Summer Videos by the Shakers, Sammy Duke, Mel Brown, Wayne Janus

Update of 2020 Post

Today (June 20, 2020) is the first day of summer! Here are some hot videos to celebrate:



Links: Shakers, More Shakers Stories, Video above courtesy of I Don't Wanna Cry



Links: Sammy Duke, More Sammy Duke Stories, Video above courtesy of Sammy Duke



Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Video above courtesy of Mel Brown & The Homewreckers - Topic



Links: Wayne Janus, More Wayne Janus Stories, Video above courtesy of Vesna Trkulja-Stevens

More Summer Videos

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Jimmy Reed's 100th Birthday

Today (September 6, 2025) would have been American Blues Legend Jimmy Reed's 100th birthday.

Biographical highlights (from Wikipedia)

• Born Mathis James Reed in Dunleith, Mississippi (Sept 6, 1925)
• Moved to Chicago (1943)
• Signed to Vee-Jay Records (1953)
• Released first single High and Lonesome (1953)
  
  
  
  Links: Jimmy Reed, More Jimmy Reed Stories, Video above courtesy of TheBluesfan12
  
  
• Released hi first hit single You Don't Have to Go (1955)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Jimmy Reed
  
  
• Released first album, I'm Jimmy Reed (1958)
• Passed away (August 29, 1976)
• Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (1980)

Here's a video of the late, great Mel Brown (who moved to Kitchener later in life) covering Jimmy's Baby What Do You Want Me To Do.

Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Video above courtesy of GitarCarl

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Throwback Thursday: Mel Brown 1939-2009 R.I.P.

Original Post: March 23, 2009

Updated Post: May 1, 2025

Canadian Blues legend, Mel Brown passed away on March 20, 2009.

Click here for the CBC news story

He  received an honourable mention at a recent session of the House of Commons.

Harold Albrecht member of parliment for Kitchener/Waterloo - Conestoga discussed Mel's influence on the local music scene and his incredible work.

Here is the transcript:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who played a key role in developing Waterloo region's music scene.

In the late 1980s, Mel Brown relocated to Kitchener, Ontario after a long career playing guitar for some of the biggest names in music. Willie Nelson, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Bobby Bland and Waylon Jennings are just a few.

Mel's arrival put our community on the music map. It was common for blues greats like B.B. King to show up unannounced just to share a stage with Mel.

When blues great Buddy Guy last played in Kitchener, he said, “It's just you, me and B.B. left now”. At the annual Kitchener Blues Festival, talent from around the world looked forward to the private event where Mel played for the musicians and volunteers.

Mel Brown died in St. Mary's Hospital on March 20. He leaves behind his wife and musical partner, Miss Angel, two children, seven grandchildren and tens of thousands of fans.

Today we mourn the loss of Mel Brown, even as we celebrate his life and legacy. To those who loved him, our hearts are extended.

Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Video above courtesy of Dimitris Koutsiaftis

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Throwback Thursday: Black Music Month Edition - Videos by Mel Brown, Sonny Greenwich, Race

Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Video above courtesy of Mel Brown- Topic

Links: Sonny Greenwich, More Sonny Greenwich Stories, Video above courtesy of Sonny Greenwich - Topic

Links: Race, Video above courtesy of Peter D

More Black Music Month Videos

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Happy Labour Day! Videos by Stan Rogers, Snooky Pryor & Mel Brown, Ronnie Hawkins

Links: Stan Rogers, More Stan Rogers Stories, Video above courtesy of Norman Dale

Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Snooky Pryor, More Snooky Pryor Stories, Video above courtesy of Mel Brown - Topic

Links: Ronnie Hawkins, More Ronnie Hawkins Stories, Video above courtesy of futykoolz

More Labour Day Videos

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Kitchener's John Lee Wins Mel Brown Blues Award

Kitchener singer/songwriter/keyboardist John Lee is the 2021 winner of the Mel Brown Blues Award. It is named in honour of the late, legendary Kitchener bluesman.

From the Kitchener Blues Festival website:

MAY 12TH 2021 – MEL BROWN BLUES AWARD

The Kitchener Blues Festival Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the 2021 Recipient of the Mel Brown Blues Award is John Lee.

John has had an exemplary career as a blues musician, having been a touring member of The Dutch Mason Blues Band, Matt Minglewood and Mel Brown and the Homewreckers.

John has worked with many other musicians throughout his career and has appeared on many recordings, as both a musician and recording engineer/producer.

