Orin Isaacs is the man behind the music that makes the Olympics sing

“I do music," is how Orin Isaacs describes himself, apt for an artist who has created memorable themes for countless Canadian moments, including for the CBC and the Olympic broadcasts for this month's Milano-Cortina Olympics.

When he first picked up a double bass, he was already familiar with great music. His mother, Joy, filled the home with soul and gospel music. He was brought up with legends like the Poynter Sisters and Johnny Nash.

He knew the bass was the foundation of music and he wanted in on that. Even at a young age he knew he wanted to change people's perception of how bass is played. He not only did that, he would be the one to create sounds that would be the soundtrack of Canada’s most poignant moments in sports. His musical vision has been boundary-breaking and exposed Canadians to new sounds. I chatted with Isaacs and he told me his secret is, “I never say ‘no’ to anything.” 

Isaacs, 56, was born in Toronto and spent his childhood in different neighbourhoods with rich cultural heritages: Parkdale and its immigrant influence in the west end; “The Village” near Church and Wellesley; Oakwood and St.Clair and its Italian shops and restaurants.

He attended schools with strong music programs and honed his craft. He cites his mother as being the catalyst for his love of music and creativity. Joy wasn’t proficient in bass, in fact, she had no idea how to play it. But Joy, who passed away in January, took him to the music store and told him simply, “Take it. Plug it in!”

Isaacs was inspired by some great artists and when I asked him who he was the most influential in his life, “Stanley Clarke. Full stop," he replied emphatically.

Clarke, a bassist and composer, was so important to Isaacs that after only hearing