One of Canada’s most recognized tenors will grace the stage at Bert Church LIVE Theatre Nov. 29, when John McDermott comes to Airdrie as part of his annual Family Christmas Show tour.
The 64-year-old, five-time Juno Award nominee will sing many holiday favourites, such as Murray McLachlan’s Old Tin Star, O Holy Night and Ave Maria, as well as songs from his own albums.
“I look forward to seeing everyone and hope they can come out,” he said. “It should be a fun evening – a nice way to get the Christmas spirit into the daily routine. Bring the family, it’s a family show, and there won’t be anything kids can’t hear.”
Though he’s been singing since he was a child, McDermott’s professional touring and recording career has spanned 26 years and resulted in more than 25 albums, including Danny Boy, Battlefields of Green, Love is a Voyage and A Time to Remember.
His Family Christmas Show has become a hallmark of his yearly touring schedule, and is something McDermott said has “stood the test of time.”
“Christmas, I think, is something that brings family closer,” he said. “It brings those memories back from when we were young.”
McDermott added this will be the first time in five years that he will perform the show in Western Canada. He said he hopes his singing instills “a sense of belonging, family, tradition and getting ready to enjoy the holiday season and a new year.”
“The songs themselves, sometimes they can relate to a family member, a parent, or a time or event,” he said.
Fellow musicians and collaborators Mark Lalama (keyboard) and Jason Fowler (guitar) will join McDermott on stage.
“[Lalama] is a superb writer and we’ve been writing some stuff together,” McDermott said. “It’ll be a trip down memory lane for a lot of people, with some personal favourites along with some new ones. It will very much be a family-oriented show – I do a lot of talking about my family when I perform.”
One of the legacies of McDermott’s career is his advocacy for veterans. His work in this area has included the creation of McDermott House Canada – a registered charity dedicated to supporting those who have served.
According to McDermott, his family has many ties to the military. His father served as a tail gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, and his uncle died in the Changi prisoner-of-war camp in Japan. He had three cousins die in the Vietnam War – two who were killed in action, while the third committed suicide 10 years after the end of the war.
He is also an honorary member of the Canadian War Amps and received the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Bob Hope Award in 2001.
McDermott said his father was in the audience in 1994 in Toronto for one of his first Family Christmas Shows, and it was something his father said struck a chord.
“It was the first show he ever saw [of mine],” McDermott said. “He told me after the show, ‘You might be good at this. If you are, you have to promise me you’ll use it to give back to Canada and give back to the veterans.’ He died two months later. I’ve used my career to try and honour his wishes, by giving back to those less fortunate and those who have given their all for this great country.”
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $42 per person and can be purchased online at bit.ly/35gnxCP
