Cover Me Canada announces judges

From a media release:

POP SUPERSTAR JORDAN KNIGHT, R&B SENSATION DEBORAH COX AND RENOWNED RECORD EXECUTIVE RON FAIR TO JUDGE CANADIAN MUSIC HOPEFULS ON CBC’S COVER ME CANADA

Nicole Appleton, host of Cover Me Canada

When the aspiring musical acts chosen to battle it out on CBC’s new epic reality music competition series COVER ME CANADA strut their stuff for Canadians, they will be judged by a panel composed of some of the most successful players in the music business.

Showman and pop superstar Jordan Knight, renowned songstress Deborah Cox and star-maker and veteran producer Ron Fair will draw from their years of experience in all aspects of the music business as they offer advice to – and pronounce judgment upon – the COVER ME CANADA contenders.

Beginning Sunday, September 18 at 9:00 p.m. (9:30 NT), host Nicole Appleton (former All Saints band member – pictured) and the judging panel will preside as a group of eight finalist acts (to be announced) perform live in a bid to win the hearts of the nation and the opportunity of a lifetime: a $100,000 cash prize and a recording contract for their first original single to be released by Universal Music Canada.

Bio highlights for the COVER ME CANADA judges:

THE SHOWMAN – JORDAN KNIGHT: Few performers in music history have achieved the height of global pop stardom as Jordan Knight has experienced. New Kids On The Block has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in concert revenues and paved the way for other boy bands like Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. As a solo artist, he has had four U.S. Top 40 singles and sold over 1.5 million records. A dual Canadian/US citizen, Jordan and most of his extended family hail from the Ontario area. He comes to COVER ME CANADA fresh off a series of sold-out arena dates on the New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys co-headlining tour. Jordan’s incredible success as a performer makes him the ideal person to judge the COVER ME CANADA competitors on all aspects of performance and showmanship.

THE SONGSTRESS – DEBORAH COX: Born in Toronto, raised in Scarborough, Deborah Cox was discovered by legendary record industry mogul Clive Davis when she was singing backup for Celine Dion. Her 1988 smash #1 single, Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here, ruled the Billboard R&B charts for a record-setting 14 weeks. She has had ten #1 hits on Billboard’s Dance chart and has garnered three Juno Awards and nominations for an American Music Award, Soul Train Award, Image Award and a Genie. With Deborah’s amazing musical resume, she is perfectly placed to judge the COVER ME CANADA competitors on their musicality.

THE STAR-MAKER – RON FAIR: He discovered Christina Aguilera, put Fergie in the Black Eyed Peas, shepherded the Pussycat Dolls to worldwide success and has produced one of the most successful covers in music history, the international triple-platinum #1 single Lady Marmalade (featuring Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil’ Kim). Ron Fair recently served as Chair of Geffen Records, the latest accomplishment in his 30-year career as a chart-topping producer and record company executive. Ron’s history in the business and his keen eye for what makes a star will serve him well on the COVER ME CANADA judging panel, as he judges the competitors on their interpretations of iconic Canadian songs and produces the single from the winner of COVER ME CANADA.

COVER ME CANADA is produced by Temple Street Productions based on a format co-created by 11 Entertainment and CBC.

For more information, including a full list of rules and regulations, visit:

On the web: www.cbc.ca/covermecanada

On twitter: @cbccoverme

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