Markham Theatre presents Dan Hill

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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After more than 30 years in the music business, Canadian Dan Hill‘s remarkable career includes a Grammy, five Junos, four platinum and two gold albums. He has written and produced songs for Céline Dion, Alan Jackson and Britney Spears, and has licensed his songs for countless Hollywood movies. The Grammy and Juno award-winning recording artist and accomplished author, known for his long string of hit songs, like Sometimes When We Touch, mixes story and song in stripped-down, intimate performances around the world. Dan Hill performs at the Markham Theater at 2p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2012.

Toronto native, Juno award-winner Dan Hill began writing songs at age 14 and was playing professionally in small gatherings by 17. Two years later, Dan was signed to GRT Records in Canada and quickly began his rise to fame. Growing up, Hill listened to Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Hill credits Sinatra as a primary influence on his musical delivery and phrasing. In 1977, Hill’s album, Longer Fuse, and the hit single Sometimes When We Touch sealed his international success. It also gave him his third Canadian Gold album. The single Sometimes When We Touch gave Hill his first co-writing experience with the highly talented Barry Mann. The song was later covered by Tina Turner and Rod Stewart. Hill was named ‘Top New Male Vocalist’ in both Cashbox and Record World, won multiple Juno awards for ‘Composer of the Year’ and ‘Male Vocalist of the Year,’ and was nominated for a Grammy in 1977. In 1987, Hill returned to the Billboard Hot 100 with the Top 40 hit Can’t We Try, a duet with Vonda Shepard. In 2007, Hill toured with the CBC Radio program The Vinyl Cafe. In early 2009, Hill published the book I Am My Father’s Son: A Memoir of Love and Forgiveness. Following the success of his book, Hill decided to release new musical material for the first time since 1996. After nearly a decade of focusing his efforts backstage, the internationally-renowned artist put himself back in the spotlight with Intimate. Released in March 2010, the album is a blend of familiar hits he has penned for other artists and never-heard-before compositions.

Dan Hill kicked off 2011 touring the Philippines where he played a sold out show with Stephen Bishop and Yvonne Elliman at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila. Then he was front and centre for the Juno’s 40th anniversary celebrations 2011 where he presented the “Pop LP of the Year” award, performed in the Juno Decades shows and was featured in the book, Music from Far and Wide: Celebrating 40 Years of the Juno Awards (Key Porter Books).

Sometimes When We Touch: Manny Pacquiao Sings featuring Dan Hill, which was released in the United States just prior to Pacquiao’s Las Vegas match with Shane Mosley, captured international attention.

This season, Rouge Valley Retirement Residence sponsors the Matinee Performances by Dan Hill, Louise Pitre on February 16 and Jukebox Hits Live! With “Freddy Vette And The Flames” on March 8.  Matinee Performance features abbreviated versions of full evening program and complimentary refreshments courtesy of the series sponsors. Doors open at 1 p.m., Show at 2 p.m.  Matinee Single Tickets are $26.00.