Ben Kerr was a Canadian author, broadcaster, musician and perennial candidate, who was most famous as one of Toronto, Ontario's quirky street performers.
13 Facts About Ben Kerr
1.
2.
Ben Kerr credited the concoction with turning his health around and saving his life.
3.
Ben Kerr later wrote the book "The Cayenne Pepper Does it All" to document this experience.
4.
Ben Kerr was considered a "major promoter for Canadian Country Music artists" by the 1970's.
5.
In 1971, Ben Kerr wrote "Parliament Hill" for Angus Walker who he was promoting at the time.
6.
Ben Kerr released "Shoes Keep on Walking" in the fall of 1973 and peaked at number 82 on RPM Magazine's ranking of country music songs.
7.
Ben Kerr wrote a song, "Fire on One End, a Fool on the Other", about the incident.
8.
Also in 1981, Ben Kerr released "Distilled Water", a song that peaked at number 27 on RPM Magazine's top 30 Canadian content list and number 64 on RPM Magazine's Top 75 Country Singles He was in the 1982 Trees music video "Shock of the New", appearing as a guy with an oxygen mask and a shirt promoting clean air in offices.
9.
Ben Kerr supported himself as a busker for the remainder of his life, singing with a karaoke machine in front of the Hudson's Bay department store at the corner of Yonge and Bloor streets.
10.
Ben Kerr was often voted "favourite street performer" in Now Magazine's annual Toronto survey, and it is rumoured that Kerr was once offered a recording contract with Sub Pop Records.
11.
Ben Kerr has appeared frequently on radio and television as an advocate for the health benefits of cayenne pepper, and was the author of The Cayenne Pepper Cocktail Does it All.
12.
Ben Kerr died on June 17,2005, at his home on Jones Avenue in Toronto, at the age of 75.
13.
Ben Kerr Lane was officially named on May 25,2008.