Siren Catherine Hughes lights up church at fundraiser

November 12, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons
There’s a new singing sweetheart in King.
Catherine Hughes will fill the air with some vintage favourites, taking centre stage for the upcoming “Diva in the Rough” fundraising concert.
The event, in support of the restoration fund for Christ Church, Kettleby, will take place this Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m.
Hughes will combine the great songs of the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s with irreverent humour to create a wonderfully entertaining night.
She will be joined by long-time accompanist and butt-of-jokes Don Guinn on piano. For the performance, she’s also managed to enlist the talents of Toronto actor Jamie Lee Symister to add a unique panache to the performance.
“I’m so glad to be performing again and to be able to bring this music to my audience while lovingly berating my friends and neighbours is a dream come true for me. I get to do my two favourite things at once,” she said. “What a bonus to be able to perform in my new home of Kettleby, supporting the restoration of our beautiful local church. It is an honour to perform here in front of the community that has been so welcoming to my family and me.”
The concert is a benefit to raise much-needed funds to restore Christ Church, a beautiful century stone church in the charming historic hamlet of Kettleby. Some 150 years ago, Kettleby was a bustling village known locally as a temperance town, home to two churches and a temperance hall, which has since been moved to Black Creek Pioneer Village.
“To perform this music in a hall of that time adds authenticity. I personally invite you all to come on down to Temperance Town for a serenade and shindig. I promise you won’t be disappointed,” she said.
It’s a roaring 1920s theme and many costume-clad volunteers will be greeting guests at the door.
Tickets are $20 with 50% of ticket sales going to the church restoration fund. They are available at the door, or reserve in advance through kitteridge@sympatico.ca or by calling 905-727-2725.
There will be a cash bar and free canapés. Doors open at 7:30. The Parish Hall is at 292 Kettleby Road, north of Lloydtown-Aurora Road between Jane and Keele Streets in King Township.
The project came together thanks to local residents and some neighbourhood women who Hughes refers to as the “dream team.”
While it’s not her parish, the church needs a lot in terms of maintenance and upgrades so she was willing to pitch in.
“It’s part of my community,” she observed.
Hughes and her family moved to Kettleby just over a year ago, leaving her Toronto home in search of fresh air and open spaces. King fit the bill.
Compared with other sirens who emulate that classic era, Hughes’s vocals are more playful than sultry, a bit more light-hearted than vampish. The notes fall effortlessly from her lips and there’s a sparkle in her eyes that speaks volumes.
And you just gotta hear her!
This self-taught torch singer has been hanging around smoke-filled lounges for most of her youth. Her talent and style has evolved over the past two decades, almost like a fine wine. It’s all about the grapes.
Hughes is a storyteller, a chanteuse with a penchant for comedy.
She comes from a long line of entertainers and actors, some of whom have actually been successful enough to make a living at it. Her own career has gone from radio to film and special effects makeup.
She worked on Manson (2009) and True Crime Scene (2006), but her crowning achievement was the 2010 TV movie Storming Juno, where she handled all the special effects makeup, almost single-handedly. This docudrama retells the story of the historic Canadian assault of Juno Beach on D-Day, as told via reenactment and through interviews with veterans.
It was a massive feat, she said, and a “great piece of work to go out on.”
But she’s always been drawn to the Shure dynamic microphone.
One of her favourite haunts has been Statler’s in Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village. It’s a popular spot for locals to grab a drink, listen to some music and people watch from the second floor balcony.
She spends her time lately being a ghost writer and script doctor. But that doesn’t mean she’s slowing down, quite the contrary.
“I’m just getting started,” she said. “I’m a late bloomer.”
She revels in human folly and fine tunes her dry wit every chance she gets. She enjoys making fun of herself, as much as engaging audiences.
Her own taste in music is quite eclectic, and ranges from Nina Simone to Harry Belafonte and The Killers.
But she freely admits “I’m happiest when I’m singing.”
She’s quite willing to perform and has done a number of memorable benefit concerts.
Don’t miss the “Diva in the Rough” concert and this amazing King talent. It’s all for a good cause.