HONOUR ROLL 2023
15th Annual MMF Canada Honour Roll
Monday, March 6, 2023
The Great Hall (1087 Queen St W, Toronto, ON)
Honour Roll Award - LASCELLES STEPHENS
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Lascelles Stephens is a renowned Canadian composer, producer and music manager. With nearly three decades of experience, Lascelles’ keen ear for creating unique melodies has secured his position as one of Canada’s most versatile behind-the-scenes musical figures, having worked with notable artists like Simone Denny, Maestro Fresh Wes, and Glenn Lewis.
In 1989, Lascelles began collaborating with Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Deborah Cox, leading to the signing of Deborah’s first record deal with Arista Records. Lascelles and Deborah have been bringing chart-topping hits to fans worldwide and complementing each other’s respective musical expertise ever since. Bringing a new sound to R&B music, their work has been celebrated with numerous awards and nominations, including 2 Genie nominations for the songs written for the TIFF film “Love Come Down.”
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Lascelles Stephens is a renowned Canadian composer, producer and music manager. A Toronto native, Lascelles began developing his passion early on as a self-taught musician and began producing music shortly after. His keen ear for composing and creating unique melodies and tracks opened the opportunity for him to work with notable artists, like Maestro Fresh Wes, Simone Denny and Glenn Lewis, early in his career, quickly creating a name for himself in the Canadian music scene.
In 1989, Lascelles met music icon and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Deborah Cox. The two began collaborating on projects together, writing lyrics and music for her demo which landed her a recording deal with Arista Records. Lascelles continued to nurture Deborah’s talent and contribute to what would become some of Deborah’s biggest hits. With Lascelles continuing to write and produce with Warner Chappell Music, he and Deborah moved to Los Angeles in 1993, where Lascelles was also a manager at Overbrook Entertainment. In 1998, the two married. They have been bringing countless chart-topping hits to fans worldwide for nearly three decades and continue to complement each other’s respective musical expertise, bringing a new sound to R&B music.
A music industry titan, Lascelles has worked with artists like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Trina & Tamera, SWV, Chante Moore, Heather Headley, Kimberly Scott, Tami Davis, DJ Escape, and many more. In 2000, Lascelles and Deborah celebrated 2 Genie Award nominations for songs written for the film “Love Come Down”. The film debuted at TIFF in September of the same year.
Lascelles is currently the President of DECO Recording Group and the co-Founder of Kazaisu Wine, a beverage company created by Deborah and himself.
Lascelles is also known for his longstanding commitment to philanthropy. Travelling near and far to support various initiatives, Lascelles ensures that music management is about more than just the music by bringing support in the form of song to those who need it most. With a mission to connect, Lascelles has executed and been involved in countless benefit concerts and fundraising events to bridge the gap between musicians and fans.
Brian Chater Builder Award - ELAINE BOMBERRY
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Elaine Bomberry is Anishinabe and Cayuga, from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She now makes her home on the Capilano Rez, on the unceded Squamish Nation territory in North Vancouver.
Elaine has worked as a freelance Indigenous Performing Arts activist/promoter/manager/ TV and radio producer for over 35 years. She manages JUNO winner Murray Porter, helped create the ‘Best Music of Aboriginal Canada’ recording category for the JUNO Awards in 1994, works with Rez Bluez, 2 Rivers Remix Festival, Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards, and also serves as the Artist Ambassador for the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund - working tirelessly to create opportunities for Indigenous artists.
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Elaine Bomberry is Anishinabe and Cayuga, from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She has worked as a freelance Indigenous Performing Arts activist/promoter/manager/ TV and radio producer for over 35 years. She now makes her home on the Capilano Rez, on the unceded Squamish Nation territory in North Vancouver.
Elaine is Manager for JUNO winner, Mohawk blues piano man Murray Porter, also from Six Nations. She was also Associate Producer on his JUNO award-winning CD, `Songs Lived & Life Played’, and has emerged as a lyricist on his recordings on a few songs and is now a member of SOCAN. She’s Associate Producer on his recent album, ‘STAND UP!’, which was released in February 2019.
She helped create the `Best Music of Aboriginal Canada’ recording category for the JUNO Awards in 1994, with Buffy Sainte-Marie, and the late Curtis ‘Shingoose’ Jonnie, and was the first Chairperson. In March 2018, Elaine was gifted from Buffy Sainte-Marie the JUNO she had just won to acknowledge Elaine’s work in establishing the Indigenous JUNO category. She served on the Board for a term for CARAS and was a volunteer for 12 years.
With the Toronto Blues Society, she curated the 25 th Anniversary for Rez Bluez. In 2021, Elaine worked with the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards, 2 Rivers Remix Festival, and curated the Indigenous Concert Series at Ontario Place, for the last 2 summers. Currently, she is the Artist Ambassador for the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund and was recently awarded the 2022 ‘Clearing the Path Award’ from the Weengushk International Film Festival on Aundeck Omni Kaning, Manitoulin Island.
