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Tam to premiere Rain single at PoCo Rotary fundraiser

Peter Tam performs at a PoCo brunch for a fundraiser Sunday
Peter
Peter Tam

 

Peter Tam is thinking a lot about the rain these days: How it affects moods, what kind of sound it makes when it hits the ground, when there’s a break with the clouds.

Rain — and the turbulent Pacific Northwest weather — are themes he’s pursing with his new song collection, a body of work he hopes to enter for next year’s Juno Awards.

Last Tuesday, the Maple Ridge musician released the first of his new tunes, aptly titled Thanks for the rain, produced by Andrew Van Slee, who has worked with Michael Bublé.

The pop-jazz song, Tam wrote on his website, “is a contribution of having gratitude for adversity in appreciation for how it gives us strength and resilience.”

Sunday, he’ll premiere it at PoCo Blues: The Brunch series, a Rotary Club of Port Coquitlam Centennial fundraiser for the Starfish Pack Program in PoCo.

His five-piece band will also cover songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and other crooners.

Tam said he’s happy to entertain at the event as he has been a member of the Rotary Club of Haney for 11 years and is in his second year as president; that club also supports a lunch bag program for kids whose families are in financial need.

Although Tam doesn’t volunteer his musical talents with the Haney club, he’s known around the region for performing at private functions and running cultural drum circles.

His latest thrust for composing came this year after he listened to David Foster at the Juno Awards gala in London, Ont.

The Grammy award-winning songwriter, arranger and producer was honoured for his humanitarian efforts and backing charities with his foundation.

Tam, a Juno Award judge for three years, was also able to hobnob behind the scenes with nominees and fellow artists, and was drawn to their passion for creating music. Their words galvanized his decision to make the jump from Juno judge to Juno applicant.

“Coming back from London, I had this clear vision of where to go,” he told The Tri-City News. “I was inspired by speaking to these people and hearing from David Foster.”

Now, with his first single out, his plan is to produce 11 more and have them available on digital platforms and via an old-fashioned format: pressed into vinyl.

For tickets to PoCo Blues: The Brunch Series featuring Peter Tam, visit pocorotary.ca. The fundraiser takes place Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Bennett Craft and Kitchen (2099 Lougheed Hwy., PoCo).