The Tenors All Star Game Canadian National Anthem "Oh Canada" Remigio Pereira,
Remigio Pereira likes to bill himself as a team player.
Every decision we make is a group decision, the (perhaps former) member of the singing quartet the Tenors told the Star in 2010. When it comes to the group, we all have to want to sing something or it doesnt wind up on the stage.
Pereiras Facebook page features a close-up photo of a bright red flower with the message: Like petals to a flower, we all belong to each other.
So what was Pereira thinking at Tuesday nights Major League Baseball all-star game when he apparently stunned his fellow Tenors by changing the lyrics of O Canada?
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Remigio Pereira, left, holds up a sign as he sings modified lyrics to "O Canada" during a performance by The Tenors at the Major League Baseball all-star game in San Diego on Monday.(Major League Baseball)Remigio Pereira"s status with The Tenors was in doubt Tuesday after he changed the lyrics of "O Canada" during a performance at the Major League Baseball all-star game.(Damian Dovarganes / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)Were all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great, Pereira sang, instead of, With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the true north strong and free.
He also held up a handwritten sign saying united we stand and all lives matter, and made a peace sign.
Pereira did not respond to a request for an explanation from the Star.
The Tenors manager, Jeffrey Latimer of Toronto, could also not be reached for comment.
For their part, the other three members of the vocal quartet have apologized via Twitter to pretty much everyone on the face of the earth and called it a lone wolf act that was extremely selfish and shameful.
The Tenors, whose other members are Victor Micallef from Toronto, Fraser Walters from Vancouver and Murray from Port McNeill on Vancouver Island, are a Juno Award-winning quartet that tours the globe in tuxedoes and skinny suits, performing a mixture of classical and pop.
Pereira was with them from their inception in 2006, when they were called The Canadian Tenors. They changed their name in 2012, the year they signed a U.S. distribution deal with Verve Records.
Their first big gig was in November 2007 at the Winter Garden Theatre on Yonge St.
They are booked for the summer in the U.S. Their next scheduled date is July 29 at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, on the same bill as Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Chris Boti.
Tickets were still on sale as of Wednesday, when comedian Mark Critch tweeted: #TheTenors used to known as The Canadian Tenors. Now they are known as the unbookable Tenors.
Pereiras actions lit up the Internet on a number of hashtags, including #lonewolftenor, #anthemgate, #tenorism, #TheTenors and #ocanada.
h**l hath no fury like 37 million people who are tired of being sorry #TheTenors, tweeted Ottawa journalist Mandy Kovacs.
Perez Hilton was among those stunned by what he heard, tweeting: Say what?! RT Canadian singing group #TheTenors added all lives matter to #OCanada!
B.C. musician Patrick Boyle was more amused than anything else, tweeting: Canada not immune to cowardly acts of tenorism. #lonewolftenor
Steacy Curry of Toronto was more sympathetic than many Tweeters, with the message: Its absolutely impact, not intent. But I do not believe that #RemigioPereiras intent was to be malicious. Hes clearly just ignorant.
Toronto musician Aime Page also wasnt impressed, tweeting: #RemigioPereira disgraceful and distasteful . . . very selfish act that did zero to help the cause :(
And Harrison Mooney of Vancouver added on Twitter: And now, please welcome the Tenors, to somehow insult the black community and ruin the Canadian anthem at the same time. Play ball!
Perhaps it was the tension of touring that drove Pereira to this point. It is not always easy spending so much time together, Pereira told Bostons Metro West Daily News in 2013. It sometimes feels like a marriage times four, but the work means a lot to all of us. We all have very high standards and a common goal to always do what is best for the band.
On Twitter early Wednesday, Pereira tried to explain why he went rogue and sparked a chorus of outrage: Ive been so moved lately by the tragic loss of life and I hoped for a positive statement that would bring us ALL together. ONE LOVE.
That was my singular motivation when I said all lives matter.
He added: I speak for the human race and the lives of all sentient beings. Love, peace and harmony for ALL has always been my lifes purpose.
Critch apparently wasnt impressed by his new spokesperson, tweeting: Hey Humans! Hey sentient beings. We have a guy to speak for us now. Remigio can be earths agent. #TheTenors
Following Tuesdays controversial performance, The Tenors issued a statement saying Pereira wont be performing with them until further notice.
The Tenors are deeply sorry for the disrespectful and misguided lack of judgment by one member of the group acting as a lone wolf today during the singing of the Canadian National anthem at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego, the group posted on Twitter.
The other members of the group are shocked and embarrassed by the actions of Remigio Pereira, who changed the lyrics of our treasured anthem and used this coveted platform to serve his own political views.
Critch tweeted in response: Tenor was a Lone wolf. He was a tenor-ist. Canada, Lets pray David Foster isnt radicalized #Altolivesmatter
Pereira describes himself on Twitter as Proud Dad/ Multi-Platinum Juno Award Winning Recording Artist/ Song-Writer/ Producer/ CEO @artisgroupe / Vegan/ I am a Vega ambassador @vegateam.
And if he feels under attack now, its not the first time. On The Tenors website, Pereira talks of how he doesnt mind looking vulnerable.
The songs have everyones blood, sweat and tears on them, he is quoted as saying. This is what we want to show people. Its very humbling. Its like walking out of your house n***d. Youre opening yourself up and youre baring yourself.
The website describes Pereira as a multifaceted artist sought-after for his work as a vocalist, guitarist, composer and songwriter, whos fluent in four languages.
A former rock musician and self-taught guitarist, he switched over to classical music at the age of 23, when he was accepted to Le Conservatoire du Quebec.
He earned a masters degree from the Conservatoire in classical guitar performance.
When I was playing rock music, I really hated opera, didnt understand it until I went to university for classical guitar, he told Ellen Niemer of Alive.com in 2008. I met some singers there and thats how my love for it began.
He apparently didnt minor in math. Asked his five favourite things by Il Postino newspaper, Pereira replied: Music, love, s*x, nature.
Singing was something his late father loved to do, he told Niemer.
My dad would be able to hold a room captivated with his voice, Pereira told the journalist. I grew up with my father whistling and singing in the house. He used to serenade my mother. He was a very romantic person.
Pereira once said he began singing because he realized that playing the guitar alone wouldnt pay the bills.
He is equally inspired to sing an opera, as he is to write a pop song, a symphony, or a verse of poetry, The Tenors website states.
Pereira stuck to the proper lyrics for O Canada when The Tenors sang at the 2012 NBA all-star game.
He also managed to stay apolitical when performing at the G20 Summit and before world leaders such as Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Barack Obama.
Others in the group liked to talk about their teamwork as well at least before Tuesday.
Ill tell you the best part of the year for me, Micallef told the Star in 2010, Its been the four of us getting to know each other well and learning how to work together. Were a team now.
Pereira was born in Boston and moved with his family to Ottawa when he was six months old.
Pereira told the Metro West Daily News he was involved in teams long before he got into music.
In Canada, it is hockey by day and hockey by night, he said. As a boy, all I did was play hockey. As a teenager, though, I sustained an injury that made me realize that my dreams of one day playing competitive hockey in the NHL were squashed.
When hockey was no longer an option, I started thinking about music, and by the time I was 21, I was at the University of Ottawa studying classical guitar, Pereira said. Growing up, I was a big fan of Guns N Roses, Metallica, Van Halen, and Aerosmith, and so. if anyone asked me then if I would be singing in a group like The Tenors, I would have said, are you kidding?
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