John has mentored countless musicians over the years, and is an instructor at the annual Grand River Blues Camp. He is currently working on his own CD that will be available soon as a digital download.

John sings vocals on the song below. 

Links: Pappy Johns Band, More Pappy Johns Band Stories, Video above courtesy of The Pappy Johns Band - Topic

Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Video above courtesy of johnleekeys

Links: Cheryl Lescom, More Cheryl Lescom Stories, Video above courtesy of Dave Sloane

More John Lee Stories

Previous Years' Winners

• 2020: Mike "Mudfoot" McDonald
• 2019: Dave ‘Daddy Cool’ Booth
• 2018: Holger Petersen

More Mel Brown Award Stories

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Previous (SOCAN Awards to Honour Local Visionaries) - - - Next (Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' Turns 50)

Jimmy Witherspoon's 100th Birthday

Today (August 8, 2020) would have been the late American Blues legend Jimmy Witherspoon's 100th birthday.

Biography highlights (from Wikipedia)

• Born in Gurdon, Arkansas (August 8, 1920)
• Made his first records with Jay McShann (1945)
• Recorded under own name (1947)
• Recorded first hit 'Ain't Nobody's Business' (1947)
• Acted in the Black Godfather (1974)
• Died in Los Angeles (September 18, 1997)

Corey Lueck of the Smoke Wagon Blues Band had this to say about the incredible musician:

I've always thought Jimmy Witherspoon was the quintessential war time blues singer. He had that great big band timeless shout blues style that could also get low down and soulful with the jazz cats. Hope he's belting it out for his 100th in that big ol' gig in the sky....

Jimmy recorded the song below with the late Kitchener Blues legend Mel Brown on guitar.

Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Earl Hooker, Video above courtesy of Pig's Vinyl Emporium

More songs from the man himself.







Links: Jimmy Witherspoon, Videos above courtesy of Jimmy Witherspoon - Topic, More 100th Birthdays

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CONGRATS! Waterloo's Rob Deyman (Waterstreet, Silvia Dee and the Boyfriend) Wins Mel Brown Award

On August 12, 2017 during the Kitchener Blues Fest, Waterloo's Rob Deyman (of Waterstreet Blues Band plus Silvia Dee and the Boyfriend) received this year's Mel Brown Award.  The prize is named after the late, legendary Kitchener Bluesman.  It's given to individuals who make a difference in the Blues community. Deymen is also the co-founder and recently retired Executive Director of that popular festival.

CONGRATS ROB!

Click here for the Waterloo Record Story



Links: Waterstreet Blues Band, More Waterstreet Stories





Links: Silvia Dee and the Boyfriend, More Silvia Dee Stories, Videos above courtesy of waterstreetband, More Mel Brown Award Stories

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winner

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CONGRATS! Drummer Jimmy Boudreau to Receive Mel Brown Award!

Photo courtesy of Jimmy's site.

Drummer Jimmy Boudreau will be the recipient of the 2016 Mel Brown Award, a prize named after his former band leader.  The one time member of Mel's Homewreckers will get the accolade as part of this year's Kitchener Blues Fest.

His impressive careers includes work with an array of superstars like Snooky Pryor, Sam Moore, Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits), The Mamas and the Papas, The Western Swing Authority and Jason McCoy.

Click here for the Waterloo Region Record Story.

CONGRATS!



Video above courtesy of SonorCanadaTube



Video above courtesy of Jonathan Knight



Links: Shawn Kellerman, More Shawn Kellerman Stories, Video above courtesy of Dave Sloane, More Mel Brown Award Stories

Blast from the Past: Charity Brown Wins 2015 Mel Brown Award

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GOOD LUCK! The Late, Legendary Mel Brown's DVD Up for Living Blues Award! You Can Vote!

It's very rare for local musicians to be nominated for the Living Blues Awards but this year, the late, legendary Kitchener Bluesman, Mel Brown is up for Best Blues DVD of 2015 for the documentary Love Lost and Found.



Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Video above courtesy of Peter Beacock

Also, Harmonica Shah, whose last few albums featured Hamilton guitar slinger Jack de Keyzer recieved a nod for Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica).



Links: Harmonica Shah, More Harmonica Shah Stories, Video above courtesy of Dimitris Koutsiaftis

You can help them win this prestigious award from the popular Blues magazine by voting online.  Click here to vote. Deadline is July 15, 2016!

GOOD LUCK!

Click here for the results.

