DANIEL POWTER IN TORONTO FOR "TURN ON THE LIGHTS"

Daniel Powter in Toronto - August 2012

Although he's had a tough run, Vernon, British Columbia-born Singer-Songwriter Daniel Powter is back and ready for the spotlight again with his latest Single, Cupid. Powter's rise to the top of the World of Pop in 2006 happened at a rocket speed.  His international Hit Bad Day reached the summit of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart, making him the first Canadian Male Artist to accomplish that feat since Bryan Adams in 1995, with Have You Ever Loved a Woman?  Despite the Track being named Billboard Magazine's Song of the Year in 2006 with JUNO, GRAMMY and BRIT Award nominations galore to follow, many of us have wondered since, "What happened to Daniel Powter?".

The Singer/Songwriter has been v. honest in the Media about his five-year-long battle with Cocaine and Alcohol Addiction which began at the pinnacle of his success. Now sober, Powter recently got engaged to the Mother of their six-month-old Daughter (he also has a ten-year-old Daughter from a previous relationship).  He is ready to release his third major label Album, Turn on the Lights.

A barely recognizable Powter with long hair was out and about earlier today promoting his new Disc on Global Television's Morning Show and also CHFI with a live performance with his Bandmates.  While waiting for his Van, he was super-friendly taking time to chat with Photographers, also signing Autographs. He tells one Fan jokingly, "You should get about $10 for that".  Whether or not he duplicates the success of Bad Day really doesn't matter at this point. He's here and he's survived the dark.

Check-out Cupid in full below:

ALANIS MORISSETTE IN TORONTO FOR "HAVOC AND BRIGHT LIGHTS"

Alanis Morissette in Toronto - August 2012

THIS. An hour and a half after meeting her, I'm still shaking on the inside! Ottawa-born Icon Alanis Morissette is an Inspiration to anyone who grew-up in the '90s. Just ask Katy, Kelly or Avril. Although she's gone through several evolutions in her Career as an Entertainer, my respect and admiration for her always has remained the same.  Yes, I remember eagerly waiting with my VCR Remote Control in-hand for her Too Hot Video to appear on the MuchMusic Countdown as a Kid, waiting to record it so I could watch it over and over.  Pre-MP3s, I also remember waiting by the Radio for Ironic to play on the Radio to record on Cassette, to be enjoyed immensely over and over on my Walkman for hours on-end.  I swear I still have her record-breaking, 33-million-selling Jagged Little Pill Cassette packed-away somewhere!

Looking more happy and at peace with herself than ever (evidence above), Morissette has been in Toronto for the past couple days doing Press for her forthcoming eighth studio Disc Havoc and Bright Lights, to be distributed by Universal Music in Canada.  A personal Dream of mine came true when I finally got to meet one of the World's Sexiest Vegetarians coming out of a Starbucks run earlier before heading into an Interview on The Erin & Mike Morning Show on CHFI.  One Photographer spotted Morissette enjoying her Coffee on that Bloor Street Patio before realizing she was being snapped, then heading back inside where I'm sure several Coffee Lovers were in for the surprise of their lives.

Despite hearing several stories from Fans who have tried meeting Morissette on previous visits that she is a bit tricky on the Autographs and Photos, I witnessed none of that from her.  Looking gorgeous, the Mother of one-year-old Imre donned her signature parted-Locks, a colour-blocked Jersey, slim-fit Pants and some awesome fishnet Pumps.

ADAM LAMBERT IN TORONTO FOR "TRESPASSING"

Adam Lambert in Toronto - May 2012

Riding the wave of his success both north and south of the Border with U.S. and Canadian number one-selling Disc Trespassing, former American Idol First-Runner-Up Adam Lambert made a welcomed visit back to Toronto today, his first here since headlining 2010's KISS 92.5 Wham Bam. 

After an appearance in Washington, D.C. yesterday at the 94.7 Fresh FM Festival,  Lambert flew-in to Toronto earlier this afternoon for a busy day of Work, which saw him co-hosting MuchMusic's New.Music.Live and later meeting 200 Fans at HMV Queen Street for an Autograph Signing.  Lambert has the distinction of becoming the first-ever openly Gay Male Artist to achieve a number one-selling Billboard Album.

I caught-up with Lambert as he exit KISS 92.5 Studios, staying for just-under an hour pre-taping an Interview for CHFI 98.1 and also CityTV.  Although he was in a rush and unable to sign Autographs for a handful of Fans who waited patiently for him in the blistering heat, he did roll-down his window quickly to apologize, "Sorry, I've got to go!", simultaneously throwing a handwave.

Lambert is Montreal-bound next for another round of Press, including a Visit to Musique Plus.  Trespassing now is in-stores via Sony Music Canada. Download it here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

CARRIE UNDERWOOD IN TORONTO FOR "BLOWN AWAY"

Carrie Underwood in Toronto - May 2012

Arriving Tuesday night from Nashville with Hockey Star Husband Mike Fisher, Country-Pop Queen Carrie Underwood arrived for the Canadian leg of her Promo Tour for latest Disc, Blown Away. The Album already has spent two weeks at number on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart.

