Showing posts with label Richard Thornton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richard Thornton. Show all posts

Thursday, November 4, 2021

GOOD LUCK! 2022 Maple Blues Award Nominations Including Local Artists! VOTE!


 From the Maple Blues newsletter

There’s no stopping the blues – not even a second year of a global pandemic. In a year like no other, 2021 has proven that Canadian blues artists are tenacious, forward-thinking, and incredibly creative in the face of adversity. Despite ongoing challenges and changes, Toronto Blues Society continues to support and promote Canadian Blues artists by announcing the nominees for the upcoming 25th annual Maple Blues Awards. The winners will be announced on January 31, 2022 at the LIVE Maple Blues Award Show to be held at Koerner Hall in Toronto,

Blues fans can cast their votes online at www.mapleblues.ca. Public Voting opens November 3, 2021 at 12:01 am Eastern Time and closes December 1, 2021, 11:59 pm Eastern .

Here's a complete list of nominees:
Local artists are bolded.

Acoustic Act

Male Vocalist

Blues with a Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)

  • Harrison Kennedy (Hamilton)
  • Murray Porter (Six-Nations)
  • Alec Fraser
  • Bobby Dean Blackburn
  • Brent Parkin
  • Dalannah Gail Bowen
  • Danny Brooks
  • Shakura S’Aida
  • Tom Lavin   

Electric Act

Recording/Producer

Guitarist 

Piano/Keyboard 

  • Jesse O' Brien (Hamilton)
  • David Vest
  • Duane Blackburn
  • Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
  • Lance Anderson

Horn Player

  • Richard Thornton (Hamilton)
  • Alison Young
  • Chris Whiteley
  • Mat 'Moose' Mousseau
  • Mike Clark

New Artist

Bassist 

  • Gary Kendall (Niagara)
  • Alan Duffy
  • Alec Fraser
  • Alec McElcheran
  • Keith Picot

Drummer 

Harmonica Player 

  • Roly Platt (Simcoe)
  • David Rotundo
  • Guy Bélanger
  • Harpdog Brown
  • Steve Marriner

Entertainer

  • David Gogo
  • Dawn Tyler Watson
  • Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
  • Steve Marriner
  • Sue Foley

Female Vocalist 

  • Crystal Shawanda
  • Dawn Tyler Watson
  • Dione Taylor
  • Miss Emily
  • Samantha Martin

International Artist

  • Bonnie Raitt
  • Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
  • Elvin Bishop
  • Larkin Poe
  • Tedeschi Trucks Band

Songwriter 

  • Colin Linden
  • Kat Danser
  • Rick Fines
  • Steve Marinner
  • Sue Foley

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Friday, November 6, 2020

Happy World Sax Day! Videos by Richard Thornton



Links: Johnny Cox, More Muddy Waters Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Johnny Cox


Links: Jerome Tucker, Video above courtesy of randallstaffordcook


Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, More Elmore James Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Steven Frank



Links: Richard Thornton, More Richard Thornton Stories, Video above courtesy of Vesna Trkulja-Stevens, More Sax Day Videos
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Monday, November 2, 2020

GOOD LUCK! 2021 Maple Blues Award Nominees

Local artists are once again well-represented among the nominees for the 2021 Maple Blues Awards. The virtual ceremony will be held on February 1, 2021 and hopefully, our talented musicians will win a few.

Hamilton's Jack de Keyzer is for a whopping five awards. Two of his bandmates (Richard Thornton and Alan Duffy) were nominated for one a piece. 

Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, Video above courtesy of Jack de Keyzer

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Also from the Hammer are Smoke Wagon Blues Band (2 nods) as well as their horn player Gordon Achiele (1). 

Links: Smoke Wagon Blues Band, More Smoke Wagon Blues Band Stories, Video above courtesy of Corey Lueck

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Hamilton Blues legend Harrison Kennedy (2) and Jesse O'Brien (1) round out the list from Steeltown.

Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Video above courtesy of Harrison Kennedy - Topic

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The Legendary Downchild Blues Band (with members from the Niagara region and Brantford) is in the running for Entertainer of the Year. Band member Chuck Jackson and Gary Kendall are also up for one apiece.

Links: Downchild, More Downchild Stories, Video above courtesy of Anthony Bernstein

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Kitchener's Matt Weidinger was also nominated for New Artist of the Year.

Links: Matt Weidinger, More Matt Weidinger Stories, Video above courtesy of Matt Weidinger - Topic

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Crystal Shawanda's Church House Blues album from Waterdown's True North Records was also given the nod for Recording of the Year

Links: Crystal Shawanda, More Crystal Shawanda Stories, Video above courtesy of Crystal Shawanda

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Below is a complete list of nominees. Local artists are bolded.

