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The Tenors

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The Tenors
Also known asThe Canadian Tenors
OriginVictoria, British Columbia, Canada
Messina, Sicily, Italy
GenresOperatic pop
Years active2004–present
LabelsUniversal Music Canada, Decca Verve
Members
Past members
  • Remigio Pereira
  • Jamie McKnight
  • Fraser Walters
  • Joey Niceforo
  • Philip Grant
  • Ken Lavigne
  • Paul Ouellette
  • Frederik Robert
  • Craig Ashton
  • Leon Leontaridis
  • Giovanni Amenta
  • Peter McCutcheon
Websitetenorsmusic.com

The Tenors (formerly known as The Canadian Tenors) are a vocal group consisting of Victor Micallef, Clifton Murray, Alberto Urso, and Mark Masri. They perform operatic pop music that is a mixture of classical and pop, featuring songs such as "The Prayer", Panis angelicus,[1] and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.[2]

Originating from Canada, Micallef and Masri from Toronto, Urso from Sicily, and Murray from Port McNeill, the Tenors have performed on more than 60 international television programs. They appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show with Celine Dion in 2010,[3] at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011,[4] and on ITV's Diamond Jubilee Show at Windsor Castle for Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. They also appeared on the 2009 and 2016 Grey Cup broadcasts, on CBC Television's Holiday Festival of Ice,[5] and at the 85th Annual Rockefeller Tree Lighting which aired on NBC on November 29, 2017.

The venues they have performed in include Carnegie Hall in New York,[6] the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC,[6] the Israeli Opera House in Tel Aviv, and the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

They have shared the stage with Sarah McLachlan,[7] Neil Young,[8] Paul Anka,[9] Justin Bieber,[9] Charice,[10] Paul McCartney,[11] Brian McKnight, David Foster,[7] Natalie Cole, and Jackie Evancho.[12]

Universal Music Group released their platinum-selling self-titled debut album and double-platinum holiday album, The Perfect Gift, in November 2009. The Tenors filmed a PBS special at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts that began airing in 2012.[13]

The Canadian Tenors were renamed The Tenors in November 2012 in advance of their third album, Lead with Your Heart.[14] Also in 2012, The Tenors signed a US distribution deal with Verve Records.

Lead with Your Heart went platinum in Canada in seven weeks. The album garnered a 2013 JUNO Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year [15] and a JUNO nomination for the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award for Bob Ezrin's production of "Forever Young". Lead with Your Heart was featured on Katie, Good Morning America, Access Hollywood, ET Canada, CNN Morning Live, e-Talk and FOX & Friends.

With the departure of Fraser Walters from the group in July 2022, The Tenors add Canada's Mark Masri and Italy's Alberto Urso in August to continue as 4 singers.

Career

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Origin

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The group was the creation of Jill Ann Siemens, originally as a trio (Philip Grant, Paul Ouellette, and Ken Lavigne) and debuted in 2004 in Victoria. In 2005, a new re-envisioned group consisting of Craig Ashton, Joey Niceforo and Leon Leontaridis released their self-titled debut The Canadian Tenors (Warner). Siemens then did a cross-Canada search to find four new voices and chose Micallef, Remigio Pereira, Walters, and Jamie McKnight. They released their second self-titled album The Canadian Tenors in 2009.[16]

Walters, Micallef, and Pereira sang a repertoire of popular and classical music together for seven years. In January 2009 Clifton Murray replaced Jamie McKnight.[3]

2009–2011: The Perfect Gift

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The band released their first holiday album The Perfect Gift on November 3, 2009,[17] which was later certified platinum by Music Canada.

In September of that year, the group toured with David Foster as the opening act. They performed O Canada at the 2009 Grey Cup game.

On February 10, 2010, the Tenors appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Unbeknownst to them, Oprah Winfrey had arranged for a surprise; midway through their rendition of "Hallelujah", Celine Dion came onstage and sang the rest of the song with the group.[6]

The Perfect Gift was released in the US on October 12, 2010, and has since peaked at #7 on the Top Holiday Albums Chart.

On December 13, 2010, The group performed during a holiday special called Canadian Tenors and Friends, which drew 957,000 viewers.[18] The performance included the Tenors, Justin Bieber, and Jackie Evancho.

