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Bringing
you the best in Blues with a focus on Canadian talent
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BLUES
ON THE RIDEAU
DINNER
& SHOW CONCERT SERIES
THE COVE
COUNTRY INN, WESTPORT ONTARIO
(Driving times: 45 min from Kingston,
1.5 hrs from Ottawa, 4 from Toronto, 3.5 from Montreal,
2.5 from Syracuse NY)
3rd
FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH
PROCEEDS TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITIES
FEATURING SOME OF CANADA’S BEST
BLUES ARTISTS
Proceed from each show go to support
Local Charities
DINNER
& SHOW ONLY $55 pp
(Taxes and donation to charity included)
Buffet 7 pm,
Show starts 8:30 pm
CALL (613) 273-3636 OR 1-888-COVE-INN
WELL PRICED ACCOMODATION AVAILABLE AT THE
COVE AND NEARBY B&B'S
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October
16 |
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MIKE GOUDREAU BAND |
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HARRISON
KENNEDY BAND |
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December
18 |
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JOHNNY
MAX BAND |
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WINTER |
January 15 &
16 |
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DAVID
ROTUNDO BAND |
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February
19 |
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JEROME
GODBOO BAND |
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March 19 |
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JOHN
CAMPBELLJOHN BAND |
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April 23 & 24 |
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HARMONICA
SHAW w. JACK DE KEYZER |
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May 14 |
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BLACKBURN |
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DANNY
MARKS AND THE BLUES ALL STARS |
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* Indicates 2nd night Show may be added
on advance ticket sales so book early if you want
to see that happen!
Artists & dates may change
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From
Quebec's Eastern Townships
MIKE GOUDREAU BAND |
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Boppin', swingin'
joie de vivre blues from Quebec's Eastern Townships |
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To kick off our 5th Season of Blues On The
Rideau at The Cove we are bringing back MIKE
GOUDREAU and his fine band from Quebec’s
Eastern Townships - his 3rd visit to BOTR
and second to The Cove. A favourite? Yes!
Mike’s strong vocals and tasteful guitar
combined with excellent songwriting and arrangements
and a solid, talented backline guarantees
a great Show every time. I have been a big
fan of his since 1994 when I first saw him
he and THE BOPPIN’ BLUES BAND
playing in the Eastern Townships where we
lived at the time. His boppin’, swingin’
joie de vivre style of blues (which he can
sing in both official languages) hit my sweet
spot then and still does. And he plays jazz
and classic rock equally well. Check out some
of the MP3 tunes on his web site and see if
you don’t agree.
It’s been great seeing
Mike’s career blossom over the past 15
years. Over that time he’s recorded 10
CD’s (7 Blues, 2 Jazz and a Christmas
album) which have received major airplay across
Canada, the U.S. and overseas. Some of his original
compositions are now being played on movies
and TV Shows in the U.S. (like “Everybody
Hates Chris”). 18 of his songs are on
a recent 4 box set Jazz compilation album being
distributed in Europe and Asia by Sony/BMG.
And he plays regular club gigs and major Blues
& Jazz Festivals (like Montreal and Tremblant)
throughout Quebec and eastern Canada every year
– the list goes on. |
For
this Show Mike will be featuring songs from
his new CD “Blues etcetera” which
is getting lots of airplay across the country
and beyond. Mike (guitar and
lead vocals) is backed for this Show by Gerry
Goodsell on bass & vocals,
Alain Blanchet on drums, Kaven
Jalbert on tenor sax and Nino
Fabbi on keyboards. If you’re
looking for a fun night of dancin’ blues
– don’t miss this one.
"A hearty vocalist and effective guitarist
who plays snarling, tightly wound leads...A
highly enjoyable set.
Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue Magazine, USA,
Dec/Jan 2008
"Goudreau plays lead guitar with the
tone and taste of greats like Otis Rush and
Albert King, and writes compelling, original
songs".
