitely - different.The
lyrics are sharp and witty from " she knows what to say
she knows what to do, she's sticking to me like crazy glue"
to "O Dee's" sex change subject matter. Side two is
more standard in musical terms, but it is super not a weak cut
on it. "All American Boy" is a great cut complete with
a real nice guitar break and background singing."Strange
Feeling" is slow, very pretty number, that is perfect AM
material, not meaning it's poppy, just a great song. A vocoder
serves as the voice of "Unit 1980" a robot "motivated
by the future". This is sneakingly. reminiscent of Nick
Gilder. (photo by google)
By Nick Krewen For NightLife: Now here's a real blast from the past--- remember
the hits Goodbye Farewell and Gypsy? If you replied Abraham's
Children, go to the head of the class. Better yet, if you answered
Abraham's Children, why not just go see them instead tonight
atthe Lil Big Horn. It'll be their first show in this area since
1976. " I think it was 1976," replies singer Jimi Bertucci
53, from Los Angeles, who co-founded the Toronto pop band as
a high schooler. " That was probably our last tour of Canada."
That was also the year Bertucci left the band, which had signed
to United Artists Records and was operating under the name The
Children, to go solo. He released one album as Jimi B on A&M
before leaving dor Los Angeles and forming the bands Angel (not
the Gregg Guiffria-led unit) and Space Patrol before returning
to his solo career... and, as fate would have it a few decades
later, a refurbished Abraham's Children
Wallaceburg News Weekender - Bertucci has been announced for almost a decade.
His original band Abraham's Children who had three albums released
but shortly after the third album in 1975 the band dismembered.
Since then he has been traveling around, continuing to write
and produce until last year when he returned to Toronto to sign
with A&M. His debut album features some good Canadian artists;
bassist Prakash John, guitarists BB Gabor and Peter Follett,
and keyboardist Jody Colero. Best cuts - Shake, Touch Me, Strange
Feeling, Unit No.1980. Jimi B is on his way be sure to get a
listen to the new sounds and new songs of Jimi B. Kathie Evenson
Corremio Certosa 2005
Premiato insieme a Cordiano,
Simonetta e BarillariÈ arrivato in Canada a 6 anni con
una chitarra per bambini di plastica e ora è uno dei più
grandi interpreti della musica pop e rock del Nordamerica. È
Jimi (Vincenzo) Bertucci, nato a Serra San Bruno in Calabria
nel 1951. Sabato 22 ottobre è il suo compleanno e domenica
23 gli viene assegnato il premio Certosa 2005 per il suo "eccezionale
contributo all'arte" dall'Associazione San Bruno. Insieme
a lui, per il 2005 saranno premiati presso il Renaissance Parque,
al n? 2800 della Hwy 7 W., a Concord, il ministro provinciale
per lo Sviluppo Economico, Joseph Cordiano, Michael Simonetta
e Domenico Barillari.Bertucci, nell'intervista rilasciata al
Corriere, rivive con intensa commozione il suo viaggio nel 1956
dalla Calabria verso il Canada e la sua successiva affermazione."Il
giorno prima suonavo la mia chitarra giocattolo sul balcone di
casa mia a Serra San Bruno e il giorno dopo ero sulla nave La
Roma diretto in Canada. Lassù mi sono anche perso e mia
madre dopo che io l'ho ritrovata, per la gioia mi baciava, mi
abbracciava ma mi dava anche qualche scapaccione". "Abbiamo
abitato a Grace Street - racconta - vicino la chiesa di San Francesco,
su College e lì ho affrontato il difficile inserimento
nella realtà canadese. Ho lottato a scuola per superare
le differenze che c'erano. Non parlavo inglese e vestivo con
i vestiti italiani che mia madre mi dava; finché un giorno,
per non sentirmi diverso ho chiesto ai miei di darmi i jeans
e le scarpe da ginnastica". Dal suo racconto, Bertucci fa
emergere il suo carattere forte e determinato. "Ascoltavo
la radio e ho detto: voglio anch'io "entrare in radio"".
