Event Speaker: Johnny Brower

John Brower became a seminal figure in the Toronto music scene in 1963 when his high school rock band The Diplomats were amongst a small number of bands that reigned supreme on the Toronto circuit. His early concerts paved the way for rock promotion to become one of the country’s biggest exports as Live Nation and its progenitors benefited from Brower’s early milestone events. He was first to bring major rock artists to Canada on a weekly basis in Toronto. His club The Rockpile, a late 60’s venue following in the tradition of Bill Graham’s Fillmore held sway to everyone from The Who to Led Zeppelin and brought international stars to Toronto every week during the formative rock years. His first pop festival in June 1969 preceded Woodstock by several months. For his rock and roll revival in September of 69 he invited John Lennon who appeared unannounced with the Plastic Ono Band featuring Eric Clapton. Lennon’s appearance there is considered to be the impetus for his leaving The Beatles and striking out on his own. Wikipedia’s listing of the top 30 legendary music festivals lists five produced by Brower including; The Toronto Rock and Roll Revival 1969, where John Lennon made his break from The Beatles, The Strawberry Fields Festival, considered Canada’s Woodstock, and The Heatwave Festival, the landmark turning point in New Wave music that ushered in the 80’s. His life’s work has included poetry, creative writing, social activism and generosity of the human spirit. He is currently producing film and television properties based on his personal experiences in the music business. He lives in Venice California with an extended family that includes two dogs and three cats.