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Toronto’s folk music scene lost a living legend when Norm Hacking passed away
on November 25. The songwriter, performer, poet, columnist and
irrepressible romantic died of heart failure at his home in Toronto.
His most recent performances included April 29, 2007
at Socialist Action’s 21st
Annual Toronto May Day Celebration (Norm sang and played guitar at about
half of the last dozen SA May Day gatherings), June 16 at the Brampton
Folk Festival, June 22 at Hugh’s Room as part of Toronto City Roots
festival’s “Riverboat Revival” evening, and on July 19 as featured performer
at the open stage of his favourite east-end Toronto venue Renaissance
Café.
Norm suffered from obesity and a chronic leg infection
which affected his mobility, but his latest performances were musically
strong. Only in his last four weeks did his health take a serious
downturn.
Over the years, Norm appeared at many festivals and
released many CDs, LPs and tapes. These include his first solo LP
“Norm Hacking Live” in 1977, followed by “Cut Roses” (1980), the
acclaimed “Stubborn Ghost” (1988) and “A Day in the Studio (solo tape
1993). Available CDs are “Skysongs: A Writer’s Collection” (2001
re-issue), Norm Hacking and Kirk Elliott's “Orange Cats Make the Very
Best Friends” (2002) and “I Am the Night: Poetry and Prose by Norm Hacking”
(2005). His CD “The Ache” is completed, with graphics in
progress. “One Voice: A Tribute to Norm Hacking, Vol. 1"
(2001) includes wonderful performances of his songs by Canadian and
American songwriters.
Norm was also a stage actor, a sound track writer and
a columnist for the grassroots TaxiNews. His tastes -- a passion
for hockey (especially for the perennially underachieving Maple Leafs), a
craving for a shot of whiskey, a deep disdain for war and political
hypocrisy -- reflected his proud Scarborough working class roots.
I got to know Norm through mutual friends in the
Ontario public service who introduced my partner Elizabeth and me to the
open stages he hosted. Those modest musical showcases were endearingly
titled “Norm’s Living Room”, first held at the Tranzac Club, and later at
the Silverdollar, two unpretentious downtown Toronto pubs.
We were not surprised to be among hundreds of his fans
and admirers who packed the tiny Renaissance Café on December 6 to bid farewell
to a great soul and to perpetuate his undying memory in song.
Inspired by his search for the truth in song, we are
proud to dedicate Toronto SA’s May 1, 2008 International Workers’ Day
celebration to the memory of Norm Hacking. Here are the words to
the song "Last Dance with the Bully God" with which he often
closed his set at our gatherings:
"Bones lie bleached on a frontier trail.
Hearts lie buried at Wounded Knee.
We left behind the 'best and the brightest'
In the mud and the blood of some foreign shore, across the sea.
A thousand flags and a million graves
It's 'Hail to the Chiefs' and 'The Lords be praised'
Every god and king we died to save
Left us marching through the gates of hell.
chorus: Last dance with the bully God,
Last chance to make it right.
Last dance with the bully God,
There'll be no more Waltzin Matilda for you tonight.
Napalm creeping through the jungle vines,
Proud boy soldiers marching with their guns.
Knights in bloody armor fighting the Crusades,
Mushroom clouds of death are blocking out the sun.
chorus: ... "
Norm is survived by son Ben Hacking, Ben's wife Kim Proctor, T-Pot
(the inspiration for "When Cats Go Wrong") and many, many loyal
fans. Thanks go out to his dear friend and dedicated publicist
Shirley Gibson. For more information, including a biography, discography
and a selection of his lyrics and TaxiNews prose columns, see www.normhacking.com.
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