Jeremy Loome, Edmonton Sun, 2007
"Quality Canadian blues...solid and
unpretentious...swings with snappy sincerity
and crisp energy”
Hal Horowitz, Blues Revue Magazine,
USA Oct/Nov 2006 Issue
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PROCEEDS TO: Friday: Lucy Drysdale Memorial
Scholarship Fund
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From
Toronto
HARRISON
KENNEDY BAND
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R&B, country blues & juke joint fun
- 2008 Maple Blues Male Vocalist of the Year
nominee |
Harrison
Kennedy is making his first appearance
at BOTR @ The Cove – fresh from opening
for Keb ‘Mo on his recent eastern Canadian
tour - and we are pleased and honoured to have
him. A descendant of African slaves who made
it to Canada from Mississipi via the Underground
Railroad in the 1860’s Harrison has a
deep connection to blues and roots music. His
long musical career started in 1970 when he
interrupted his university studies at Trent
University to audition as lead singer for the
hot Detroit R&B band “Chairmen Of
The Board” and was accepted. Famous for
tunes like “I’m The Chairman Of
The Board” and “Gimme Just A Little
More Time” the band did the whole U.S.
circuit in the early ‘70’s appearing
on Johnny Carson, American Bandstand, Soul Train
and the famous Apollo Theatre in NYC. They shared
the stage with top artists like B.B. King, James
Brown, Smokey Robinson and many more. After
touring for a number of years Harrison returned
to Canada, got a “real job”with
Allied Chemical and stayed at that until |
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the mid ‘80’swhen he came back to
his music – this time focusing on acoustic
roots/blues. He has released 3 albums ALL of
which have been nominated for a Juno as Best
Blues Album Of The Year - “Sweet Taste”
in 2004, “Voice + Story” in 2006
and “High Country Blues” in 2008
(on ElectoFi.com). He has also had numerous
Maple Blues Award nominations for Acoustic Act,
Male Vocalist and Songwriter Of The Year over
the past 5 years. For this Show Harrison brings
a full band – drums, bass and keyboards
– to support his extraordinarily powerful
and emotive vocals, guitar and harmonica. Expect
a smorgasbord of everything from ‘70’s
R&B, funk & soul to roots/country blues
for his Show.
“Kennedy is an urban
poet, stripped bare, yet comfortable in his
own skin and his adrenaline-fueled, emotionally-charged
vocals embrace elements of the blues, funk,
folk, gospel and R&B all wrapped in a convincing
blanket of soulful abandon”. Eric
Thom, Exclaim Magazine
“A classy mix of Detroit soul, southern
gospel, Latin shuffle and worldbeat African
roots....good, clean Hamilton rhythm and blues
with Kennedy’s powerfully elastic, soaring
vocals”. Graham Rockingham,
Hamilton Spectator |
PROCEEDS TO WESTPORT LIBRARY
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From
Toronto
JOHNNY
MAX BAND |
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2008
Juno Award Nominee, 3X Maple Blues Award Nominee
- sweaty blues, R&B, funk & soul |
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If
you’re looking for a place to hold your
Christmas party and you like Chicago blues,
R&B & soul and a lot of fun then book
your tickets now for the Johnny Max
Band December 18 at The Cove. Johnny
is a solid singer with a passionate, soulful
voice. He’s also a consummate performer/entertainer/comedian
who always gets the crowd up dancing, sweating,
laughing and enjoying themselves. Born in Glasgow
of Irish parents he was surrounded by music
from day one – Irish traditional but also
Jazz (his dad was a big fan). When the family
moved to Toronto in 1966 he was exposed to soul,
R&B, blues and rock that was blossoming
in the city and coming in on the airwaves from
the States, especially Wolfman Jack’s
Show. A career as a wedding DJ and almost professional
kareoke singer got him noticed by one of Toronto’s
bluesmen, Kevin Higgins, and he was got invited
to help form a band. Johnny’s eclectic
background has led to a sound that is unique
and fun – think New Orleans, Memphis,
Motown/Chicago black crossed with Sean Connery!