The Canadian Tenors appeared at the 2011 Emmy Awards, performing a version of Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah".

Another special called Season of Song featuring the Tenors aired December 14, 2011, attracting 743,000 viewers.[19]

2012–2014: Lead with Your Heart

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The band announced on July 25, 2012, that they were signed by David Foster to Verve Records.[20]

The group's third album Lead with Your Heart was released in Canada on October 9, 2012, through Universal Music Canada. Lead with Your Heart is a 12- track classical crossover album. It includes covers of Forever Young, Amazing Grace and Nessun Dorma. The album also includes new compositions written by The Tenors. Walter Afanasieff, Bob Ezrin, and Marco Marinangeli have production and co-writing credits on the album.

The album's first single "I Believe" was released on iTunes on July 24, 2012 and was sampled on CTV during the 2012 Summer Olympics.[21]

The album was released in the United States on January 15, 2013, and debuted at No. 1 on the Classical Crossover Albums chart and No. 21 on Billboard 200, selling 16,000 copies in its first week.[22]

The group was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on January 24, 2013.[23]

On August 2, 2013, Lead with Your Heart was released in the United Kingdom. Later that year The Tenors appeared on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

In October 2013, The Tenors released the single "I Thank You" with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America spokesperson and Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

Conceived by Kenny Munshaw and co-written with The Tenors and Marc Jordan, "I Thank You" was recorded in London and produced by Grammy nominated producer and songwriter Sacha Skarbek.

2015–2016: Under One Sky

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The Tenors performing for the 2017 Invictus Games opening ceremony at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto

The Tenors recorded their second PBS Special on March 12, 2015, at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, featuring their new album, Under One Sky. The CD was released in Canada on May 4, 2015 and hit number one on iTunes within days. In the US, the release date was held back a month, to coincide with the June 2015 release of the PBS special to public television stations. Under One Sky features both original and re-recorded songs, and was well received at the PBS taping by a live, international audience. The PBS Special DVD was pre-released on May 13, 2015, for June 6 shipping.

An 18-date Under One Sky tour of Canada was announced in April 2015 to promote the new album.[24][25]

MLB 2016 All-Star Game controversy

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In July 2016, Remigio Pereira was removed from the group after he altered the lyrics to the Canadian national anthem at the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego—from "With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free," to "We're all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great", and held up a sign with the phrase.[26][27]

2019 NBA Finals

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The Tenors became the first act to perform "O Canada" at an NBA Finals game, on May 30, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.[28]

2022

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Mark Masri and Italian singer Alberto Urso joined the group after Fraser Walters' departure.

2024

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In September 2024, they performed the American and Canadian national anthems with pop singer Rêve during the 2024 Presidents Cup opening ceremony.

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album Peak positions Sales Certifications
(sales threshold)
CAN
[29] 		CAN
Class 		NLD US
[30] 		US
Album
Sales 		US
Class 		US
Digital 		US
Christ 		US
Holiday
2005 The Canadian Tenors — — — — — — — — —
2008 The Canadian Tenors
  • Released: November 25, 2008
  • Label: Universal, Decca
  • Format: CD, digital download
 22 2[31] 15 49 — 1 24 2 —
2009 The Perfect Gift
  • Holiday album
  • Released: November 3, 2009
  • Label: Universal, Decca
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — 3 — 200 — 1 — — 7
  • MC: 3× Platinum[34]
2012 Lead with Your Heart
  • Released: October 9, 2012
  • Label: Universal, Decca, Verve
  • Format: CD, digital download
 3 — — 21 — 1 — — —
2015 Under One Sky
  • Released: May 4, 2015
  • Label: Universal
  • Format: CD, digital download
 3 — — 98 49 1 — — —
2017 Christmas Together
  • Released: October 13, 2017
  • Label: Universal
  • Format: CD, digital download
 16 — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes the album did not chart.

