The Grinch Who Stole The Music Of Christmas
On Thursday December 1st, Dave Tonner of no fixed address, aka The Grinch Who Stole the Music of Christmas, receives a stiff 9 month jail sentence for possession of stolen property. But, this was no ordinary property! He had stolen 10 years of digital files of music and films belonging to Internationally Renowned Jazz Pianist Paul Tobey. But a determined Tobey recovers in time to get his music to his fans, just in time for Christmas!
The story goes like this:
After posting a $5,000 reward, and receiving numerous tips about his stolen property, the award winning pianist hastily managed to negotiate much of his missing equipment and digital files back from small time criminals and pawn shops.
But, it wasn't until almost 2 weeks later did Mr. Tobey realize that two digital audiotapes containing all of the recorded music for his new Christmas album were gone!
Still missing and presumably lost forever are the original recorded sessions from his live 2004 Christmas concert at the River Run Centre in Guelph which were scheduled to be released Dec. 9th at a Live Christmas Concert entitled Expect Miracles at the Sanderson Centre for the performing Arts in Brantford, Ontario.
Faced with the reality that his music might never be recovered and faced with the imminent cancellation of his live Christmas Concert, Mr. Tobey makes up his mind to pursue a new Christmas recording session and quickly calls into action the recording studio, musicians, engineers, graphic designers, and manufacturers!
After all, the release date could not be missed, as hundreds of concertgoers had already pre-purchased the new Christmas release along with concert tickets for December 9th at the Sanderson Centre. Over 600 Paul Tobey fans were expecting timely delivery on their purchase!
With just 2 weeks to go, Paul books studio time at a top Toronto Recording Studio; Phase One Audio Group. On Monday November 21st, Mr. Tobey enters the studio with 5 of Toronto's top musicians and records the album in only 6 hours. And, in the next two days, the engineers and Mr. Tobey worked tirelessly to get it mixed and mastered in time to deliver to the printers.
With just 2 hours to go before the concert on Friday December 9th, the CDs were delivered--literally hot off the presses! Was it worth the effort? You bet! At intermission, retail stands were literally overrun with crowds of people 3 and 4 deep waving money over the heads of others clamoring to get their copies! Even with 12 volunteers working the retail stand they just couldn't keep up!
How was Tobey able to produce a new Christmas album and a Christmas concert in only 2 weeks? “When you expect miracles, nothing is impossible," said a weary Paul Tobey. “I'm thrilled that the concert and the album were so well received, but the challenge to have 600 albums ready in under 3 weeks was an unprecedented uphill climb for me!"
“Well received" is an understatement, as the press and hundreds of fans dubbed Mr. Tobey's Expect Miracles Christmas concert a Vegas style success!
“Tobey brings the joy of Christmas to Sanderson Centre. Both his playing style and his showmanship are in the one-of-a-kind domain reserved for top professionals." --Linda Geary, The Expositor, Dec 11, 2005.
As for the Grinch who stole the Christmas music, Mr. Tobey chuckles with a grin, “I hope the jail serves a mean turkey dinner!"
Visit Paul Tobey's E-Store or get your FREE MUSIC Downloads at:
www.paultobey.com
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Paul Tobey's Anthology- a brand new specially boxed set of Tobey's recordings including 6 CDs and 1 DVD is slated for release March 2nd!
category: Art and Entertainment
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