Multi-intrumentalist Singer Songwriter Performer. Born in 1955, Douglas John Cameron grew up in Midland, Ontario where he studied piano and began composing songs at the age of nine. Through high school and University he styled himself after the folk-singers of the day and played bass and guitar in rock, country and quasi-jazz bands. In the late 70s and early 80s Douglas played in The CeeDees and The Maja Bannerman Band, part of the nascent ‘New Wave’ scene in Toronto. In 1985 Douglas teamed up with composer and producer Jack Lenz to produce “Mona With The Children”, released on True North Records. The song and video told the story of a sixteen- year-old girl who had been imprisoned and executed in Iran because of her beliefs. “Mona” went top twenty in Canada and told Mona’s story to a generation of young people, garnering a Juno nomination. As the whirlwind experience of rock stardom wound down, Douglas entered the Music Program at York University, earning an honours degree with a major in vocal studies. He also began to transform himself into a children’s entertainer, aka Douglas John. Douglas John’s first album for children Rainbows was produced by the legendary Ken Whiteley of Raffi fame. Douglas John has also written and recorded over 30 songs for Ants In Your Pants, Canada’s top preschool music video program seen on Treehouse TV. He appears in a number of the videos aired daily on the popular program. Ants In Your Pants! Volume 1 – the album featuring songs from the TV show – was nominated for a Juno award in 2000. Fueled by the popularity of the TV series, Douglas John also performs live Ants In Your Pants shows regularly across Canada. He also conducts a fun-filled song writing seminar for kids, called The Rainbow Songwriting Workshop. His latest children’s album Tickadeeboo! (2002) is entirely self-produced and performed. Douglas John also composes music for television. His credits include Discovery Channel’s Go For It and The Body Inside, HBO’s Dear America, HGTV’s (Home & Garden Television’s) Designer Guys, and Holmes On Homes and GlobalTelevision’s Doc. Douglas John lives in Toronto and when not performing for children, plays regularly with Toronto Celtic group Joyce’s Folly, country/blues/jazz combo The Louisiana Snowblowers, and blues-R n’B band Three-Chord Johnny. Learn more about Douglas here.
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