E Vincenzo Bertucci ha realizzato il suo sogno grazie alla collaborazione
dei suoi genitori che lo hanno assecondato. "La svolta è
arrivata nel 1964. Vado al negozio Julio music store - continua
- vicino all'angolo dove ora c'è il Diplomatico e il proprietario
mi fa vedere una chitarra elettrica, la Hofner, come quella dei
Beatles e mi chiede se mi piaceva. Mi brillavano gli occhi e
dico di sì e quello, facendomi quasi svenire mi dice:
prendila è tua. I tuoi genitori l'hanno prenotata per te tre mesi fa
e finalmente è arrivata". "A 15 anni poi decido
di non andare a scuola e dedicarmi completamente alla musica.
I miei non si oppongono alla mia decisione".A raggiungere
il successo, a insegnargli la musica e a insegnargli a suonare
il mandolino, la chitarra e la fisarmonica ci ha pensato suo
zio Salvatore.Bertucci da allora ha sempre composto la sua musica
e ha scritto i suoi testi.Nel suo ultimo cd Passion & Innocence,
fatto col suo gruppo Abraham's Children racconta i suoi ultimi
30 anni di vita professionale e racconta soprattutto la vita
a College e Grace Street. In questo cd, c'è anche una
canzone in italiano. "Si chiama Sempre - dice Bertucci -è
una canzone d'amore e l'ho scritta e dedicata a mia nipote che
si sposava. Era il mio regalo di nozze".Ma Bertucci, con
un'altra canzone ha fatto felice anche un'altra donna: sua madre
a cui nel 1972 dedicò la prima canzone in italiano: Bye,
bye bambina occhi blu. Uno dei tanti successi come Goodbye Farewell,
Gypsy, Thank you. Data pubblicazione: 2005-10-19Indirizzo pagina
originale: http://www.corriere.com/viewstory.php?storyid=44709
The Standard
JIMI B - Jimi B is actually Jimi Bertucci, the
active ingredient behind the defunct Abraham's Children, a band
that spent many an evening dodging fists at the illustrious downtown
Montebello Inn and Casualty Centre. Jimi's still pretty face
tells me he's held up his guard with some determination over
the years. This album is a reminder that Toronto has plenty more
good music to offer.
Los Angeles
Times
- The opening act local rocker
Jimi B. was as obtuse and impenetrable as the Rankins' set was
direct and accessible. A long time Toronto resident who said
he has been living in Orange County for about 10 years, Jimi
B. (Bertucci) led his four cohorts through a handful of meandering
original songs that included traces of 70s' rock a la Steely
Dan or Todd Rundgren with neither the sophisticated chops of
the former nor the pop catchiness of the latter.
Go ahead and make a statement..
fashion to soothe the mind.
DYK that handsome model above is Adam Lang..you
guessed it. Adam currently
scored a 98 in math.
ADVERTISE WITH US FOR ONLY 10.00
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THE BLOG
VOV Bill I would not waste
my time or money to see a hacker like you on the big screen.
It's bad enough I accidentally see you on TV and that irks me
deeply. Why don't you try washing your hair…you see Bill,
with HD television we can all see your ugliness, physically and
what's in that small pea of a brain. Bill am I being too hard?
Gee!....(order
the book)
AMGOLO DELLA MUSICA LEGGERA - a cura di: Mario Marasco - E' I'unico
cantante Italiano residente in Canada che attualmente sta riscuotendo
successo anche ne campoinglese. Capeggia il complesso de; "
Abraham's Children" ed oltre ad essere un ottima impostazione
di voce che le permette di interpretare divinamente sia i pezzi
ritmici che melodici. I componenti del complesso sono: Brian
Cotterill, Ron Bartley, Jim Bertucci e Bob McPherson: Il complesso
appartiene all scuderia della: "Avenue of America Records
Ltd." E' stato emesso il primo 45 girl dal la G.A.S. Records
- un grande sucesso americano tradatto
James Bert Publishing Since
1973
Whether you are
producing a multi-million dollar commercial or a small budget
film, James
Bert Publishing can
provide a catalog of songs and music that can compliment the
end results.Since 1973 we have been producing hit-making music.