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The Johnny Max Band has been
entertaining fans throughout southern Ontario
and beyond now for over 16 years. During that
time he has released 4 CD’s including
“A Lesson I’ve Learned” in
2007 (all original compositions) which garnered
him a Juno nomination and 4 Maple Blues Award
nominations. His band has changed personnel
over time but it has always included some of
the crème de la crème of Toronto’s
blues musicians and it will be no different
for this Show. Get your dancing shoes on and
come on down for a great night.
“ ...soulful rich
vocals. He has some of the best blues musicians
in Canada in his band. You mix this talent with
Johnny's energy, stir in his voice and a dash
of the sparkling lyrics and you have a blend
of blues and soul music that tastes just right.
And that's a fact”. Brian
Tosoff, Voodoohead Productions
“If I had my own
Record Label/Artist Management Company The Johnny
Max Band would be one of the very first acts
I’d try to sign. Here’s a band that
plays the bars in Southern Ontario dispensing
blue collar Blues to a rabid following and one
can’t help but think aloud “The
world needs to hear these guys…”.
Only a few artists really understand that it’s
all about giving your audience a big present
and that present is the Joy Factor. They dispense
Blues as a soul-fixin’ remedy and connect
with people in a way all bands should. One of
the best working Blues bands in Canada right
now”. Andy Grigg, Real Blues
Magazine
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PROCEEDS TO WESTPORT AREA FOOD BANK
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From
Toronto
DAVID
ROTUNDO BAND
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Multiple
Maple Blues Award nominee for Harmonica Player
of the Year - high energy, dancin' blues! |
Blues
On The Rideau welcomes back David Rotundo
and his fine band to The Cove for a second visit
- a two night stand. He last played here in
January 2008 for two Sold Out Shows and people
are still talking about them. A dynamite harmonica
player (winner of the 2007 Maple Blues Award
for Harp Player Of The Year and nominated multiple
times for that Award), excellent singer and
high energy, entertaining performer (nominated
for the 2008 Maple Blues Award for Electric
Act Of The Year) David Rotundo
has developed a passionately loyal audience
in Canada and the U.S., Mexico (where he plays
a 6 week long engagement every winter) and has
even performed in Russia and Cuba.
David was inspired to take
up the harmonica after seeing James Cotton
perform at the El Mocambo in 1991. He then
traveled through the States for several years
visiting blues hotbeds like New Orleans, Clarksdale,
Austin, Memphis and Chicago honing his skills.
On his return to Toronto in 1997 he formed
David Rotundo & The Blue Canadians and
proceeded to rip up the blues circuit. His
first CD in 2001 won him Best Blues Album
Of The Year by the Canadian Independent Artists
Association, a Maple Blues Award for Best
New Artist of the Year in 2002 as well as
CBC’s Galaxie Rising Star Award. Not
a bad start! Since
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then he has recorded 3 excellent albums (including
“Blues Ignited” with the incredible
Enrico Crivellaro on guitar), played in bands
with blues greats Jack de Keyzer and Ronnie
Hawkins and shared the stage with many blues
legends. His band supports him beautifully having
played together for years with David
on vocals & harp, Dan Dufour
on lead guitar, Des Brown on
guitar, Shane Scott on bass
& vocals and Chuck Keeping
on drums. If you’ve never seen David Rotundo
before don’t miss this Show. The small,
intimate atmosphere at The Cove is a a perfect
venue to see him up close and personal. You
won’t be disappointed. Get ready to have
a sweaty, rockin’, partyin’ good
time!
“David plays the harp on "Blowin'
For Broke" as if madly possessed by the
ghosts of Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter
and George ‘Harmonica’ Smith”...Blues
Beat, Blues Society of Western NY.
"David Rotundo plays the blues the
way the blues are supposed to be played"
Ronnie Hawkins |
PROCEEDS
TO WESTPORT'S RIDEAU VISTA & ST-EDWARDS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS |
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From
Toronto
JEROME
GODBOO BAND
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A
potent mix of voice, harmonica & electricity
– 2008 Maple Blues Harmonica Player of
the Year nominee |
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Making
his first appearance at BOTR @ The Cove is another
one of Canada’s best blues harp players/singer/songwriters.
