
Former ‘Degrassi’ producer on becoming a recording artist at 76 and what Drake’s really like
He’s the chancellor of Trent University, an Order of Canada member, a former top entertainment attorney to the stars and has served as executive producer for most of the run of the “Degrassi” TV franchise.
And at 76, Stephen Stohn just added a new accomplishment to his impressive résumé: recording artist.
As GTA Rhythm Section, Stohn, who acted as producer, arranger and conductor, and several musicians — including Matthew Jardine, singing son of charter Beach Boys member Al Jardine — will release a six-song EP called “The Orange Sessions” next month that includes “Opus 42 — Ode to Summer,” a nine-minute track that came to Stohn in fragments while he slept (and was released Dec. 1).
“I had a whole series of dreams where I was performing music,” said Stohn, who was learning to implement the music-creation software program Ableton when the dreams occurred.
“I would be called up on stage, and it would be the most natural thing in the world. I’d just get up and I’d play, and I’d sing. There would be a band. It was great! Then I’d wake up and I would still have this melody in my head.”
Read the full article by Nick Krewen at The Toronto Star.