Yonge Street's Amazing Music History. Carlton to Queen Street.

Mark Vendramini

Toronto's Yonge St has been described as a musical/theatre mecca equal or better than Times Square or Hollywood Blvd. This in depth tour will show you a side of "The Strip" you never knew existed. From Jazz and Blues to Hip Hop. Rock n Roll and Metal to Alternative. This 2 hour tour will visit a TON of sites of pop culture significance in Toronto and the world.

WE MEET AND BEGIN THE TOUR AT ADRIAN HAYLES INCREDIBLE 22 STORY HIGH MURAL AT 429 YONGE STREET. We then proceed south on Yonge Street stopping at a minimum 14 historic spots.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS...

We examine 2 huge 22 story murals commemorating Toronto's musical history.
You will learn what made Yonge Street a favourite location for record collectors not only from Toronto but most of Southern Ontario and Upstate New York.
The former site of Club Bluenote. Birthplace of the Toronto sound.
Yonge and Dundas. GROUND ZERO for Toronto's music scene and site of "The most decisive event in Rock and Roll history". Where Bob Dylan himself changed the course of Rock and Roll forever.
We visit the Friar's Music Museum.
The Mirvish (formerly The Imperial, formerly The Pantages) Theatre and discuss it's colourful history.
We examine the historic Massey Hall.
The scene of the most shocking crime in Toronto's history. One that changed Yonge St forever.
The corner of Yonge and Queen. Where in the 50s CHUM Radio put on a promotion that brought all of downtown to a standstill.
The tour ends at Nathan Phillips Square. Where many memorable concerts have taken place. AND PERHAPS THE MOST FAMOUS CONCERT IN THE CITY'S HISTORY... that never happened.
All this and MUCH more.

Walk Start:

429 Yonge St. South of Carlton. Near College Subway.

Yonge and Queen. Near Queen Subway.

Walk End: