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Sunday, September 27, 2020

GOOD LUCK! Fergus' Madison Galloway a Finalist in the 2020 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search


Fergus' own Madison Galloway has been chosen as a finalist for the 2020 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search. The talented songstress will be competing against five other performers for the top prize.



Links: Madison GallowayMore Madison Galloway Stories, Video above courtesy of Madison Galloway

GOOD LUCK!

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From the news release: 

September 21, 2020 - The Toronto Blues Society is extremely excited to announce the six finalists in this year’s edition of the annual Talent Search.

The finalists are:

Finalists will appear in a showcase on Sunday, October 4th between 3-6pm at Bar Twelve 16 (1603 Queensway) in Etobicoke. The event is free and open to public. Seating is required due to COVID-19 and health & safety measures will be in place.

JUDGES: TBS is happy to announce that this year Sarah Kim Turnbull (Artistic Director of Markham Jazz Festival), Diana Webley (Harbourfront Centre Senior Producer), Josh Grossman (Toronto Jazz Festival Artistic Director), and Kris Kane (Southside Shuffle Festival Chair) will be judging the Finals on October 4th to determine the winner!

Now in its 25th year, the TBS Talent Search seeks, celebrates, showcases and incubates talented bluesmakers from across the region. The artists vie for a jam-packed professional-development package including festival gigs, mentorship meetings, studio time, graphic design and much more!

“We are very happy, against formidable odds, to be offering a live music experience continuing the legacy of the Toronto Blues Society Talent Search. We hope we can continue to be a springboard for these emerging artists!", says Derek Andrews, President of the Toronto Blues Society.

Toronto Blues Society's annual partner for the Talent Search, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival's Artistic Director Josh Grossman notes, "For the past several years, Toronto Downtown Jazz has been pleased to host the Toronto Blues Society Talent Search Finals at the annual TD Toronto Jazz Festival. Although that wasn’t possible this year, we are pleased to continue to support the Finals by offering the winning a band a performance spot at the 2021 TD Toronto Jazz Festival. We look forward to hosting the Finals at the Festival again next year!"

The winning artist will take home a massive professional development package including:

Please Note: The event will take place outdoors. Stage and some parts of the guest seating area is covered. Max seating capacity of the venue is 100 and subject to change regarding the shifting nature of Ontario's social gathering restrictions. Bands will perform on stage, behind a plexiglass. RSVP in advance by phoning  416-251-1216 is highly encouraged. Parking is available and the kitchen of the venue is not yet licensed, but there will be BBQ food on the patio for patrons to purchase.

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Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winner

Links: More TBS Talent Search Stories


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Sunday, September 20, 2020

Local Musician Robert "Wilky" Wilkinson Passes

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of talented local musician Robert "Wilky" Wilkinson on September 14  He had been part of the Hamilton and Welland music communities. Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.

His obituary:

It is with great sadness that the family of Robert Wilkinson (Wilky) is announcing his passing on Monday, September 14, 2020 at the age of 66 years old. He was a wonderful man and an exceptional musician...his songs will be cherished forever. Rob will be lovingly remembered by his partner Lynne who was with him every minute, and by his wonderful children Tania (Craig) and Jason (Melanie). He will also be fondly remembered by his grandchildren; Taylor, Colton, Cloee, Cali, Daisy and Pierce (007). His wonderful mother Evelyn Wilkinson loved him deeply as did his late father Robert. Also, his amazing sisters Cathy (Gord), Diana, Louise (Lou) and their daughter Melaina will miss him so much and his late sister Janet. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to WELLAND FUNERAL HOME. Wilky's family will have a private service for him at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart Fund and the Kidney Foundation of Canada in honour of Wilky.

Here are some of the social media reactions:

Laurie Caputo

Lost a great friend and musician last night  Wilky aka Robert Wilkinson to some very serious health issues  . He will be very missed but be in our hearts forever  His band was called On A Roll .  Rest in piece my friend you will always have a place in my heart.

Bud Wilksonson

We lost a great musician and friend in Bob/Rob Wilkinson last night his suffering is over he will be sadly missed he was a son, brother, Dad, and grandad, too. We were good friends and musical industry brothers since before we both began in the business, We rehearsed together years ago but the band never took place - we remained good friends over all the years. I will miss him!






Links: Robert "Wilky" Wilkinson, Videos above courtesy of Robert wilkinson
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Tuesday, September 15, 2020

CONGRATS! Local Artists Win in the 2020 International Singer Songwriter Awards + Complete Winners


In August, the 2020 International Singer Songwriter Awards winners were unveiled and a number of local and Canadian artists were honoured. They came from Hamilton, Brantford, Guelph, and many other area of the country.

Below is a complete list of winners. Canadians are bolded.