Drop us an email and let us be part of
your next winning project.
Canadian Cold Cuts - Jimi B (A&M) Jimi Bertucci's first album since leaving Abraham's Children and Angel is worthy of his potential as a solo artist, but its variety has left his style too vague to establish a focal point. The two-sided-split concept he attempts here is emphasized by the cover photography -- wave experiments and sweet rock. Side one is fast and trendy, but falters at Shake and Touch Me when he mixes the wrong ingredients, starting with the basic riffs. Honourable mention goes to O'Dee an account of Jimi's experience with a hermaphrodite that is as weird as it's unique. The flip side belongs to AM and FM respectively with ballads Wickless Dynamite and Strange Feeling displaying a strong point in his writing and AOP anthem, All American Boy, flashing his capability for an honest rocker. He penned all the songs except Red White and Blue and Shake which were co-written with BB Gabor. This album will probably receive lukewarm reception from the consumers but with radio support it is the type to catch on quickly into a brush fire. Although Jimi offers us nothing revolutionary, he has battered freshness into his form of today's music trends. His next step is to patent himself as a musician of impressive variety and unique style, as is apparent in this album. Rating Good (By Lola)
Harvey is still pursuing his comedy schtick and Maury is there to support him. Although his humor needs work or perhaps a writer.Harvey insists that he made the right choice.
Jimi B. (which is for Bertucci) is another Canadian who is heading up the ladder of success. It has taken Jimi 10 years to be called an overnight sensation, but he is finally attaining a certain amount of that elusive quantity know as stardom. For anyone who feels he might be a trivia freak, it was Jimi B. who started Abraham's Children, and yes it was their Goddess Of Nature that was released on the United Artists Records. Score top marks for getting both those right. Anyway, Jimi's self titled album on A&M Records should help introduce him to some new fans. While there are some losers here (Shake) there are some winners like All American Boy and some good songs that are on the border of good (Bodies In The River, Strange Feeling). The set will not be a runnaway hit, but could garner a fair amount of interest. Barry Sweeney. (self portrait)
MUSIC EXPRESS JIMI B A&M 9060 With his self-titled album Jimi B has decided once again to venture out into the touchy world of rock. Jimi Bertucci started out with Abraham's Children in the early 70s and managed a couple of Canadian hits including, Good-bye Farewell in 1972 and Gypsy in 1973. Jimi B hasn't recorded since Goddess of Nature in 1975. For his first album, the Toronto native has enlisted BB Gabor and other top session musicians. Gabor is probably best remembered for capturing the publics imagination a couple of years ago with Metropolitan Life and Soviet Jewellery. Handling all the song writing and production Jimi B comes up with a pleasant album of rockers that rely on catchy hooks, while his singing strains to catch the sincerity of singerslike Springsteen and John Cougar. Jimi B's preoccupation with the American Dream makes Red White & Blue and All American Boy seem a bit contrived for a Canadian kid. However Touch Me and Wickless Dynamite are standouts on the positive side of the spectrum. (photo Pickering High School circa 60s)
SOUND ADVICE By Brian Wakil Artist: Jimi B Album: Jimi B Label: A&M SP9069 Leave it to Toronto to produce another fresh breeze in what has lately become a progressively stale North American scene. Jimi B is an artist and album that flaunts very periodic flashes of imagination in writing and performance. In fact, Jimi B. could quite possibly be the most exportable Canadian musical talent this year, unless something dramatic surfaces. With the assistance of well known Toronto performers, BB Gabor and Prakash John, the album becomes a veritable catapult of influence and style. The moments of excitement out number the more mainstream two to one. If the Cars hadn't lost direction and interest and was still producing albums as progressive and interesting as its first, it would probably not sound unlike Jimi B. The big difference here is that Jimi B hasn't yet sacrificed inventiveness for strict formula. News Advertiser
Now Magazine - Jimi B's Schizo JIMI B (A&M) Rating: NN Toronto's Jimi B. might have only one name but he's got two musical personalities, on this his first A&M record.