DVD

• Mel Brown: Love Lost and Found: The Story of Mel Brown
• Otis Grand: Blues From The Heart
• Muddy Waters and Friends: Soundstage: Blues Summit in Chicago, 1974
• Lonnie Shields: The Blues Soul of Lonnie Shields

Harmonica

• Harmonica Shah 
• Bob Corritore 
• Billy Branch 
• Charlie Musselwhite 
• Phil Wiggins 
• Grady Champion 
• Charlie Sayles 
• Sugar Blue
• Omar Coleman 
• James Harman 

Artist (Male) Lurrie Bell  Buddy Guy  John Primer  Keb' Mo'  Taj Mahal  Mr. Sipp  Little Freddie King  Tommy Castro  Vasti Jackson  Leo Bud Welch  Artist (Female) Trudy Lynn  Janiva Magness  Ruthie Foster  Shemekia Copeland  Diunna Greenleaf  Jewel Brown  Rhiannon Giddens  Irma Thomas Ms. Jody  Dorothy Moore  Singer Buddy Guy  Diunna Greenleaf Otis Clay John Németh Irma Thomas Joseph "Smokey" Holman Wee Willie Walker Mighty Sam McClain Trudy Lynn Johnny Rawls Guitar Lurrie Bell  Duke Robillard Joe Louis Walker Walter "Wolfman" Washington Buddy Guy  Lucky Peterson Classie Ballou Lil' Buck Sinegal Jimmy Johnson Jimmy Burns Keyboard Eden Brent  Marcia Ball  Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne  Allen Toussaint Henry Gray Ironing Board Sam David Maxwell Barrelhouse Chuck Victor Wainwright Mitch Woods Live Performer Super Chikan Shemekia Copeland Bobby Rush Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials Buddy Guy Ruthie Foster Tab Benoit Victor Wainwright The Cedric Burnside Project Mr. Sipp Album (New) Shemekia Copeland: Outskirts of Love Buddy Guy: Born To Play Guitar Mr. Sipp: The Mississippi Blues Child Wee Willie Walker: If Nothing Ever Changes Omar Coleman: Born and Raised Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King: Fat Man's Shine Parlor James Harman: Bonetime Various Artists - Muddy Waters 100 Henry Gray and Bob Corritore: Sessions Vol. 1: Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest The Cedric Burnside Project: Descendants of Hill Country Album (Reissue) Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection Various Artists: Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings, 1947-1959 J. B. Hutto: Hawk Squat Tampa Red: Dynamite! The Unsung King of the Blues Various Artists: Acoustic Blues: The Roots of It All The Definitive Collection Vols. 1-4 Bobby Rush: Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush Book Grady Gaines with Rod Evans: I've Been Out There: On the Road with Legends of Rock 'n' Roll Jas Obrecht: Early Blues: The First Stars of Blues Guitar Preston Lauterbach: Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews From the Original Blues Magazine  Peter Guralnick: Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll Barry Mazor: Ralph Peer and the Making of Popular Roots Music Blast From the Past: Our Review of the Mel Brown DVD Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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News Roundup (Jesse Elliot Band, Finis Tasby, Khea, Mike Gravitis)

Finis Tasby Passes
Click pic for video of Finis Tasby with Mel Brown (gtr), Enrico Crivellaro (gtr), Alec Fraser (bass) and Jimmy Boudreau (drums)

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News 

Local

• Barbershop Podcast w the Jesse Elliot Band
  
  
  
  Links: Video above courtesy of Barber Shop Podcast 

• Burlington Label Continues to Expand
• Local Organizations Win TD Community Music Grants
  - Culture for Kids in the Arts (CKA) – Hamilton
  - Hamilton Music Collective – Hamilton
  - Lyrical Lines Education Network Inc. – Kitchener

World

• John Lennon Songwriting Contest Winners (Some from Canada)

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Blasts From the Past 

• 2009: Blues News Bites w Alex Tintinalli, Jacob Moon, Lee Harvey Osmond, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, more
• 2010: Doug Feaver Sings Lennon
• 2011: Steelworker's Waltz CD Release Party
• 2012: Beard Live CD
• 2013: Videos of Festival of Friends Workshop w Mark McNeil, Doug Feaver, Alex Leggett

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Featured Videos.



Video above courtesy of Khea



Links: More Mike Gravitis Stories, Video above courtesy of Shandi Johnson 

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Previous (New Lynn Jackson CD)

The Legendary Buddy Guy Wins 2014 Mel Brown Award

When Blues superstar Buddy Guy performed at the 2014 Kitchener Blues Festival fundraiser concert, he also received the prestigious Mel Brown Award.  Named after the late, great blues master who made Kitchener, Ontario his adopted home, the award is given to individuals who make significant contribution to the Blues.