Entertainer

Electric Act

  • Jack de Keyzer
  • Dawn Tyler Watson and Ben Racine Band
  • JW-Jones
  • Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
  • Sue Foley

Acoustic Act

Male Vocalist

New Artist

Recording/Producer

Female Vocalist

  • Crystal Shawanda
  • Angel Forrest
  • Dawn Tyler Watson
  • Dione Taylor
  • Samantha Martin

Guitarist

Piano/Keyboard

  • Jesse O'Brien
  • David Vest
  • Duane Blackburn
  • Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
  • Michael Kaeshammer

Horn Player

Bassist

B.B. King International Artist

  • Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
  • Ghost Town Blues Band
  • Larkin Poe
  • Rick Estrin and The Nightcats
  • Victor Wainwright

Songwriter

  • Crystal Shawanda/Dewayne Strobel
  • Colin Linden
  • Dione Taylor
  • Kevin Harvey (Durham County Poets)
  • Paul Reddick

Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)

  • Alec Fraser
  • Brent Parkin
  • Danny Brooks
  • Joe Murphy
  • Ken Whiteley
  • Michael Fonfara
  • Tom Lavin

Harmonica Player

  • Guy Bélanger
  • Harpdog Brown
  • Paul Reddick
  • Roly Platt
  • Steve Marriner

Drummer

  • Cory Blackburn
  • Dani Nash (Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar)
  • Gary Craig (Colin Linden, Steve Dawson)
  • Lindsay Beaver
  • Matt Sobb (Monkeyjunk)

Blast from the Past: Last Years's Winners
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Wednesday, November 7, 2018

GOOD LUCK! Local Maple Blues Award Nominees! VOTE! Deadline is Dec 1


Local musicians are a big part of 2019's Maple Blue Award nominee list.

Hamilton is well-represented with Jack de Keyzer up for 2 awards (Guitarist of the Year, Producer of the Year.  Jack's bandmate Richard Thornton is nominated for Horn Player of the Year. Other Hammertown nominees include Harrison Kennedy (Male Vocalist of the Year), Jesse O'Brien (Keyboardist of the Year) and Cootes Paradise (New Artists of the Year).



Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, More Richard Thornton Stories, Video above courtesy of Stellablu477



Links: Cootes Paradise, More Cootes Paradise Stories, Video above courtesy of Cootes Paradise

Also of note is Colin James' latest album, Miles to Go. It features Hamiltonians Jesse O'Brien (keys, writing), Steve Pelletier (bass) and Tom Wilson aka Lee Harvey Osmond (writing). Also, it's released by Waterdown's True North Records). That disc is up for Recording of the Year. Colin is also tied with Sue Foley for most nominations (6).



Links: Colin James, More Colin James Stories, Steve Pelletier, More Steve Peletier Stories, Jesse O'Brien, Lee Harvey Osmond, More Lee Harvey Osmond Stories, More Jesse O'Brien Stories, Video above courtesy of Colin James - Topic

Down Niagara way, Gary Kendall, the bassist for Downchild and St. Catherines' Mighty Duck Blues Band was nominated for Bassist of the Year.



Links: The Mighty Duck Blues Band, More MDBB Stories, Video above courtesy of jimcasson

Two members of Waterloo's Soulstack, singer Jon Knight and drummer Tom Bona, were nominated as well. Another Waterloo group Elliott and the Audio Kings is in the running in the New Artist of the Year category.

Hopefully, a number of them will bring home the awards at the ceremony on February 4, 2019 at Koerner Hall in Toronto. You can help by VOTING ONLINE! Deadline is December 1, 2018 at 11:59pm.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

 Male Vocalist
New Artist
Recording/Producer
Entertainer
Electric Act
Acoustic Act
Songwriter
Blues with A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)
Harmonica Player
B.B. King International Artist
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Sunday, April 29, 2018

Howard Ross and the Full Count Blues Band Rocked Hamilton



Video above courtesy of Phil Connor



Links: Video above courtesy of libnerp



Video above courtesy of hburger5



Video above courtesy of Pickeringonline
Previous (News Roundup: Sue Foley, Jessye Norman, Passings, More) - - - Next (Jazz Day Videos)
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Monday, April 2, 2018

JT Brown's 100th Birthday


Today would have been Saxman, JT Brown's 100th birthday.

Biography highlights (courtesy of Wikipedia)
  • Born in Mississippi (April 2, 1918)
  • Recorded on the Harlem label (1950's)
  • Played and recorded with Elmore James and Howlin' Wolf
  • Played (and sang a tune) on Fleetwood Mac live album (1969)
  • Passed (November 24, 1969)
We asked local sax players for comments on Brown's influence.  Here are a few quotes:

Seriously great R&B player who really knew his way around the horn. Loved his solo on Sax-ony Boogie
Richard Thornton (Jack de Keyzer Band)
He was one of my idols and today my style is very much duplicated in his form of hard growling tones and from the soul blues improv.
Mark Volkov (Cootes Paradise)
He had a really distinctive sound and style. 
Here are some videos from the man himself.



Video above courtesy of Mark Hanses



Video above courtesy of Anthony Rago



Video above courtesy of Fede Corchero

Links: JT Brown, More 100th Birthdays
Previous (Trebleclef Becomes the Easter Monkey) - - - Next (News Roundup: Petit Fours, Waves That Stray, Blueswinder, Prism Prize)
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Friday, October 30, 2015

GOOD LUCK! Local Musicians Up for Maple Blues Awards! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVES!