Side one is a painful collection of music which Jimi and his buddies B.B. Gabor and others sound like Cars-clones (and the Cars don't even do good Cars these days). The first side is full of annoying . vocal gimmicks and non melodic songs reminiscent of bad B.B. Gabor. Gabor doesn't do Jimi any favors by bringing along a tedious song Shake from his latest album. Toronto's hottest bassist, Prakash John provides the only interesting moments here. On side two Jimi does a complete turnaround and moves from doing used Cars to classic Canuck-pop-rock in the Prism, Saga, Loverboy mode. Lots of soaring vocals and "uplifting guitar breaks". While not my cup of tea, it's pleasant stuff and All American Boy should be the first single from the album. There's some nice flashy guitar work, Jimi stops messing around with his vocals and lets his pleasant voice shine through. Michael Hollett ( photo by google)
ROCK LINES By Dirk Kiy Jimi B Jimi B Fist Fleet Street Furnished by A&M Records - Although Canadian bands don't nearly get the amount of push and air time that American and British rock bands do, There are some very impressive homegrown bands going. Such in the case with the new Jimi B album. Unfortunately with the good, there is quite often, the not so good, and the Fist album falls under that category. Let's start with the better album. Jimi Bertucci was raised in "Little Italy" in Toronto and has had some success back in the seventies with a band that some of you may remember, called Abraham's Children, who's :Goddess of Nature received some airplay. Jimi B has now come back with a dynamite debut solo album which he wrote, produced and does all the singing on. This is a Canadian album all the way, being recorded in Toronto, and using some fine Canadian musicians, such as bass player Prakash John (best known for his work with Alice Cooper) and the fast rising BB Gabor. The album has a multitude of different sounds, but side one is all new wave, from the very strange start of "Red White and Blue," with its hints of Peter Gabriel to the Cars - like "O Dee" which closes the side.The other two cuts on the opening side are not as strong as the two mentioned, but they are definitely - different.The lyrics are sharp and witty from " she knows what to say she knows what to do, she's sticking to me like crazy glue" to "O Dee's" sex change subject matter. Side two is more standard in musical terms, but it is super not a weak cut on it. "All American Boy" is a great cut complete with a real nice guitar break and background singing."Strange Feeling" is slow, very pretty number, that is perfect AM material, not meaning it's poppy, just a great song. A vocoder serves as the voice of "Unit 1980" a robot "motivated by the future". This is sneakingly. reminiscent of Nick Gilder. (photo by google)
By Nick Krewen For NightLife: Now here's a real blast from the past--- remember the hits Goodbye Farewell and Gypsy? If you replied Abraham's Children, go to the head of the class. Better yet, if you answered Abraham's Children, why not just go see them instead tonight atthe Lil Big Horn. It'll be their first show in this area since 1976. " I think it was 1976," replies singer Jimi Bertucci 53, from Los Angeles, who co-founded the Toronto pop band as a high schooler. " That was probably our last tour of Canada." That was also the year Bertucci left the band, which had signed to United Artists Records and was operating under the name The Children, to go solo. He released one album as Jimi B on A&M before leaving dor Los Angeles and forming the bands Angel (not the Gregg Guiffria-led unit) and Space Patrol before returning to his solo career... and, as fate would have it a few decades later, a refurbished Abraham's Children