Banner Year Award - CHRISTINA CASSARO & HAVIAH MIGHTY
sponsored by SOCAN Foundation
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Haviah Mighty and manager Christina Cassaro have made Canadian hip-hop history together. In 2019, with Christina in her corner, Haviah was the first Black woman and the first hip-hop artist to win the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, and she became the first woman to win a JUNO Award in the Best Rap Album/EP of the Year category in 2022. Haviah was also the only Canadian nominee at the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards in the ‘Best International Flow’ category.
Working together, this team is continuing to push forward to carve out spaces that boldly defy gendered expectations for women in hip-hop. With this drive and energy, there’s no doubt that there are more groundbreaking accolades and achievements on the horizon.
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Haviah Mighty is continuing to push forward to carve out spaces that boldly defy gendered expectations for women in hip-hop.
2019 saw Haviah earn break-out success with her album, 13th Floor, making her the first hip-hop artist and the first Black woman to win the Polaris Music Prize, celebrating the “Best Canadian Album of the Year” - but Mighty didn’t stop there. In 2022, with her mixtape, Stock Exchange, Haviah made history once again as the first woman to ever win the JUNO Rap Album of the Year category and is the only Canadian nominee at the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards in the ‘Best International Flow’ category. Recognition has spread internationally, garnering praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, GRM Daily, FADER, Hot New Hip Hop, and so many more.
Based out of Brampton via Toronto, Haviah has spent a lifetime developing her skills as a songwriter, vocalist, producer, and performer, culminating in a style of profound introspection and incisive socio-political critique. Her dynamic combinations of rap, song, and instrumental transition seamlessly from hip-hop to soul to afrobeats with a meticulous flow and cadence that transcends any traditional expectation of genre.
Mighty didn’t need to change her birth name when she decided to dedicate her career to music. Mighty could not better describe Haviah’s craft of provocative challenges and uncompromising truths.
In Mighty’s corner as a supporter, confidant, and teammate is Christina Cassaro, an artist manager based in Toronto with years of industry experience. First working in the Canadian music ecosystem via Jury Supervision at granting agency, FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings), Christina then moved on to artist management at the iconic Canadian record label, Arts & Crafts (Broken Social Scene, Fiest). It was there that she learned the ins and outs of artist management, laying the groundwork to eventually join Canadian management company, Valeo Arts Management (VAM), where Christina was been part of the management team for JUNO award-winning Indigenous musicians, The Halluci Nation (fka A Tribe Called Red) and Jeremy Dutcher, as well as working with Haviah Mighty. Christina is now working under her own banner, DI:ME ARTS MGMT and continues growing with Haviah.
Haviah and Christina have already made Canadian hip-hop history together, with Haviah as the first Black woman and the first hip-hop artist to win the prestigious Polaris Music Prize in 2019, and as the first woman to win a JUNO Award in the Best Rap Album/EP of the Year category in 2022. With this team pushing forward together, there’s no doubt that there are more groundbreaking accolades and achievements on the horizon.
Trailblazer Award - JEFF OJEDA
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With 15 years of experience as a guitar technician, a branding specialist, and now a full-time manager, Jeff Ojeda is working to create space in the music industry, especially in the country and Americana genres, for other LGBTQ2S+ and BIPOC entrepreneurs. He’s working to pilot the first large-scale AmericanaFest festival and industry conference to Canada in the coming years, bringing much needed attention to the format in Canada. In the management space, Jeff has taken his client Kyle McKearney to a national level in a matter of months with his debut album earning multiple award nominations and securing opening spots for international touring artists like Kip Moore, Dean Brody, and Brett Kissel. Jeff also contributes to the community as a mentor, consultant, and instructor.
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Jeff Ojeda is an incredibly passionate entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the
music industry. His experience ranges from working on the road as a guitar technician, to building brands for names like: Nickelback, Keshia Chanté, Florida Georgia Line, Flo-Rida, Universal Music, Roger Taylor (QUEEN), Big Loud, Island Def Jam, and more.
Now Jeff is focused on management, starting his company Phase Management, and working with one of Canada’s biggest breakthrough artists in 2022, Kyle McKearney. Jeff has taken McKearney to a national level in a matter of months, with his debut album earning multiple award nominations, including CCMA Alternative Country Album of the Year, CCMA Creative Director(s) of the Year, Western Canadian Music Awards Indigenous Artist of the Year, and Western Canadian Music Awards BreakOut Artist of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR). This has led to opening for Kip Moore on a cross Canada tour as well as opening for international touring artists like The Black Crowes, Dean Brody, Brett Kissel, and Terri Clark. Jeff’s management roster also includes Grammy nominated and JUNO award winning producer/engineer Spencer Bleasdale.
To strengthen the markets for Americana music in Canada, Jeff is working to create Canada's first large-scale AmericanaFest festival and industry conference in the coming years. With both Latin and South American native heritage, Jeff is committed to creating space for other LGBTQ2S+ and BIPOC music entrepreneurs, especially in the Country and Americana genres.
As a mentor & consultant for Music BC over the past two years, Jeff has helped up-and-coming artists find their way in the industry. With MusicBC, CreativeBC and FACTOR, he also helped develop a program called "Jumpstart Foundations" in which he led the way with his "Music Marketing 101" instructional video course. Jeff is also a nominated Creative Director of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards and serves on the board of directors for the BC Country Music Association and Music BC.