Singles

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As lead artist

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Year Single Peak chart positions Album
CAN CAN
Vocal 		US
Vocal 		NL
2008 "Hallelujah" 56 1 1[38] 39 The Canadian Tenors
"Silent Night" — — — — The Perfect Gift
2012 "I Believe" — — — — Lead with Your Heart
2013 "I Thank You (The Tenors)" — — — — I Thank You
"—" denotes the single didn't chart.
[edit]
Year Single Album
2021 "O Holy Night"
(Tyler Shaw featuring The Tenors) 		A Tyler Shaw Christmas

References

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  1. ^ Amanda Stephenson (2009-12-05). "Canadian Tenors a winning combination". Medicine Hat News.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Richard Ouzounian (2009-11-21). "The Canadian Tenors find perfect harmony". Toronto Star.
  3. ^ a b Iain MacIntyre (2012-12-14). "Tenor Fraser Walters struck right note on field". The Vancouver Sun.
  4. ^ Emmys (2011-09-19). "In Memoriam : Primetime Emmys 2011 Season". Emmys.
  5. ^ [1] Archived January 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b c Singing Oprah's Praises. CBC. 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Richard Ouzounian (2009-11-21). "The Canadian Tenors Find Perfect Harmony". The Star. Toronto.
  8. ^ Chart Attack (2009-09-09). "Sarah McLachlan's Summer Sessions At Ambleside Lineup Finalized". The Star. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ a b CBC (2012-12-12). "Season of Song: The Canadian Tenors and Friends". CBC.
  10. ^ "Charice — 'The Prayer', with The Canadian Tenors". CBC. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ Nicola McCafferty (2012-06-19). "Interview: The Tenors - Clifton Murray, Fraser Walters and Victor Micallef". OK UK.
  12. ^ "Jackie Evancho - Come What May (from Music of the Movies)". YouTube. 17 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.
  13. ^ David Gordon (2012-07-02). "The Canadian Tenors to Record Upcoming PBS Special at Las Vegas' Smith Center". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  14. ^ Michael posner (2012-11-02). "Meet The Tenors Formerly Known as the Canadian Tenors". Globe and Mail. Toronto.
  15. ^ ET Canada (2013-04-21). "Juno Awards Winners Include Carly Rae Jepsen, The Weeknd and The Tenors". ET Canada Online. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014.
  16. ^ The Canadian Press (2008-12-28). "Canadian Tenors hitting the beach after whirlwind year". Cape Breton Post.
  17. ^ "The Perfect Gift (US Version) by The Canadian Tenors". iTunes. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  18. ^ Bill Brioux (2010-12-21). "Ratings across Canada Dec. 13 - 19". TV Feeds My Family.
  19. ^ [2] Archived January 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ [3][dead link]
  21. ^ "CTV to bring back Olympic anthem 'I Believe' with new version by The Tenors | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  22. ^ "Chart Moves: The Tenors, Yo La Tengo, Civil Wars Debut in Top 40 on Billboard 200". Billboard. 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  23. ^ "Global News | Latest & Current News - Weather, Sports & Health News". Globaltoronto.com. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2015-08-12.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ "The Tenors 2015 Under One Sky Tour Schedule". April 29, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  25. ^ "The Tenors announce 18 Canadian dates on 'Under One Sky' tour". April 28, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  26. ^ "Tenor Remigio Pereira leaves Ontario concert tour after O Canada anthem incident". National Post. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  27. ^ Allison, Alexis (July 12, 2016). "'Lone wolf' Tenors singer changed O Canada lyrics to include 'all lives matter' at all-star game". CBC Sports. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  28. ^ "For the first time ever, O Canada was sung at a NBA Finals game and it's giving us goosebumps". 30 May 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  29. ^ "The Tenors Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  30. ^ "The Tenors Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  31. ^ "CANOE - JAM! Music - SoundScan Charts". Jam.canoe.ca. 2015-04-21. Archived from the original on 2005-04-17. Retrieved 2015-08-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  32. ^ "US Billboard Top 200 Albums - 03/06/2010 - (with sales) - BuzzJack Music Forum". Buzzjack.com. 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  33. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certification". Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  34. ^ "Canadian album certifications – The Canadian Tenors – The Perfect Gift". Music Canada.
  35. ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015.
  36. ^ "Canadian album certifications – The Canadian Tenors – Lead with Your Heart". Music Canada.
  37. ^ Alan Cross (2015-05-14). "A Journal of Musical ThingsWeekly Music Sales Report and Analysis: 13 May 2015". A Journal of Musical Things. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  38. ^ [4] Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
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