WHERE ARE THEY NOW? #21 ~ PAUL JANZ

The next artist in my, “Where Are They Now” series is singer, songwriter, musician, author, professor, Paul Janz.

Paul was born in Three Hills where his father, Leo was one of the members of the Janz Quartet along with his two brothers and Cornie Enns. The quartet sang a lively 4 part harmony, gospel tinged style of music and were instrumental in putting Prairie College on the map along with LE Maxwell. Hard to believe now, but the quartet was fairly controversial in some parts of the country. They were actually kicked out of more than one church for what was deemed, “worldly” music.

I don’t claim to be a DNA scientist or specialist in any way but I do know this: The musical talent and thread that runs through the Janz DNA is simply remarkable. Not only Leo and his brothers but Paul’s siblings and cousins and onto the next generation of children, nieces and nephews. I’m not sure if I know any other situation quite like it.

Brought up in a very musical family, he first learned the trumpet and by age 13 was engaged with his local chapter of The Salvation Army. He was in the Janz Team Singers, then Danny, Paul and Wayne and then formed a band with his brother Ken and his cousin Danny called Deliverance in the mid ’70’s. Deliverance released 3 albums in the next 10 years having a marginal hit song with, Leaving LA.
In 1984, Paul launched his solo career, which culminated in four projects with a string of chart-topping hits from each album. 

The first solo album recorded at Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver would achieve gold record status in Canada. The success of his projects led to his nomination for a Juno Award, Canada's most prominent music award. Despite achieving great success in Canada, his U.S. record label's restructuring of its roster of artists led to the end of promotion in the American market.

This is not my story to tell so you would have to hear it or read it from Paul, but Paul abruptly quit the music business in around 1994. Done. Finished. Not even a little toe in the water. He pursued further studies and began to teach philosophy at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia before becoming Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology and Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King's College London.

Paul has written a book entitled God, the Mind's Desire: Reference, Reason and Christian Thinking published by Cambridge University Press. 

In 2004, Janz's first album High Strung was re-released on CD for the first time by Escape Music in the UK.

I am going to post a couple of things in the comment section: The first one is a song called: Praying off of Paul’s last album, Trust released in 1992. Of special note is the background choir which is the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir arranged and conducted by Larry Nickel, older brother to the famous photographer and Prairie College professor, Ron Nickel.

The second one is a very old recording of the original Janz Quartet from a Jan. 6th, 1950 recording of Hymns That Live, the radio broadcast.

(Thank you to wikipedia for the help on this one!) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llPPe8bmqeM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt4R2apRYUU&t=45s

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? #20 ~ DONALD SCOTT MASTERSON

Next up in my, "Where Are They Now" series is a 3rd generation "Prairie-ite." Donald Scott Masterson III, is a multi-talented, designer, graphic artist and painter.

Donald Scott Masterson, a multi-medium artist, has called Cannon Beach his home since 2000. Born in Oregon and growing up in Canada, his career has spanned being a graphic designer for a Nashville record label, to an Art Director for Disney and Universal Studios in China. Inspired by the beauty of Cannon Beach from his early childhood while visiting his grandmother, he would wander the local galleries and gather inspiration from artists like Jeffrey Hull and Bill Steidel. 

Donald's paintings can be seen in local restaurants and hotels such as The Stephanie Inn and Pelican Brewery, as well as in private collections around the Northwest. When he is not working in his studio at home, Donald spends his days on film sets as a scenic artist and sculptor.

 

 

Both Donald's grandfather and father taught at Prairie College and Donald is a graduate of PHS where he proudly played goal for the Sabres hockey team.

Donald's work has graced custom homes, he has designed restaurants, worked on film sets and the list goes on. Some of you will remember back in the day he designed and painted the Boxtree CD Cover.

A little known fact is that Donald also designed the Reunion Records logo in Nashville, TN and as far as I know they are still using it today.

I have known Donald since he was a wee lad and we have a love for Daniel Lanois and the Omnichord in common among other things!