"Mel was one of the greatest guitar players ever. He was also a mean piano player.", Buddy told the Kitchener Record, "It's an honour to win an award named after someone as great as Mel Brown."

Buddy was a friend and contemporary of Mel and the two performed together on many occcasions. He also played in the region quite a few times over the years.

Congratulations

Click here for the Kitchener Record story.



Video above courtesy of Philip Blast



Video above courtesy of Pavel Kalinchev

Blast from the Past: John McKinley Wins the 2013 Mel Brown Award

Links: Buddy Guy, More Buddy Guy Stories

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Previous (News Roundup w Living Blues Awards, Smoke Wagon, Quails in the Nest) - - - Next (New Astrid Young CD)

Love Lost and Found DVD Explores Mel Brown's Legendary Life

The late, great Mel Brown was a talented, Mississippi-born blues legend who chose to spend his life in Kitchener, Ontario.  Sadly, he left us in 2009 but his career and legacy are celebrated in Love Lost and Found: The Story of Mel Brown.

This amazing documentary, directed by Kitchener's Sean Jasmins, does justice to Mel's memory.  Narrated by his widow, Miss Angel and featuring musical footage from the 80s to some of his final performances, we get to experience his journey from its humble beginnings to entering the musical elite to choosing Kitchener as his adopted home.

Along the way, we are treated to great interviews with international musicians such as Mavis Staples, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Marcia Ball, and Joe Louis Walker.  Canadian blues stars such as Steve Strongman, Julian Fauth, Cheryl Lescom, Ian Taylor, Matt Storch, Danny Michel and Jordan Patterson also discuss Mel's incredible life and legacy.  Members of his band, the Homewreckers, offer a few cool road stories as well.  To top things off, there's a cool special feature: audio footage of a 1968 recording session with his dad, John Henry "Bubba" Brown, where Mel plays second guitar.

This must-have DVD is available exclusively at Encore Records in Kitchener.



Video above courtesy of Peter Beacock







2 videos above courtesy of Gitar Carl

Blast from the Past: Mel Brown Passes

Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, More DVD Releases, More Releases

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Previous (Local Performers Nominated for Top Country Music Awards) - Next (News Roundup w Living Blues Awards, Smoke Wagon, Quails in the Nest)

John McKinley Receives Mel Brown Award

Waterloo blues master John McKinley received the prestigious Mel Brown award at the 2013 Kitchener Blues Festival.

John is a veteran performer who has worked as a sought-after session player and an inspirational teacher.  He has encouraged countless young musicians in their artistry. His successful students include Matt Weidinger, Conor Gains, Alex Tintinelli, and many others.

The distinction is named after the late blues legend Mel Brown, who called Kitchener home. It's given to individuals who make significant contribution to the local blues scene.  John definitely sets a great example.

Previous winners include Jackie Washington, Steve Strongman, Cheryl Lescom, Shawn Kellerman, Jimmy Vaughan, Bobby "Blue" Bland and others.

Click here for the Kitchener record story.

The video below courtesy of Rebecca Rayless



The video below courtesy of John McKinley Band



Link: John McKinley

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Previous (James Anthony Inducted into Blues Hall of Fame) Next (Michael J Birthelmer's Zazibar & Your Number on CD)

Harrison Kennedy on Santa's Got Mojo 2 CD

Electro-Fi's latest Christmas compilation, Santa's Got Mojo 2 has many of the top blues acts in Canada layin' out some fantastic festive funkiness.

Hamilton's own blues legend, Harrison Kennedy, offers up Hot Cider Cinnamon, a soulful, haunting, beautiful Christmas song about holiday memories.

Harrison's joined by Fathead (they have 2 tracks on the disc), Chris Whiteley, Shakura S'aida, Julian Fauth, Fruteland Jackson, Morgan Davis and many more with their own wonderful, original songs.  No sappy, dull carols in the lot.  This CD is filled with soul, swing and funk.

To cap things off is an amazing bonus track with the late, great Mel Brown and the Homewreckers playing the classic Merry Christmas Baby.

You can purchase the CD at the Electro-Fi site or download it through iTunes or eMusic.

Below are a few videos of tracks from the CD



Links: Shakura S'Aida, More Shakura S'Aida Stories,  Video courtesy of the Electro-Fi



Links: Morgan Davis, Video courtesy of Calm Tom 6

Blast from the Past: Harrison Kennedy and Others@Hometown Christmas

Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories

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