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

INTERNATIONAL WINNERS

Band Single
Album
Music Video
Female Emerging Artist
Entertainer
  • Gold –  Destiny Band Oz
  • Silver –  Polygon
  • Bronze –  Steve Newsome (Alberta)
Female Vocalist
  • Gold – Alexandra Hainsworth
  • Silver –  Jimena Arroyo
  • Bronze –  Cheryl Nye (Montreal)
Male Vocalist
  • Gold – MJ Smallman
  • Silver –  Danny McMahon
  • Bronze – Chris Andres (BC)
Female Single
Male Single
  • Gold – Paolo Nunin – Maybe Because
  • Silver – Rick Snider – The Road (Nova Scotia)
  • Bronze – Johnny Westwood – Rain In Tulsa
Male Songwriter
  • Gold –  Jamey Barron (Montreal)
  • Silver – Davey Anscombe
  • Bronze – Samuel Alexander Barbour
Male Emerging Artist
Band
  • Gold -The Winachi Tribe
  • Silver – Crest Glider
  • Bronze – Shelly Jones Band
Female Songwriter
  • Gold – Fiona Ross
  • Silver – KitCat K
  • Bronze – Julie Ludgate
Radio Station of the Year
  • Gold – Frank Hammer – Radio Country Road 58
  • Silver – Colin Pettitt – Iam4U Radio
  • Bronze – Chad J Country – Spectrum Internet Radio
Various
  • Female Rising Star: Nina Flaaseth
  • Male Rising Star: Daniel Agyin
  • Young Adult Artist: Madison Mueller (Barrie)
  • Vocal Duo: Campbell and Green (Nova Scotia)
  • Sound Engineer: Antonio Vergara
  • Promoter: Robert Steiner
  • Humanitarian of the Year: Dina Lynn
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US WINNERS

Entertainer
  • Gold – Cliff Wheeler Band
  • Silver – Black Cadillac Kings
  • Bronze –  Jay Ricochet and the BFD
Female Vocalist
  • Gold – Brauninger McDaniel
  • Silver – Jennifer Mlott
  • Bronze –  Montana Modderman
Male Vocalist
  • Gold – Rob O’Mara
  • Silver –  Brian Hedges
  • Bronze – Steve Douthit
Young Adult Artist
  • Gold – Sydney Irving
  • Silver – Rylee Lum
  • Bronze – Trinity Rose
Vocal Duo
  • Gold – The Cranberry Merchants
  • Silver – Ginger Grace / Backhand Sally
  • Bronze – Joe Kidd and Sheila Burke
US Band
  • Gold – Limberlost
  • Silver –  Nashville Non Prophets
  • Bronze –  Cheering Tokyo
Album
  • Gold – Lisa Mitts – The Breakthrough
  • Silver – Trenton Chandler – Ten Steps From Tootsies
  • Bronze –  John David Schrader – 21 Summers
Band Single of the Year
  • Gold – Who Shot Lizzy – I Don’t Give A Damn
  • Silver – Night Owl Country Band – Made In America
  • Bronze –  Chris Jones Band – I Still Do
Female Single 
  • Gold –  Alena Rae – Always Let Go
  • Silver – Rhonda Funk – Someday
  • Bronze –  Zandra Arnold – Work On Me
Male Single
  • Gold –  Dustin Chapman – Plus One
  • Silver – Jason Ray Welsh – Lies In You
  • Bronze –  Randall Rutledge – Me And Southern Comfort
Female Songwriter
  • Gold-  Jessie Lynn
  • Silver- Clare Cunningham
  • Bronze- Lora Ann Pine
Male Songwriter
  • Gold – Bobby Johnson
  • Silver – Ricky Davis
  • Bronze –  Geary Nelson
Music Video
  • Gold – Sera Bullis – Bus Stop
  • Silver – Aubrey Wollett – Better On The Beach
  • Bronze –  DethCadence – Blood Money
Female Emerging
  • Gold –  Tracy Cruz
  • Silver – La La Musiq
  • Bronze – Ashley Walls
Male Emerging
  • Gold –  Dylan Swinson
  • Silver –  Chris Johnson
  • Bronze –  Rollin Jewett
Radio Station
  • Gold – Phil Kranz – Black Dog Indie Country Radio
  • Silver –  Jeff Rickett – Cowboy Joe Radio
  • Bronze –  B.C. Lee –  Florida Country Radio
Various
  • Female Rising Star: Karoline Rhett
  • Male Rising Star: Rylee Nicholson
  • Sound Engineer: Ben Travis
  • Promoter of the Year: Angela McGowan
  • Photographer: Corinne Dean
  • US Rep of the Year: Brian Fagan
  • Humanitarian: Necay Howard
  • Team Recognition: Patty “Rose” Zeller

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Thursday, September 10, 2020

Roy Brown's 100th Birthday


Today (September 10, 2020) would have been American RnB legend Roy Brown's 100th birthday.

Biography Highlights (from Wikipedia)
  • Born in Kinder, Louisiana (September 10, 1920) through some records do say 1925 instead.
  • Became a professional boxer for a while (1940's)
  • Won a singing contest at the Million Dollar Theater (1945)
  • Recorded his biggest hit Good Rockin' Tonight (1948)
  • Died of a heart attack (May 25, 1981)
  • Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (1981)









Links: Roy Brown, Videos above courtesy of Roy Brown - TopicMore 100th Birthdays

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Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Celebrate Back to School with Videos by Andy Griffiths, Shrimp Daddy, Kinks




Links: Andy GriffithsMore Andy Griffiths StoriesVideo above courtesy of Andy G and Friends



Links: Shrimp Daddy, More Shrimp Daddy StoriesVideo above courtesy of Michael Reid



Links: KinksMore Kinks StoriesVideo above courtesy of KinksMedia

More Back to School Videos

Interested in going back to school for music? Check out our wonderful sponsor, Pick n Sticks. They have incredible music lessons.


For more (mostly adult) education, we recommend the St. Charles Centre (our blogger's day job) who offer high school credit courses, ESL, computer workshops, career programs and more, Also FREE language classes for elementary/secondary school children. 

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