Rush
1995 TMA149 Musician of the Year Award Recipient
The Toronto Arts Awards presented by the du Maurier Arts., were launched in 1986. Since then, the Awards have paid tribute to more than 50 extraordinary artists – each of whom has made a major contribution to the arts and culture of our city.
The Awards honour individual artistic excellence, as demonstrated by a recipient’s entire body of work. Under certain circumstances, Awards may be presented to an artistic group – this is, one where the individuals in that group collectively comprise a single artistic entity.
This year, on September 8, the list grew bigger – much bigger. A top Metro Hall, Gene Kinoshita, President of the Artist Foundation, announced the 1993 Toronto Arts Award recipients and five out of eight were artistic groups. The recipient of this year’s Music Award is the rock group RUSH, comprised of Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson. “Their thought provoking lyrics and sophisticated music have made them one of the world’s most popular bands: they have brought new standards to hard rock”. The Music Award has been sponsored since 1986 by Maclean Hunter Limited.
“Excellence is doing something well enough that other people who do it too admire your work. This means that our work is appreciated by other players, and of course, that is the highest tribute of all – the respect of your peers, praise from the praiseworthy.”
The words are from a statement written by Neil Peart of RUSH, recipient of this year’s Toronto Musician Award presented by The Toronto Musicians’ Association and du Maurier Arts Ltd. Fred Davis made the presentation on behalf of du Maurier Arts Ltd. and former TMA President Victor Bridgewater accepted on behalf of the rock group. Band members Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart and Geddy Lee, on hiatus prior to their upcoming North American tour, were not able to accept the award personally, but did send a prepared statement.
“RUSH has been on the music scene for the past twenty years and has sold 30 million records,” says TMA President John Trembath. “We are proud of the band’s success and take great pleasure in recognizing their contribution to the musical arts and their ongoing support of community works and charities.” Nominations for the award were put forth by fellow professional musicians; professional musicians also formed the judging committee.
The award, presented at “EVENING TO REMEMBER” was created in 1992 to acknowledge excellence and achievement in the Toronto musical arts community.
The Association hopes that by honouring a deserving musician or group each year, the Toronto Musician Award will encourage other musicians to strive for excellence and the recognition of their peers.