Remaining low-key, opting for underground entrances and exits in and out of her Hotel, the former American Idol Season Four Winner in her two days in Toronto has appeared at most major Outlets, doing a number of pre-taped and live-to-air Interviews. Appearances have included visits to CTV's Canada AM, The Marilyn Denis Show and eTalk, YTV's The Zone, CBC's Q Radio, Global Television's Entertainment Tonight Canada, CHFI 98.1, CHUM 104.5 and more.

In addition to Work, Underwood has Quality Time with Family on her Agenda during her stay before her scheduled Performance on this weekend's Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. Last night, Husband Fisher was spotted enjoying the New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Game at Rogers Centre, while the Singer spent a quiet night-in relaxing after a long day.

I caught-up with Underwood leaving the Bell Media Building earlier today buried two rows back in her Suburban, signing a few Autographs for Fans who waited all morning for her patiently. The frenzy was sparked as the window of her Vehicle was rolled down. "Can you take a Picture with a little Carrie Underwood Fan?", one Mom asked while urging her young Daughter forward - which wasn't happening. Unfortunately, I had no luck getting my copy of Some Hearts signed after Autographs got curtailed quickly with complaints of the situation becoming too aggressive on the part of others.

In the meantime, check out Underwood's latest Single, Good Girl which already has peaked at number 21 on the Canadian Hot 100:

LADY ANTEBELLUM IN TORONTO FOR "OWN THE NIGHT" | SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley poses with Fan outside Masonic Temple

The owned the night.  Country-Pop Megastars Lady Antebellum celebrated the smash success of a number one debut atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 and Canadian Albums Charts with their sophomore Disc, Own the Night released just last Tuesday.  The Album sold 21k copies in Canada and an impressive 347k south of the Border.

The Trio did a round of Press this morning including visits the CMT Canada and CHFI, the latter where they performed a set before a studio audience.  Fans were in for a treat also this evening at MTV Canada (Masonic Temple) where Lady Antebellum performed for just-over 90 minutes at an intimate taping of Bravo's At the Concert Hall series.  The Concert will air November 1, 2011, but fear not if you want to see them sooner as they will appear on CTV's Canada AM tomorrow morning.

Although Bandmates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood were rushed-out of the Taping where no Cameras were permitted, Frontman Charles Kelley was friendly as always with Fans, stopping to pose for Photos and sign a couple Autographs for lucky Fans.  Guess what?  I got one for you!  

To qualify for the win, you must "like" Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook and leave a comment under this Post indicating the names of the three members of Lady Antebellum.  Your deadline is October 22, 2011. Good luck, Mavenati!

Lady Antebellum's Own the Night is now in stores via EMI Music Canada.

See more Photos below:

JOSH GROBAN ARRIVES IN TORONTO FOR MEDIA BLITZ | AUTOGRAPH GIVEAWAY

Josh Groban & Mr. Will-W.

This morning, self-proclaimed Over-thinker Josh Groban visited CHFI, Toronto's most prominent Soft Adult-Contemporary Radio Station, kicking-off a week of Press in the City to support his latest disc Illuminations. Despite being released mid-November, the Album has been slower to start in terms of sales than his four previous efforts.  Selling just-over half a million copies in the U.S., Illuminations quickly  reached Platinum sales in Canada.  Don't let numbers fool you though as despite Album Sales trending downwards, Groban is still every bit as relevant as ever, gaining much attention and laughs this past week after performing a parody of Rapper Kanye West's Tweets on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Running late for his appearance on The Mike & Erin Morning Show, Groban committed to signing Autographs and posing for Photos on his way out of the station.  As promised, he did just that.  Despite his Publicist from Warner Music Canada being eager to rush Groban off to his next appearance some 40 minutes later on CTV's The Marilyn Denis Show, the Singer/Songwriter/Actor was gracious in calling his own shots. Acknowledging to his Publicist how cold it was outside for Fans including myself and a Paparazzi, all rushing came to a quick halt.

I was getting ready to snap a Self-Portrait of myself with Groban, flipping the LED monitor from my Camera to which he commented, "I love those things, they're so handy!". I realized then that I had lost sensation in my fingers and wasn't able to press the shoot button.  Groban's Publicist then volunteered kindly to snap our Photo, before a few Photos were signed including one for you, my lovely Readers!  More details on that after the jump....

JOSH GROBAN'S TORONTO ITINERARY ANNOUNCED

Josh Groban

Warner Music Canada has just announced more details about Josh Groban’s visit to Toronto next week and he’ll be here most of the week to promote his new album Illuminations. Scheduled so far are visits to CHFI - our leading soft Adult Contemporary Station - where he’ll be co-hosting the Morning Show next Tuesday (January 11th), a taping of CTV’s Canada AM (January 12th) where he’ll be performing on National Television, plus an Autograph Signing at First Canadian Place in the afternoon. For the truly die-hard Fans, there will be an intimate show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Thursday (January 13th) on CNE grounds, plus there is talk also of an appearance on CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulous Tonight at some point.

If you truly want to go out and see him, there is no shortage of opportunities if you put your mind to it. Check back next week as I’ll definitely have some goodies for you Fans of Groban!

Click here to read more on his itinerary.

(Photo credit: Warner Music Canada)