Born and raised in Victoria he started his first
band in Ottawa then moved to Toronto where he
has lived for the last 20 years. Anyone who
has ever seen him perform knows what a charismatic,
powerful, emotive artist he is. With that patented
belt clip full of harmonicas (and a couple of
briefcases full of back ups), gyrating stage
movements and soaring vocals he comes on like
a Blues gunslinger in the style of Mick Jagger
and Jim Morrison. You can’t help but stand
and watch transfixed. Over the past 20 years
he’s recorded 12 albums (including his
most recent ‘Humdinger” - which
is!) played and toured with artists as diverse
as The Phantoms, Alannah Myles, Dutch Mason,
Jeff Healey, Ronnie Hawkins, Jack de Keyzer,
Jimmy Bowskill, Suzie McNeil, Prince, Pinetop
Perkins, James Cotton, the Tragically Hip, Levon
Helm, Billy Ray Cyrus and many more, performing
on stages across Canada, the U.S., France, Finland,
Portugal, Ukraine and Israel. In short –
this man has paid his dues and knows his Blues
– inside out. Jerome's great band includes
Shawn Kellerman (Mel Brown)
or Pat Rush (Jeff Healey Band)
alternating on guitar with Alec Fraser
on bass (multiple Maple Blues Award nominee
and winner of the 2008 Bass Player Of The Year)
with Al Cross (Big Sugar) on
drums. This will be another “must bring
dancing shoes” night at The Cove. |
"There
is a lovely, intimate ambience on this CD (Humdinger)
with the feeling that these are four friends
who just set up in your rec room to play some
new songs for you… a well-sequenced selection
of modern electric blues. Jerome is in excellent
voice and this is one fine band with Kellerman
being especially inventive" John
Valenteyn (2007) Toronto Blues Society
Jerome is a vaudevillian
performer for the New Millenium. Besides having
good looks, charisma and a fine voice he is
one of the best harmonica players in Canada.
Humdinger is Jerome Godboo's masterpiece”.
Andy ‘Blues Boy” Grigg,
Real Blues Magazine |
PROCEEDS
TO RIDEAU WATERWAY LAND TRUST & FRIENDS
OF FOLEY MOUNTAIN |
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From
Cape Breton, NS
JOHN
CAMPBELLJOHN BAND |
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| Sizzling
slide guitar rockin’ blues all the way
from Cape Breton – a multiple Maple Blues
Award nominee |
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The
King of slide guitar, the Cape Breton Celt,
the mighty John Campbelljohn
and his Trio are coming back up from Nova Scotia
for a weekend stand at BOTR @ The Cove and boy
are we glad he is - it’s been too long
since his last visit (November 2006). He is
better known in Germany and Europe where he
tours continuously (they flat out love him over
there) that in his own country but darn –
we want to help change that. Whether playing
slide guitar (acoustic or electric), laptop
Dobro or pedal steel JCJ and his power trio
lay down some of the best rockin’ blues
(with a touch of reggae and country thrown in)
you will hear on either side of the Atlantic.
He is also a consummate songwriter. Most of
the tunes on his CD’s are originals and
even the covers he does have a unique Campbelljohn
feel to them. And he has a great voice. Acoustically
John combines the influences of such diverse
players as Fred McDowell, Ry Cooder and John
Hammond while his electric guitar earmarks everyone
from Sonny Landreth to Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton
and Duane Allman. (You can thank the Allman
Brothers for their great rendition of “Statesboro
Blues” back in the early ‘70’s
for starting John on his path to master the
slide guitar).
His first album “How
Does It Feel?” came out in 1993 and since
then he has released 7 more including his most
recent “Good To Go” in 2009. I have
enjoyed all of them and unabashedly declare
that he is one of my favourites. I’m not
alone.A quick check under |
the Awards button on his web site shows that
he has been nominated for or won 17 Maple Blues,
East Coast Music, Real Blues Magazine and Harvest
Jazz & Blues Awards since 1992. The other
two members of the band – Andrew
Lambert on bass and Neil Robertson
on drums – are seasoned musicians who
have played with John for years and it shows.
