NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE LAUNCHES SPECIAL EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO DEBORAH COX ON MAY 14
EXHIBITION TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND CAREER OF 2022 CANADIAN MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
(Calgary, AB — May 12, 2022) The National Music Centre (NMC) is pleased to launch a new temporary exhibition at Studio Bell in partnership with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), honouring 2022 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Deborah Cox.
The new exhibition launches ahead of the multi-platinum R&B/pop icon’s induction at the 2022 JUNO Awards on Sunday, May 15 in her hometown of Toronto. Cox will be the first Black woman to receive the national honour. But that is just one of the many firsts this singer, songwriter, actress and advocate has accomplished over three decades, including her ground-breaking role as the first Black Lucy in Broadway’s Jekyll & Hyde and three studio albums released with the legendary Clive Davis.
“Becoming the first Black female artist to enter the Canadian Music Hall of Fame is a colossal moment, beyond anything that I could have ever dreamed,” said Deborah Cox. “I’m honoured to have my musical journey and many of the impactful moments in my career captured in this exhibition. I hope the next generation of aspiring artists who see this exhibition are inspired to make their dreams a reality.”
Over her 30-year career, Cox has released six critically-acclaimed albums that have generated chart-topping hits such as “Who Do U Love,” “We Can’t Be Friends,” and “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” which earned her a Billboard Music Award nomination for R&B Single of the Year. She has racked up multiple JUNO Awards, as well as a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award nomination, a Soul Train Award, and a Lady of Soul Award, among many other achievements.
The new exhibition was built to resemble a larger-than-life Hall of Fame magazine-style spread using digital technologies. Through storytelling, animation, and video clips, visitors will learn about Cox’s career in the entertainment industry, from her humble beginnings as a background vocalist and her work with other music legends, to her time on Broadway and in film, as well as her advocacy work with the LGBTQ community.
Featured artifacts include a stunning outfit from Cox’s performance in the Broadway Musical The Bodyguard, and an outfit from her hit music video, “Who Do U Love,” as well as a huge selection of photographs of the artist from a career spanning more than 30 years. The temporary exhibition is located in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame gallery at Studio Bell, which has been completely updated over the past year.
“National Music Centre is proud to amplify this significant milestone in Canadian music history,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO, NMC. “Deborah introduced Canadian R&B to the world well before The Weeknd or Drake. This induction marks a Hall of Fame ‘first’ and a much-deserved tribute to her exceptional 30-year career.”
“We are thrilled to honour Deborah’s legacy and her induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with this new exhibition that will find its home at the National Music Centre,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards. “Curated to capture the depth of Deborah’s impact within music and beyond, we are ecstatic for visitors to rediscover Cox’s decorated past. We know this recognition will help inspire a new generation of artists.”
Canadian Music Hall of Fame: Deborah Cox is accessible with pay-what-you-can admission to Studio Bell and will run from May 14, 2022 until February 2023. Starting on May 19, 2022, Studio Bell will shift to extended spring hours, open Thursday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, allowing music fans more opportunities to see the exhibition.
About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music and is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
About CARAS
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and promote higher artistic and industry standards. CARAS’ mandate is comprised of four key pillars: Educate through our music education charity, MusiCounts, programs and initiatives, Develop emerging artists through mentorship and development programs, Celebrate Canadian artists with year-round JUNO Awards showcasing, and Honour music industry icons through the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In 2021 The JUNO Awards celebrated its 50th Anniversary, with a national celebration of Canadian music. For more information on the JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit junoawards.ca.
About the Canadian Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame was established in 1978 and recognizes Canadian artists that have attained commercial success while having a positive impact on the Canadian music scene here at home and around the world. Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary, is the physical home to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame collection. NMC works closely with the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) to collect and exhibit items within the collection. As the governing body for the Hall of Fame, CARAS makes annual inductions in the artist, industry, and humanitarian categories each year at the JUNO Awards. For more information, please visit canadianmusichalloffame.ca.
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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
National Music Centre
T. 403.543.5123 | C. 403.710.4758
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada