Performer of the Week: King Biscuit Boy

In celebrate the Blues With a Feeling Fundraiser done in his honour (which runs this weekend), we are making the late, great King Biscuit Boy (Richard Newell) our performer of the week.

According to his Wikipedia entry, KBB reportedly started his career by stealing a harmonica from a Hamilton Mountain store. His love of music led him to play with many bands in the early 60s.

He performed with Ronnie Hawkins who fired the entire band, including KBB. This group came together to form Canadian music legends, Crowbar. After recording just one album, Official Music, he went solo.

His career included deals with Epic records, Juno nominations plus playing with Janis Joplin, Muddy Waters, Joe Cocker, and more. KBB was also the first Canadian Blues artist on the Billboard hot 100 charts, Rolling Stone Magazine called him "legendary" and his fans included Keith Richards and Paul McCartney.

Sadly, Richard passed away in January of 2003. Since then, the Friends of King Biscuit Boy organization have held a yearly Blues With a Feeling fundraiser in his honour. Proceeds go to a music scholarship fund at Mohawk College.

This great musician has left a legacy in both local, Canadian and international circles but at heart, he was just a Hamilton boy.

Links: Tribute Site - Wikipedia Entry - More King Biscuit Boy Stories