What a full, powerful sound from just 3 guys.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see one
of Canada’s best bluesmen on one of his
rare visits to Upper Canada – especially
in the cozy confines of The Cove. Book your
tickets now before these Shows sell out!
“The John Campbelljohn Trio is burning
blues/rock the way Johnny Winter once used to
hit it in his prime" Rolling
Stone, Germany
"...furious slide guitar and exceptional
songwriting." 708 Blues Magazine,
Salzburg, Austria |
PROCEEDS
TO WESTPORT LIONS CLUB MOBILITY VAN & COMPASION
CANADA SPONSOR-A-CHILD |
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From
Toronto
HARMONICA
SHAH BAND
w. JACK DE KEYZER |
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| The
Shah of Detroit blues harp & voice with
a hot Toronto band featuring the great Jack
de Keyzer on guitar
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| ElectroFi
Recording artist Harmonica Shah
makes his way up the 401 to Westport all the
way from Detroit, stopping long enough to pick
up some of Toronto’s best blues players
– including one of the best guitarists
in the country (continent? planet?) Jack
de Keyzer - to join him. Man are we
in for a treat! Shah’s most recent CD
“If All You Have Is A Hammer, Everything
Looks Like A Nail” (his third on ElectroFi)
is classic down and dirty Motor City Blues as
good it gets with wailing harp, shout-it-out
vocals and lyrics that make your laugh out loud
at times and ache at others. Where does he get
some of those lines? I am told the Shah goes
into the recording studio with nothing more
than a bunch of song titles then takes off on
a stream-of-consciousness run of original tunes
that you would think had been rehearsed for
months. Matching him step for step is 7X Maple
Blues Award winner Jack de Keyzer who lays down
some of the best guitar I have heard in years,
improvising beautifully to match Shah’s
improvisation
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–
the two playing off each other like a couple
of champion NASCAR drivers swapping the lead.
Alec Fraser (2008 Maple Blues Award winner)
on bass and Al Cross (Big Sugar) on drums provide
a rock solid bottom end. The combination is
magical. When I heard the CD I simply had to
do what it takes to get these 4 guys to come
and play. Each one of them is worth the price
of admission alone. Together this is a Show
that you simply don’t want to miss. Rumour
has it that this night will be recorded by ElectroFi
for a possible LIVE album. So if you’ve
always wanted to be a star....be there! I would
reserve your tickets early for this one. If
these two nights don’t sell out early
I will be shocked.
"Harmonica Shah is just what the Doctor
ordered... or warned you about" Blues
Revue
“Shah’s music
has a deep Chicago attitude and honky tonkin'
Midwest flavor... a dynamite package."
Mark Cole, Big City Blues
"De Keyzer displays the
mastery of straight-ahead blues, funk and soul
that has earned him a reputation as one of the
best musicians in this country." Cam
Hayden, Vue Weekly (Edmonton) |
PROCEEDS
WESTPORT IN BLOOM & HABITAT FOR HUMANITY |
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Due to a scheduling
conflict TREASA LEVASSEUR who was originally
booked for this date had to cancel.
Luckily we were able to find a great replacement.
We are very pleased to welcome one of Canada’s
hottest new bands– –BLACKBURN
– to Blues On The Rideau
at The Cove.
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BLACKBURN
exploded on to the scene last year with a
wonderful debut CD called “Brotherhood”
that has been tearing up the North American
blues charts and the festival/club circuit
since. The band consists of 3 brothers and
a best friend - Duane Blackburn
on lead vocals and Hammond B3, Brooke
Blackburn on guitar, Cory
Blackburn on drums and Mark
Ayee on bass. Their music is rich
in the tradition of the blues but mixes soul,
funk and R&B influences to create a unique
style and very infectious groove – sort
of New Orleans meets Toronto. These brothers
have deep Blues DNA. The family descends from
American black slaves who made it to freedom
in Canada via the Underground Railroad in
the 1850’s. They brought their wonderful
music with them handing it down from generation
to generation. Their father, Bobby Dean Blackburn,
is a highly regarded keyboard player who was
a seminal figure in Toronto’s abundant
Blues and R&B scene in the ‘60’s.