Wallaceburg News Weekender - Bertucci has been announced for almost a decade. His original band Abraham's Children who had three albums released but shortly after the third album in 1975 the band dismembered. Since then he has been traveling around, continuing to write and produce until last year when he returned to Toronto to sign with A&M. His debut album features some good Canadian artists; bassist Prakash John, guitarists BB Gabor and Peter Follett, and keyboardist Jody Colero. Best cuts - Shake, Touch Me, Strange Feeling, Unit No.1980. Jimi B is on his way be sure to get a listen to the new sounds and new songs of Jimi B. Kathie Evenson
Corremio Certosa 2005 Premiato insieme a Cordiano, Simonetta e BarillariÈ arrivato in Canada a 6 anni con una chitarra per bambini di plastica e ora è uno dei più grandi interpreti della musica pop e rock del Nordamerica. È Jimi (Vincenzo) Bertucci, nato a Serra San Bruno in Calabria nel 1951. Sabato 22 ottobre è il suo compleanno e domenica 23 gli viene assegnato il premio Certosa 2005 per il suo "eccezionale contributo all'arte" dall'Associazione San Bruno. Insieme a lui, per il 2005 saranno premiati presso il Renaissance Parque, al n? 2800 della Hwy 7 W., a Concord, il ministro provinciale per lo Sviluppo Economico, Joseph Cordiano, Michael Simonetta e Domenico Barillari.Bertucci, nell'intervista rilasciata al Corriere, rivive con intensa commozione il suo viaggio nel 1956 dalla Calabria verso il Canada e la sua successiva affermazione."Il giorno prima suonavo la mia chitarra giocattolo sul balcone di casa mia a Serra San Bruno e il giorno dopo ero sulla nave La Roma diretto in Canada. Lassù mi sono anche perso e mia madre dopo che io l'ho ritrovata, per la gioia mi baciava, mi abbracciava ma mi dava anche qualche scapaccione". "Abbiamo abitato a Grace Street - racconta - vicino la chiesa di San Francesco, su College e lì ho affrontato il difficile inserimento nella realtà canadese. Ho lottato a scuola per superare le differenze che c'erano. Non parlavo inglese e vestivo con i vestiti italiani che mia madre mi dava; finché un giorno, per non sentirmi diverso ho chiesto ai miei di darmi i jeans e le scarpe da ginnastica". Dal suo racconto, Bertucci fa emergere il suo carattere forte e determinato. "Ascoltavo la radio e ho detto: voglio anch'io "entrare in radio"". E Vincenzo Bertucci ha realizzato il suo sogno grazie alla collaborazione dei suoi genitori che lo hanno assecondato. "La svolta è arrivata nel 1964. Vado al negozio Julio music store - continua - vicino all'angolo dove ora c'è il Diplomatico e il proprietario mi fa vedere una chitarra elettrica, la Hofner, come quella dei Beatles e mi chiede se mi piaceva. Mi brillavano gli occhi e dico di sì e quello, facendomi quasi svenire mi dice: prendila è tua. I tuoi
genitori l'hanno prenotata per te tre mesi fa e finalmente è arrivata". "A 15 anni poi decido di non andare a scuola e dedicarmi completamente alla musica. I miei non si oppongono alla mia decisione".A raggiungere il successo, a insegnargli la musica e a insegnargli a suonare il mandolino, la chitarra e la fisarmonica ci ha pensato suo zio Salvatore.Bertucci da allora ha sempre composto la sua musica e ha scritto i suoi testi.Nel suo ultimo cd Passion & Innocence, fatto col suo gruppo Abraham's Children racconta i suoi ultimi 30 anni di vita professionale e racconta soprattutto la vita a College e Grace Street. In questo cd, c'è anche una canzone in italiano. "Si chiama Sempre - dice Bertucci -è una canzone d'amore e l'ho scritta e dedicata a mia nipote che si sposava. Era il mio regalo di nozze".Ma Bertucci, con un'altra canzone ha fatto felice anche un'altra donna: sua madre a cui nel 1972 dedicò la prima canzone in italiano: Bye, bye bambina occhi blu. Uno dei tanti successi come Goodbye Farewell, Gypsy, Thank you. Data pubblicazione: 2005-10-19Indirizzo pagina originale: http://www.corriere.com/viewstory.php?storyid=44709
