Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Upon first hearing verses of Homer & Rumi generations of poets were grateful for the transfer of creativity from hand to hand. Words immediately became destiny. Poetry hit us with its power of immediacy and from that point the power transmitted back out from us. Poets live in exile where life is led away by what must be spoken meets what cannot be said. Each word is a catalyst, requiring the writer to touch upon “what” & “who.” We examine suffering where all the secrets of being human lie. Some of my influences are  Leonard Cohen, Gil Scott Heron, Kirk Nugent, Jayne Cortez, Billie Holiday, Irving Layton, my Dad, my Aunt, Anne Frank, Langston Hughes, Jack Kerouac, Quincy Troupe, Charles Aznavour, Nikki Giovanni, Yvon Deschamps, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Sarah Vaughn, Claude Dubois, Robert Charlebois, Felic Leclerc, Sonia Sanchez,  Oscar Brown Jr, Quincy Jones.    

Voted best spoken word act for several years., including 2011 and 2010.(Best of Montreal Readers' poll)

Awarded writing grants for 3 shows, 1 in French and 2 in English.

Won 1st prize in several Comedy competitions as well as visual arts competitions (for designing of wall mural, acrylic painting and pencil drawing.)