BUZZon.com - Legendary Producer

Keith Richards and Brian Ahern in studio Brian Ahern is heralded as one of the all-time top record producers and has worked with a who’s who of musical legends: Anne Murray, Willy Nelson, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris (his ex-wife and mother to his two children), Keith Richards, and “The Man in Black,” Johnny Cash.

This month Ahern will come to Charlottetown for Confederation Centre of the Arts’ opening night premiere of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash on June 22. While visiting PEI, Ahern will participate in a special celebrity interview hosted by Come-All-Ye’s John Connolly, where the audience will be treated to an up-close-and-personal view of the man behind the music of some of the world’s most important artists, past and present.

The interview will be followed by an opportunity for audience members, songwriters, composers, producers, engineers and any others, to workshop with Brian Ahern. Ahern will bring instruments and recording equipment from his home in Nashville, TN which he will demonstrate in the workshop, while giving feedback to participants. The interview will take place June 19 at 11:00 am, followed by the workshop at 12:30 pm at The Mack on the corner of Grafton and University Avenue in Charlottetown. The event is free to the public.

Connolly was lucky enough to work with Ahern in 2010 while in Nashville on a songwriting expedition. Connolly famously showed up unannounced on Ahern’s doorstep with guitar in hand and pitched that the studio guru produce his new album. Ahern—the icon who had produced more than 40 gold and platinum albums—said yes to the young Islander. “John was affable and got straight to the point,” says Ahern, from his Nashville home. “It was a quick process, his songs spoke for themselves.”

Connolly’s album won several awards in 2011 and carries the same clean, minimalist production that Ahern has applied to everyone from Roy Orbison to Barbara Streisand, the “sonic economy” as he calls it.

Ahern’s own storied career began in the Maritimes. Born and raised on the Halifax docks, his first big break came when he landed on CBC’s Singalong Jubilee program as Musical Director in 1966. It was there that he met Anne Murray, with whom he would go on to produce 12 albums including the hit song “Snowbird” from This Way Is My Way. That song led to Murray being awarded the first gold record ever given to a Canadian artist in the United States.

When asked where he places Murray and Johnny Cash in reference to the many legends he’s produced, Ahern replies, “I don’t like ranking people…but, I’d say Johnny Cash, Anne Murray, George Jones, and Emmylou Harris are the four most talented people in the world.”

Ahern produced two records with Cash; 1983’s Johnny 99 and 1979’s Silver. “After the Johnny 99 sessions John was standing next to his limo, cape down to his ankles. He took the huge, diamond-encrusted Rolex off his arm and gave it to me as thanks for the work.”

Brian Ahern will be in Charlottetown with Cash’s watch and black jacket in hand but, most importantly, a lifetime worth of studio stories. Join Ahern and John Connolly at The Mack to hear the tales of some of the most successful albums ever produced and the egos and icons that went along with them.

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash will celebrate its Grand Opening premiere on June 22.

Milks & Rectangles ←		Grand Prix →

Some of What's Going On

Irish Ceilidh in Fort Augustus

May 26
St. Patrick Church The Fort Augustus Irish Settlers Association will host 5 visitors from Cou ...

To The Wonder

May 31 to June 5
City Cinema PG, brief nudity, mature content
Dir: Terrence Malick, US, 2012, 113 min ...

Renoir

May 24 to 28
City Cinema PG, mature theme, nudity, language may offend
Dir: Gilles Bourdos, France, 2 ...

Concerts at St. John’s Anglican Church

May 23, July 4, 18, Aug 1, 12
Crapaud Parish Productions presents their lineup for the 2013 concert ...

Island Dance Academy 20th Student Show

May 18
Confederation Centre The Island Dance Academy marks its 20th season with the school’s annua ...

Some of What's New

PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Associtaion Awards

Buntainwood Farms Pacing Star Malabriga and Industry leader Doug Roloson were among the honorees at ...

School Resource Officer Program

Private donors have contributed to the School Resource Officer program at Colonel Gray High School: ...

Welcoming New Citizens

The Government of PEI participated in welcoming new Canadian citizens to PEI recently. MLA Charlotte ...

Women’s Secretariat Grants

Valerie E. Docherty, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, recently announced the names of 6 ...

PEI Beach Chair

Joe McAskill puts promotional piece into production For a while, Joe McAskill of McAskill’s Woodw ...