House of Music Breathes life into a 

Musical Career for Quinton Hobson

By William Doyle-Marshall

   

   Quinton Hobson grew up in a house of people who are into music. His mother Gillian is a pianist and his dad Trevor worked with Radio Grenada. Consequently he was surrounded by his father’s music collection. This meant he grew up listening to his father’s music choices that included Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. Those individuals inspired Quinton to sing. “I guess I started to sing before I could talk, from what I have been told,” he confessed. Being influenced by his mother’s music teaching skills and his father’s music collection, those ingredients have propelled him on to the road to a musical career.

   “The Best In Me” is one of the early songs which he worked on creating with his mother Gillian. Talking about his musical travels thus far Quinton admitted his mom did the bulk of the musical arrangement then he swooped in and helped with the lyrics – his strong point. The song will be on an upcoming album, currently being created with the hope of release by the end of the year. Already he is thinking winning a JUNO like his producer Eddie Bullen of Thunder Dome Sounds. He doesn’t have to look too far away for motivation and examples.

   Reflecting on his first public performance Quinton believes it was in third grade about the age of eight when his teacher kinda forced him to sing. Many years later he admits that he didn’t really want to but it was to be part of a small ensemble so he caved in. But the real major performance was in a talent competition for the same third grade. Naturally he was victorious. And the memory of that success still evokes a natural guttural laughter. Since then Quinton Hobson has continued to win musical contests.

                                                                       Quinton Hobson

    For two years now Quinton has entered the North York Music Festival and walked away with top prizes. Last April he won in three different categories -- Disney Solo, Pop Solo and Musical Theatre. Last year he placed second, third and fourth in the same categories of the contest. “Winning a competition means money but really it was more of a kind of journey for me, I guess from where I was to where I am now so it’s like a check mark in my life because it was the first time of rally using my voice competitively in eight years. So it was a really important time,” Quinton recalls. He will be featured in a concert July 5t at Seneca College Residence and Conference Centre, 1760 Finch Avenue, East, Toronto. It is billed as “Quintessential” and “Exquisite” with the theme “Becoming Me”. The singer/song writer promises “it’s kind of going to be a narrative from who I was against who I am now. It’s me covering some of my favourite artistes as well as some of my original music. His favourite artistes include Gloria Estefan, Michael Jackson and Elton John. There is a surprise is in store for his Caribbean people. Quinton promises to make it a memorable evening for patrons. It is going to be a collaborative effort with two of his friends. His mom Gillian Hobson will join him along with Producer Eddie Bullen.

    Prior to the competition this young man simply performed in school and at church events but he did not consider his singing talent very seriously. His other interests pre-occupied him. He was an artist/drawer first because of his love for sketching, fashion and designing and later he became interested in writing. This meant he had his eyes on creative writing – screenplays, novels and books. While Quinton has no plays or books to his credit as yet, he is hopeful that will evolve. During a CHRY Radio interview on My Data Bag last Tuesday Quinton was asked what he visualizes doing in ten year’s. He hopes to get to use all of his three skills But getting into film seems to be his preference. He loves telling people what to do. This is part way to fitting into the role of a director. Pulling the rest of the required skills together should not be too difficult for this emerging singer on the Canadian scene.