Late American-Canadian transgender soul singer Jackie Shane is the subject of a new Heritage Minute from Historica Canada.
The dramatization finds Toronto-based artist Ravyn Wngz portraying Shane, speaking of the musical success she found in Canada in spite of discrimination from media and the public.
"Turned down Ed Sullivan because he asked me to remove my makeup. Wouldn't do American Bandstand because of their segregation policies," she says. "I was just being me, never tried to explain myself to anyone. And besides, none of that don't worry Jackie — because I know I look good."
In a brief narration, Beverly Glenn-Copeland calls Shane "a pioneer ... a central figure in the Toronto R&B scene. She helped shape what we know as 'the Toronto sound.'"
You can watch the Heritage Minute below, which also features music composed by Murray Lightburn of the Dears.
Shane passed away in 2019 at age 78. Two years earlier, Numero Group released a compilation of Shane's music titled Any Other Way, named for her biggest hit.
It would mark the first time since 1969 that Shane was directly involved with the release of her own material, and went on to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Historical Album.
The dramatization finds Toronto-based artist Ravyn Wngz portraying Shane, speaking of the musical success she found in Canada in spite of discrimination from media and the public.
"Turned down Ed Sullivan because he asked me to remove my makeup. Wouldn't do American Bandstand because of their segregation policies," she says. "I was just being me, never tried to explain myself to anyone. And besides, none of that don't worry Jackie — because I know I look good."
In a brief narration, Beverly Glenn-Copeland calls Shane "a pioneer ... a central figure in the Toronto R&B scene. She helped shape what we know as 'the Toronto sound.'"
You can watch the Heritage Minute below, which also features music composed by Murray Lightburn of the Dears.
Shane passed away in 2019 at age 78. Two years earlier, Numero Group released a compilation of Shane's music titled Any Other Way, named for her biggest hit.
It would mark the first time since 1969 that Shane was directly involved with the release of her own material, and went on to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Historical Album.
