Biography
Tory Cassis has built a reputation as a vocalist, guitarist, and composer who prioritizes live performance. Through his material he consistently provokes strong reactions, moving listeners to tears or laughter with equal precision. He spent his childhood in Toronto, Canada, where weak ankles prevented him from joining neighborhood peers in hockey. While others played sports, Cassis turned toward music, first exploring singing, then teaching himself guitar and later trumpet. By high school he had resolved to make music his profession.
Rock influences from the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and the Police combined with jazz models such as Duke Ellington, Nat "King" Cole, and Count Basie, and traces of each began surfacing in the sets he performed at local clubs and any other early paying engagements he secured.
His debut album, Anywhere but Here, appeared in 1999. It earned favorable reviews and brought a Juno Award nomination for Best New Solo Artist. Songs such as "The Things I Would Say," "Sunrise," "Anywhere but Here," and "Such a Crime" illustrate his command of jazz, pop, folk, and funk, all reshaped into his own style.
One year later Cassis joined singer Holly Cole on tour, performing with her band in Japan and additional markets. Over time he has shared stages and recordings with Tyler Yarema, Terry Wilkins, Moxy Fruvous, Basil Donovan, Kathryn Rose, Mark Mariash, Ben Carlson, and numerous other musicians.
Rock influences from the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and the Police combined with jazz models such as Duke Ellington, Nat "King" Cole, and Count Basie, and traces of each began surfacing in the sets he performed at local clubs and any other early paying engagements he secured.
His debut album, Anywhere but Here, appeared in 1999. It earned favorable reviews and brought a Juno Award nomination for Best New Solo Artist. Songs such as "The Things I Would Say," "Sunrise," "Anywhere but Here," and "Such a Crime" illustrate his command of jazz, pop, folk, and funk, all reshaped into his own style.
One year later Cassis joined singer Holly Cole on tour, performing with her band in Japan and additional markets. Over time he has shared stages and recordings with Tyler Yarema, Terry Wilkins, Moxy Fruvous, Basil Donovan, Kathryn Rose, Mark Mariash, Ben Carlson, and numerous other musicians.
Albums