BONEY M | Friday December 1, 2023 at 7:30pm
Boney M. Featuring Liz Mitchell – The Original Lead Singer
Boney M. is a living legend of the disco era. Originally founded in Germany by writer and producer Frank Farian, Boney M. was one of the disco-orientated pop acts to dominate the European charts throughout the late seventies and early eighties with a string of hits well remembered to this day. Farian molded the four-piece band in the dance pop fashion, featuring the stunning vocals of Liz Mitchell, which proved irresistible to radio, dance floor and partygoers.
Liz Mitchell is a Jamaican-born British singer who is most famous for being the voice behind one of the UK’s most loved disco and reggae bands. Liz moved to London in 1963 with her parents and before long auditioned for a part in Hair. She then moved to Berlin as part of the German cast and took over the part from Donna Summer, before latterly joining the group Les Humphries Singers. It was around this time in 1976 that she got a call to return to the UK and become a part of the band we know and love as Boney M.
After initial work lip synching for TV, the group soon started recording with Liz as the vocal core. As well as being the integral voice of the band, Liz also co-composed the song ‘African Moon’ from their album in 1981, Boonoonoonoos.
After the band split in 1986, Liz went on one more tour in 1987 and then went on to release many great solo albums. She built her own studio, started her own label, and founded her own fan club. She has released special Christmas EPs and has become a born again Christian, which influences her music on albums such as Let It Be. 2004 saw her put out Liz Mitchell Sings the Hits of Boney M. and she now tours as Boney M. featuring Liz Mitchell to big crowds all over the world.
If you told Liz that her 1978 hit ‘Rasputin’ would become an internet sensation in 2022, she would never have believed you. Almost nine million fans have created TikTok dance videos to the song – and they have been viewed an amazing 22 billion times. Boney M went 5x Platinum in Canada for Nightflight To Venus and 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of their career-launching record. The group also went double platinum in Canada for their Christmas album that includes the hit ‘Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord.’
Now With Special Guest Jeffery Straker
Singer-songwriter pianist Jeffery Straker grew up taking piano lessons in small-town Saskatchewan and has gone on to perform over 100 shows per year across Canada, Europe and Latin America. The rootsy-storytelling of his songs has the power to transport a listener - out onto a lake in Canada’s North or to the main street of a prairie town. A clever lyricist with an energetic approach to the piano, his song writing has drawn critical comparisons to the likes of Harry Chapin, Kris Kristofferson & Billy Joel while maintaining a style distinctly his own. He’s recorded his roots/folk music for CBC radio’s ‘Canada Live’, has seen his songs used in film, TV and theatrical productions and in 2019 won a Western Canadian Music Award. Recently he was awarded “Roots/Folk Artist of the Year” at both the 2020 & 2021 Saskatchewan Music Awards and saw the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards name him “Keyboard Player of the Year” 3 years running.
Jeffery has just emerged from the studio with his latest recording which will release in early 2024 (date TBC). Working with roots/americana producer Steve Dawson (Nashville) the album delivers a roots/country flavour.
A classically trained pianist, Straker swears he was born under the piano on the family grain farm. He was raised by a church-organist mother and auctioneer father which might explain his natural ability to share songs with audiences. He was a student of the Royal Conservatory of Music and received his licentiate diploma in piano performance from Trinity College, London when he was only 19. Straker has showcased at major events including Canadian Music Week, NXNE, Breakout West (Western Canada), & Juno Fest. He was an official showcase artist at Folk Alliance International 2022 in Kansas City.
