The Grand River Blues Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who have contributed to blues music and the growth of blues in the region.
For over 15 years now Cheryl was there on day one to mentor the youth campers with her musical expertise and MC our most popular live performances of our region’s teens. Each August THE GRAND RIVER BLUES CAMP offers a four-day Youth Blues Camp, providing an intensive Blues educational experience to improve musical skills, to learn from and play with professional musicians. On the last day of the Camp students perform with peers at the Kitchener Blues Festival - kitchenerbluesfestival.com. Blues Music is the foundation for modern popular music including such as Jazz, Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop, R&B etc.
Also, for many years now Cheryl Lescom has masterfully MCed the main stage at City Hall during the Kitchener Blues Festival.
Cheryl Lescom has been part of the Canadian music scene for over 45 years. Starting off in 1975 with several of her own bands before becoming a back up singer for Ronnie Hawkins and touring with Long John Baldry. Cheryl also sang on many national jingles in the 1980's. She has toured and performed with the likes of Jeff Healey, Matt Minglewood, Dutch Mason, and the Downchild Blues Band to name a few. To date, Cheryl has released 6 CD's and has earned awards such as The Kitchener Blues Festival - Mel Brown Award 2006 and the Kitchener Waterloo Arts Award for Music 2009.
It is with sadness that we report on the passing of the legendary, unforgettable Sonny Del-Rio. He died on Friday, September 18, 2026. Our condolences to his family, friends and fans. We will post more information here as we learn it.
Linda and I were lucky to consider Sonny a great friend. We got to laugh with him, hear his incredible stories, and got to experience his immense talent. My wife and I will miss him terribly and our heart goes out to his family. We love you Sonny!
This might be the most tearful goodbye I've had to make about a fellow musician and mentor. Writing something, anything, helps me try to process this sad news this morning. The Smoke Wagon Blues Band and myself owe so much to the legendary Sonny Del Rio. "Mr Hamilton" it was over 23 or 24 years ago we first started playing with Sonny (Dennis Grasley) . We looked up to him so much that I was so scared to ask him to play on our album at the time that I called Jesse O'Brien to ask him for us ha. I was nervous and excited the first time I met him, you got to remember we were a young band at the time. We had a 7:00 a.m early studio session booked (ridiculous) so it's 6:30 in the morning when Sonny gets there and the first words out of his mouth as he walked up was reefer? As he handed me a doobie! Lol that was the start of an amazing friendship.
Sonny became our alternate sax player for many years and we had all kinds of fun and shenanigans playing throughout Ontario. Sonny always stole the show; he was the most charismatic musician that I've ever shared the stage with. I learned so much about stage presence, professionalism, friendship, and humanity from him.
He introduced us and invited us into the family of legendary Hamilton musicians. Sonny was so supportive of our career, he booked us on bills with Jackie Washington, Ray Materick, Tom Wilson, Harrison Kennedy, Trickbag, Teenage Head, Crowbar, Tim Gibbons, and so many more. He would come to Mike and I's family events and invite us to his. He was family! Sonny will always be the king of Hamilton to us, I love you Sonny. Our deepest condolences to Tammy, Tommy, Lori, April, all his lifetime, bandmates, friends and family, he was loved by so many. Farewell to the king " blow your horn man"
Bill Irvine (Friend)
I'm really sad to hear that Sonny Del-Rio has passed, we had a lot of history over the years. He was a good friend, we worked together for about 5 or six years.
He was a mentor to my son Dean Irvine. He recognized Dean's talent and ambition, included him and his band in all the events he could!! Love that he showed up on Superbowl Sunday (he came to our house for the game for years) at 2 in the afternoon, the game was at 6:30 and I told him that. He told me that he wasn't here to see me lol, he wanted to see Dean. They went downstairs to Dean's practice room and Sonny taught him jazz standards for about 3 hours!! Who does that for a kid???
We were quite close with Sonny and his wife, Faye, dinners etc. Everyone has Sonny stories, he was recognized by the City of Hamilton as 12th most famous person. He was a good man, a great musician who played with everyone, man he could blow that Sax!!! You are already missed by my Anita, Dean and I, your legion of fans and so many friends. RIP pal!!
