Ness Michaels

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The Music Industry Award will be presented to Ness Michaels, owner of Sunshine Records and champion of Canadian Aboriginal Music for 25 years. Ness has been working in the music industry since 1970, and founded Sunshine Records in the mid-‘70s. Ness is known for “going the extra mile” to help Aboriginal groups get their music heard. He has produced recordings of country, rock, pow wow, comedy, hip hop and gospel music. Sunshine Records is also regular talent contest supporter, donating hundreds of hours of recording time to up and coming Aboriginal artists. Ness’ philosophy and life work has been to both preserve and promote Native culture.

Nominations for these three awards were made by people across Canada and are selected by a special Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards advisory panel representing the Aboriginal Music industry across Canada.

A Background

Ness Michaels has spent his life in a world of music.

After working a number of years as a salesman in the music business, Ness founded Sunshine Records in 1974. The label quickly became a home for the multicultural mosaic of music that was found in Manitoba.

Among the first artists signed to Sunshine Records were Métis fiddling legend Reg Bouvette and artists such as Winston Wuttunee and the Vic Thunderchild Singers. Over the next thirty years countless Aboriginal, Métis, and Inuit artists found a home at Sunshine Records. Sunshine was developing artists in a genre that would not be recognized by the mainstream for many years to come.

Over three decades the Sunshine label has accumulated nearly 900 titles. The majority of these titles feature the music of Canada's remarkable aboriginal artists, whether it is traditional or contemporary in nature.

Ness has played a role in the development of artists such as Tom Jackson, Ernest Monias, Ray St. Germaine, Chantal Kreviazuk, Kashtin, and Susan Aglukark. Many of Sunshine's artists have won JUNOS and Aboriginal Music Awards.

Today, the Sunshine Group is one of Canada's most innovative independent records companies with six labels, two studios (Platinum/Gold Studios), manufacturing facilities, and a number of Web sites. In 2003, the Sunshine Group launched Beartraxx.com: the world first music download service devoted entirely to the music of Aboriginal artists.

The Sunshine Group also plays a vital role in the Aboriginal Music Network (an online resource centre for artists), The First Nations Audio and Video Co-op, and the Aboriginal Icon talent search.

Ness is proud of his efforts and has no intention of slowing down. Sitting on various committees is all part of a day's work for Ness, and he is currently a member of the Aboriginal Music Awards Advisory Committee. He continues to be instrumental in the development of new talent and in the search for new markets and opportunities for Canada's Aboriginal artists at home and abroad.