We'd like to congratulate the amazing local talent who earned 2016 Maple Blues Award nominations.  Our friends at the Toronto Blues Society organize this important event every year and our incredible area musicians are always well represented.

The legendary Hamilton Bluesman Harrison Kennedy leads the pack with a whopping 5 nods (plus Jesse O'Brien's two nominations for his wonderful work on Harrison's latest album).  Also from the hammer - Dave King was recognized for his drumming skills on the newest Steve Strongman CD.  Two members of Hamilton Blues veteran Jack de Keyzer's band (Horn player Richard Thornton and bassist Alan Duffy) are also in the running for an award each.

Click here for the Hamilton Spectator story.



Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Video above courtesy of StellaBlu477

Kitchener/Waterloo is well represented with Soulstack and its members earning a total of 3 nods.  Blues queen Cheryl Lescom is up for best Female Vocalist too.



Links: Soulstack, More Soulstack Stories, Video above courtesy of Soulstack



Links: Cheryl Lescom, More Cheryl Lescom Stories, Video above courtesy of Toronto Live Music Scene

Online voting starts Wednesday, November 4 at 11:59pm Newfoundland Daylight Time (10:29pm EST).  Deadline is December 4, 2015. Register at www.mapleblues.ca.

The hardware will be handed out on Monday, January 18, 2015 at  the Koerner Hall in Toronto.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Here's a complete list of nominees:

Entertainer of the Year
Acoustic Act of the Year
Male Vocalist of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
Piano or Keyboard Player of the Year
Horn Player of the Year
Drummer of the Year
Bassist of the Year
Songwriter of the Year
Recording/Producer of the Year
Electric Act of the Year
New Artist or Group of the Year
Blues With A Feeling (Lifetime Achievement)
Previous (News Roundup: Help Mo' Kauffey, Blind Mule, Shawn Brush, James-Alphonse) - - - Next (Halloween Videos)
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Sunday, April 26, 2015

The First Annual Hammer Blues Awards Celebrates Hamilton, the Blues Capital of Canada!


The First Annual Hammer Blues Awards (organized by the Hamilton Blues Society) were held at Jett Hall on April 25, 2015.  The awards portion of the show ended with a wonderful surprise: Hamilton City Hall's official recognition of Hamilton as the Blues Capital of Canada!  We all knew this in our hearts but now its all nice and legal!

The night was a celebration of the local talent that we are blessed to have in this area.  Winners had nothing but praise for this incredible city.  In her acceptance speech,  Canada's Queen of the Blues Rita Chiarelli proclaimed, "We don't just play the Blues, we identify with the Blues." "Hamilton is Bluestown," she added enthusiastically.

The Jack de Keyzer Band were the big winners of the night with the man himself winning for Electric Act of the Year and the band got 3 awards (bass, keyboard, sax).



Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack De Keyzer Stories,  Video above courtesy of Mako Funasaka

Also, three music legends were added to the Hamilton Blues Society Wall of Fame that night as well. Veteran Sonny Del-Rio was inducted along with King Biscuit Boy and Jackie Washington.



 Links: Sonny Del Rio, More Sonny Del Rio Stories, Video above courtesy of James Goodrick

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Here is a complete list of winners:



Links: Joel Johnson, More Joel Johnson Stories, The Mighty Duck Blues Band, More MDBB Stories,  Video above courtesy of TheLoinTavern
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Sunday, November 2, 2014

GOOD LUCK! Local Musicians Up for the 2015 Maple Blues Awards


Once again, the Maple Blues Awards have nominated a lot of local artists for their prestigious awards ceremony.

Hamilton boy Steve Strongman is up for a trio of awards (Entertainer, Electric Act, Guitar Player) as is Steeltown Blues Legend Harrison Kennedy. (Acoustic Act, Male Vocalist, Songwriter).  Former Hammertown Bluesman Jack de Keyzer will be in the running for Electric Act too.



Links:  Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Video above courtesy of David Stephen

Other area nominees include Niagara's Suzie Vinnick (Female Vocalist), Brantford's Chuck Jackson (Male Vocalist + his band, Downchild is up for Electric Act and Recording), Kitchener's Jon Knight of Soulstack (Male Vocalist) and  Oshweken's Joel Johnson (New Artist).



Links: Suzie Vinnick, More Suzie Vinnick Stories, Video above courtesy of Quimiqua



Links: SoulStack, More Soulstack Stories, Video above courtesy of Soulstack

On Monday, January 20, 2014 in Toronto, prizes will go to the top Canadian Blues talent.  You can vote for your favourite starting on November 5, 2014.  Deadline is December 5, 2014.  Click here to vote!

Entertainer
Electric Act
Acoustic Act
Male Vocalist
Female Vocalist
New Artist or Group
Recording/Producer
Guitar Player
Harmonica Player
Horn Player
Blues with a Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)
International Artist
Previous (Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Award Winners) - - - Next (News Roundup w Philip Bast, Dinner Belles, Darcy Feaver, Aaron Goldstein, Ian Thomas)
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