I left a voicemail for Sonny recently to arrange a visit, then hit the road planning to follow up when I got back, only to receive this sad news. Sonny gave my band Cootes Paradise our first gig and called us “the cooties”. And I’m just remembering that way back when I was a music student in university in the early 80s, I interviewed him for a project, and asked what he soaked his reeds in, and the answer was vodka. What a character. I’ll always love and remember him. Condolences to all of us.
Mini-Review: Relax may be Dwayne LaForme's debut album but this is a tight collection of road-tested tunes with a few battle scars. Dwayne is a Blues veteran and he, along with his impressive band, amplify the funk, soul, rock, swing and more to craft songs that demand to heard.
Want to be kept up to date with what's going on in the local area (Hamilton/Halton/Brant/Niagara/Waterloo/Norfolk/Haldimand)? Then get all the Blues News You Can Use with our new weekly e-mail newsletter.
Every Wednesday or Thursday night, the Hamilton Blues Lovers send out an e-mail blast with the latest happenings in the local Blues/Folk/Jazz/Roots/Country scene. Find out about new music releases, upcoming shows, our exclusive videos and much more.
Mini-Review: Toronto's Johnny Max surrounds himself with oodles of talented artists from the Hamilton & Niagara areas for his latest remarkable album. Johnny Max & His So-Called Friends, is packed with a Blues sounds: boogie-woogie, jazz, soul, funk, country-flavours, and more. This is all blended in to Johnny's trademark down to earth stylings and lyrics.
There's a little bit of everything on this EP. Bluesier numbers such as Distance (co-written with Ray Lyell) and He'll Never be You share the spotlight with soulful pop-folk gems like We All Lose Our Way, I Hate to Say it and Tragedy in Disguise. Melissa ends this amazing collection with a smooth version of Smokey Robinson's You've Really Got a Hold On Me.
In early July, Living Blues Magazine announced the winners for their 2026 awards. The only Canadian winner was former Burlingtonian Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, who earned the Critics Poll Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) award.
Michael O'Brien, an amazing musician and beloved father of performers Jesse O'Brien and Matt O'Brien passed away on July 8, 2009 at the age of 65. Our condolences to his family.
From the Spectator:
O'BRIEN , Michael Joseph Peacefully at the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice on July 8, 2009, at age 65. Loving father of Jesse Michael, Matty and Natalie. Known to many as OB, he was a fantastic musician, pool player, golfer and dad. His love and passion for music will undoubtedly live on through his children. Cremation has taken place and a private service will follow. If desired, memorial contributions to the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice would be appreciated by the family.
Comment placed on lifenews.ca:
"He had an uncanny ability to pick songs that people would respond to. And no one could do those early Elvis covers from the Sun records days like OB. It's sad when someone who has so much to offer is taken at such a relatively young age. Fortunately, he had time to pass on his musical abilities and instincts to his sons, Matt and Jesse (Michael). I know they'll carry on his musical legacy for years to come. "
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Living Blues Magazine has announced the nomineees for their 2026 awards. You can vote for your favourites (even write-ins). Deadline to vote is June 15, 2026.
Below is a complete list of nominees. Canadian acts are bolded.
Mini review: Empty Chairs, the latest album from Juno-nominated Niagara Blues superstar Spencer Mackenzie is getting a lot of international attention and for good reason. He grows with each release and Empty Chairs sees him painting with a lot more colours. Lyrically, the album delves into more personal and sometimes darker themes proving his songwriting is expanding by leap and bounds. You can also hear a touch of gospel and rootsier elements to his work.
If All You Have . . . is good old fashioned Blues in the style of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters with a bit of soul. DeKeyzer's guitar prowess is evident on all tracks. There's booty shaking boogie and some amazing slower numbers too.
Former Hamiltonian Paul Langille is up for the Blues category
The Lowdown Dirty Mojos features band members who are currently living in Hamilton/Oakville gor the nod for Ontario Independent Recording Artist of the Year
People can vote for their favourites until May 8, 2026 by clicking here
Winners will be revealed in two events: June 7, 2026 at Aeolian Hall and June 14, 2026 at London Music Hall as part of London Music Week - June 6 to 14.
It is with sadness that we announced the passing of local drummer John "Babe" Myles on Thursday, June 26, 2009. Our condolences go out to his friends and family.
Below is the obituary from the July 4, 2009 Hamilton Spectator.
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