Gregory Charles to host Canadian songwriters tribute

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame has lined up Montreal entertainer extraordinaire Gregory Charles to host its upcoming gala.

Charles — who balances work as a recording artist, musician, actor, choir director and CBC Radio and Radio-Canada host — will emcee the music-filled March 1 gala in Toronto, organizers said in a statement Wednesday.

The celebration — which will be the fifth edition honouring Canadian songwriters and their compositions — will include performances by indie music siblings Martha and Rufus Wainwright, jazz vocalist Dione Taylor, Quebec artists Les Respectables and Boom Desjardins, noted pianist Oliver Jones and gospel choir The Faith Chorale.

Artists slated for induction this year include Ottawa-born crooner Paul Anka, big band songwriter Alex Kramer, and francophone songwriters Andre Lejeune and Claude Dubois.

The late Oscar Peterson, who died on Dec. 23, will be honoured with the hall's Frank Davies Legacy Award, which recognizes his "work and its significant impact on the development and recognition of Canadian songwriters both nationally and internationally."

More than 20 songs, including selections by this year's laureates and tracks like Love Child (recorded by the Supremes), Heart Like a Wheel (Anna McGarrigle) and Peterson's Canadiana Suite and Hymn to Freedom, will be inducted into the hall of fame as well.

Past inductees have included Joni Mitchell, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot and Hank Snow.

Selections from the gala will be broadcast in the days afterwards on CBC Radio One and Two as well as on CBC Television.