Paul Hutton’s motto is borrowed from American boxing promoter Don King: “You often arrive with the champ and you always leave with the champ. But they’re not necessarily the same person.”

On many an occasion Crosstown Concerts co-founder Hutton has scouted an artist, only to find another act on the bill was the one really worth putting his money on.

It’s a policy that has kept Hutton in a job for upwards of 30 years. The chirpy live biz veteran ...