Erroll Starr’s Journey: From Award-Winning Doc “Temple of Love” to Electrifying New Music with TRIBZ
Juno Award-winning artist Erroll Starr Francis has long been a force in Canadian music, his voice echoing across decades and genres. Now, his remarkable story is reaching new audiences through the acclaimed short documentary, Temple of Love: The Erroll Starr Story—and through the powerful new sounds of his band, TRIBZ.
Temple of Love— Produced independently by executive producer Aaron T. Francis (Vintage Black Canada) and directed by Kyle Sawyer and Katie Billo of Digital Sabbath — chronicles Starr’s meteoric rise in the 1980s, his quiet retreat from the spotlight, and his triumphant return as the front man of TRIBZ. More than a music doc, the film is a story of erasure, resilience, and reclamation, unpacking the unspoken rules of race, genre, and cultural memory in Canadian media. Featuring commentary from Tony “Master T” Young, Michael Williams, and music executive Mark S. Berry, the film paints a rich portrait of one of Canada’s most dynamic and misunderstood voices.
Festival & Screening Highlights (2024):
- Winner: Best Canadian Short – Northwest International Documentary Festival (Edmonton)
- Official Selections: Toronto Black Film Festival, Seattle Black Film Festival, Hamilton International Film Festival
- Academic & Community Screenings: Wilfrid Laurier University, Princess Cinemas Waterloo
- Now playing on Air Canada in-flight entertainment (June–Dec 2024)
As the film continues its celebrated festival run and reaches global audiences via Air Canada, Erroll Starr’s musical journey is far from over. With TRIBZ—a genre-defying Indigenous blues-rock collective rooted in Six Nations and Hamilton—Starr electrifies stages with powerful vocals, lived history, and soulful truth. The band’s latest single, “Long Black Cadillac,” is a gritty fusion of Southern soul, Indigenous power, and classic blues-rock, channeling decades of experience and ancestral rhythm into something both timeless and urgent. TRIBZ features Erroll Starr (vocals), Earl Johnson (guitar), Donny Hill (bass), and Dave Davidson (drums). “Long Black Cadillac.”
In tandem with the film, the Temple of Love album has been reissued independently, offering a chance to revisit the tracks that first set a standard for Black excellence in Canadian rock and soul. Stream the reissued album: Temple of Love Album.
Both the film and the band share a commitment to truth-telling, heritage, and rhythm. Temple of Love offers a look back at Starr’s singular path, while TRIBZ points boldly forward. Together, they capture the full spectrum of what it means to rise, reflect, and reclaim.
Watch the full film here.