‘Don’t give up on your passion’: The lesson behind Windsor singer’s spontaneous street performance

A Windsor musician is reflecting on his spontaneous street performance, which is striking a chord online. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru explains.

A chance encounter on a Windsor street has turned into a wholesome online music performance — and a reminder about not letting go of what you love.

Tony Bishop, a longtime local musician, was in his home near the Windsor water tower when he noticed cameras and lighting equipment setting up outside on Feb. 21.

“It looked like a crime scene of sorts,” Bishop said with a laugh.

“So being inquisitive, I went out and asked what was going on. They said they were shooting a rap video. I got to talking, and I told them that I used to play around the city.”

After striking up that conversation and sharing his musical background, Bishop was invited to return later that night — this time, to step up to the microphone himself.

The video was produced by Freestyle Fridays Windsor, a locally run social media platform that films artists performing in different parts of the city and shares the clips online.

Founder Sam Costin said he launched the project after moving to Windsor in 2018, combining his love of rap music with his appreciation for the city’s scenery.

“I created this platform where I could bring local artists, give them a chance and help them grow their careers,” Costin said.

While the page typically features freestyle rap performances, Costin said he was happy to hand Bishop the mic once filming wrapped.

“I wanted to give him a platform, help him get his name out, and hopefully all together we can fund his dreams,” he said.

For Bishop, 74, the moment marked a rare public performance.

He spent decades performing across Essex County as a member of Eight Guys Named Moe, an eight-piece horn band that played from the late 1970s through the early 2000s.

After the band’s run ended, most of his singing shifted away from bars and public venues.

Today, he serves as praise and worship leader at Sandwich Baptist Church on Peter Street — and spends much of his retirement in his art studio making paintings and figurines.

“People say that I got away from music, but I think music got away from me,” he said.

The resulting video — featuring Bishop singing a cappella — has drawn encouraging comments online.

But the experience, he said, isn’t about whether anything more comes from it.

“Don’t give up on your passion in life,” Bishop said.

“Get back into it. You’d be surprised how it’ll make you feel — how it’ll make other people feel.”

Witness Bishop’s performance here.