(He also just released a new CD recently).
BLACKBURN won the 2010 Maple
Blues Award for Best New Group Of The Year
and is one of several Canadian blues bands
heading down to Memphis for the annual International
Blues Challenge January 20-23. We wish them
good luck to win but even just being nominated
for these awards so early in their career
is an honour. Don’t miss this smooth,
powerful and funky band as they make a rare
visit to this part of Ontario. |
“A rich, beefy stew of blues slammed
into elements of R&B and funk... home-grown
talent that channels the best of Detroit,
Memphis and Philadelphia seasoned with tough
urban flair.... a band to watch” Eric
Thom, Exclaim.ca
“There
are times when an entire family possesses
the musical skill that causes you to lift
your jaw up off the floor. That characteristic
falls squarely in the lap of the Blackburn
family. This soulful record made the trip
from Canada to my tiny Indiana studios, and
grabbed me in an instant. Brotherhood is a
wonderful album..” Fulltimeblues.com
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PROCEEDS
TO: Rideau District Museum & Gilda's Club
for Cancer Families |
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JUNE
19, 2010 |
From
Toronto
DANNY
MARKS & THE BLUES ALL STARS
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A
child prodigy now one of Canada’s best
blues guitarist/singer/entertainers backed by
an All Star band |
To close out the 09/10 season we have one
of Canada’s best know blues personalities
– Danny Marks - winner of the Toronto
Blues Society’s prestigious Blues With
A Feeling Award for lifetime achievement.
A talented guitarist with a deep baritone
voice and great stage presence Danny will
be accompanied by some of Toronto’s
best session players including Alec Fraser
(2008 Maple Blues Award winner for Bass Player
Of The Year, Jeff Healey Band and many more),
Al Cross on drums (Big Sugar) and a few others
yet to be named. Whoever they are you know
they will truly fit the description as “The
Blues All Stars”. Danny’s been
playing with them all going back to the years
when the Leafs last won a Stanley Cup!
Danny had the urge to play
since the first day he picked up a guitar in
the early ‘60’s. Still in his teens
he joined Toronto’s famous Edward Bear
Band - “Canada’s Beatles”
according to Quentin Tarantino – who had
a series of hits on the Canadian and U.S. charts
in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s
(You, Me & Mexico, Last Song).
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After the group broke up Danny continued to
hone his skill as a session player and member
of Toronto’s famous Albert’s Hall
house band through the ‘80’s where
he got to play with the elite of Canadian and
international blues stars on a regular basis.
He also started his career as a radio DJ at
the same time with a national Show called “Stormy
Monday” and had many acting gigs with
frequent appearances on CBC. For the past 6
years he has hosted one of the biggest blues
radio Shows in the country - BLUZ FM on JAZZ
FM.91 Toronto every Saturday night from 8 pm
to midnight (also on Bell Expressvu, Star Choice
and Rogers Digital) exposing great Canadian
talent to a large, appreciative audience. Guitarist,
singer, showman, actor, DJ – Danny does
it all and he can play everything from rock
‘n roll, pop, R&B, soul and rockabilly
but his original love is for the blues and that’s
what we’re going to get for this Show
– in spades!
“...butter-smooth
guitar-playing with a comedic sense of showmanship”
Anthony Reinhart, Globe & Mail
“He succeeds in recapturing
the glory days of rock’n roll, rockabilly
and everything in-between... Danny’s guitar
and voice and brilliant arrangements achieve
a casual feel, which is so much harder to pull
off than it may seem.” Eric
Thom, Exclaim Magazine
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PROCEEDS
TO DAVID MCCARTHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
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