Ben Kurr Busker

Ben Kurr: T.O's Favourite busker

By: Trisha A. Cook

"It's all about attitude," states Ben Kurr, a self-proclaimed DCS (Doctor of Common Sense). "Young people nowadays are no longer choosing what they want to do; they are doing what they think they are supposed to do. They think that the only way to succeed is to have a job in an office. That makes me sad." Not only is Kurr a Doctor of Common Sense; he is the King of Cayenne, a marathon runner, a singer, a songwriter, and an author. His ambition doesn’t stop there; he also runs for mayor of Toronto and he is a street busker who has been singing at the corner of Yonge and Bloor for fifteen years. "I could be singing in nightclubs if I wanted to, but I wouldn't be reaching hundreds of thousands of people a day," Kurr says.

It is apparent that people who know Ben Kurr are drawn to his delicate, "ageless" nature. He is full of life and inspiration. As he stands on the street corner, he receives smiles; he exchanges handshakes from an eclectic mix of people passing by; anyone from the obviously homeless to the men dressed in three-piece suits. All of them seem like Ben's best friend. In his book "The Cayenne Pepper Cocktail," Kurr tells us how he had "one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel." He was not in good health, the doctors wanted to remove part of his stomach due to the effects of smoking three packs of cigarettes every day for years. Ben soon began walking marathons to promote one of his folksongs and he started to focus on his deteriorating health by replacing alcohol with fresh carrot juice. After walking many miles in many marathons, his feet were sore and turning black. Taking his mother's advice into account, he put cayenne peppers into his socks without the desired results. Instinctively, Kurr placed a teaspoon of cayenne pepper into his carrot juice and instantly felt a rush of life go through his entire body. Now he drinks the Cayenne Pepper Cocktail every day and swears it improves a person's health substantially. Apparently, he is living proof. Ben Kurr is not only a promoter of cayenne pepper; he is also committed to making our youth more aware of their choices and options in life. He claims that the youth are not being listened to and if he were mayor he would be available in that exact same spot at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor to hear what the youth has to say; making sure there was enough press to listen and broadcast their opinions. A sincere comment and an ambitious idea made from an intelligent man who is unfortunately easily dismissed by most.

Singing folksongs on the corner of Yonge and Bloor is not exactly a ‘normal’ way to retire from an Executive Management position. People tend to be afraid of what they don't understand; it's easier to dismiss Kurr as a ‘drunk’ or ‘crazy’ instead of taking the time to understand his intentions. Those who do take the time usually walk away feeling inspired. "For the most part, people who are working in an office, doing what they are told to do, are not happy. They need to get in touch with their creative side to find out what it is they really want to do with their lives," explains Kurr.

His philosophies are not ‘new’ or ‘off the wall’. They are intelligent, simple ways of living to get the most out of life. Kurr speaks about how easy it is to change ones life for the better. "It's all in your head. If you think you are a struggling writer, that's all you will ever be."

Exercise, love what you do, add a little cayenne pepper to your carrot juice and keep a positive attitude. Common sense, right? I guess this is why he has the aptly-placed initials following his name. Life lessons from someone who continues to have fulfilled and inspired days can be found right around the corner. Specifically, at the corner of Yonge and Bloor.