Kevin Quain

Kevin Quain
Background information
GenresCabaret, jazz, rock n' roll
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, playwright, actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, accordion, banjo, piano, guitar, bass, musical saw
Years active1997–present
LabelsIndependent
Websitekevinquain.com

Kevin Quain is a cabaret artist, singer-songwriter playwright, composer and producer of audio recordings,[1] who operates out of the Cameron House in Toronto, Canada.[2]

Since 1995 he has performed long-running weekly residencies at various Toronto venues including The Cameron House, The Rex Hotel, and Graffiti's.[3] He has produced recordings for other artists, in his small studio above Cameron House. He has worked with Michelle Rumball,[4] Max Metrault, Frank & Max Evans, Sue & Dwight, and Carnival Diablo.[citation needed]

Quain edited The Elvis Reader: Texts and Sources on the King of Rock 'N' Roll.[citation needed]

He is a self-taught musician, singer/songwriter,[5] and playwright.[6] He has written music for film, TV, and the stage, and has performed with scores of artists including The Mahones, Carnival Diablo, and Mary Margaret O'Hara. He describes his unique music genre with The Mad Bastards as "garage jazz cabaret noir".[7]

Quain created Tequila Vampire Matinee, a retelling of the opera Pagliacci, which opened in Toronto at Theatre Passe Muraille in November 2003 with Ted Dykstra directing.[8] The show received six Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations in the General Theatre category.[9] Kevin received the award for Outstanding New Musical.[10]

  1. ^ "Kevin Quain: Biography". www.kevinquain.com. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  2. ^ Davey, Steven (9 November 2006). "Cameron celebrates 25". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  3. ^ Macfarlane, David (4 December 2013). "It's a pity when people don't stop to hear the music: David Macfarlane". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  4. ^ "MICHELLE RUMBALL..and sometimes the BEAUTY SALOON - Photos". www.michellerumball.com. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Playwright threw it all over to sing in small, painful pond". Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Recipients - TAPA". TAPA. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  7. ^ Mills, Carys (22 December 2012). "Mad Bastards' 17-year run at Cameron House coming to end". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Tequila Vampire Matinee: The Musical". www.tequilavampire.com. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Nominees". tapa.ca. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Recipients - TAPA". TAPA. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2018.