Black Music Month Videos by Harrison Kennedy, Errol Starr Francis, Jon Corbin

Update of 2020 Post 

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



Links: Errol Starr Francis, More Errol Starr Francis Stories, Video above courtesy of ErrolStarrFrancis



Links: Jon Corbin, Video above courtesy of Jon Corbin

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Previous (Throwback Thursday: Melissa McClelland - Victoria Day) - - - Next (Winners of the 2025 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards) 

Throwback Thursday: Melissa McClelland - Victoria Day

Original Post: April 14, 2009

Updated Post: May 29, 2025

Local Singer/Songwriter Melissa McClelland (now part of Whitehorse) released her newest album, Victoria Day on April 14, 2009.

According to her website: "The songs capture all of the beauty and charm of the girl next door while lacing the punch at the sock hop with home-made moonshine."

Information:

• Label: Six Shooter Records
• Available on: YouTube, Spotify, Six Shooter Records (also on Vinyl)

Personnel

• Melissa McClelland – vocals, backup vocals, acoustic guitar, piano on "Segovia"
• Luke Doucet – producer, electric and acoustic guitars, Rhodes piano, lap steel, banjo, piano on "Brake", background vocals
• Rich Levesque – upright bass, electric bass guitar, background vocals
• Al Cross – drums and percussion on multiple tracks 
• Glen Milchem – drums on multiple tracks 
• Barry Mirochnick – drums multiple tracks
• Horns – Jim Bish on saxophone, Bryden Baird on trumpet, William Carn on trombone
• Steve O'Connor – piano on "A Girl Can Dream" and B3 organ on "God Loves Me"
• Ron Sexsmith – vocals on "Seasoned Lovers"
• David Travers-Smith – horns and vibes on "Seasoned Lovers"
• Kevin Fox – string arrangements, cello
• Karen Graves – violin
• Kathryn Sugden – violin
• Johann Lotter – viola

You can stream the album below

Links: Whitehorse, More Whitehorse Stories, Album Above courtesy of Melissa McClelland - Topic,  More Releases

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Hamilton Arts Awards Short List, Including Our Very Own Marketing Queen

We here at the Hamilton Blues Lovers are proud to announce that our very own marketing queen,  Linda Fraser is on the 2025 Hamilton Arts Awards Short List. We'll be rooting for her to win at the June 12th ceremony.

Arts Champion Awards

• Linda Fraser (Hamilton Blues Lovers, Ensemble!, Escarpment Blues Society)
• Dayna Gedney (founder and operator of Hamilton Craft Studios)
• Karen Logan (visual artist)
• Lisa La Rocca (Chair of the Hamilton Music Advisory Team and Co-chair of the new Women in Music Hamilton/Halton chapter)
• MaryAnn Demsar and Sandi Richardson (fundraising council members at the St Thomas Aquinas Centre for the Arts)
• Nancy Cabral-Leverton (curating and volunteering)
• Rachel Conduit (runs art gallery, music venue, two bars, a restaurant, and two artist studio spaces)
• Smokestack (limited-edition prints)
• Steven Hilliard (curator and organizer)

Creator Award

• Alfie Smith (musician)
• Emma Rush (musician)
• Luckystickz (musician)
• Priyanka Tope (dancer, choreographer, vocalist, and educator)
• Rollie Pemberton aka Cadence Weapon (musician, author)
• Adrien Crossman (artist, educator, and curator)
• Ardyn Gibbs (digital new media artist, designer)
• Casa Studio (small-batch ceramics studio)
• Clarence A. Porter (artist)
• Danielle Hitchcock (multidisciplinary graphic designer)
• David Hudson (choreographer, educator, and Executive Director of Hamilton Arts Council)
• David Trautrimas (multi-media artist)
• Deborah Sloboda (Professor and reproductive biologist at McMaster University)
• Delio E. Delgado (artist)
• Eli Nolet (artist)
• Hexe Noire (drag artist)
• Kaime Sherman (arts educator, founder of the Academy of Imagination & Dramatic Arts)
• Kamaldeep Kaur (artist and art instructor)
• Kiera Boult (interdisciplinary artist and performer)
• Lester Coloma (artist)
• Marta Hewson (photographer)
• Myke Hutchings (clown, storyteller)
• Radha S. Menon (multi-disciplinary artist)
• Same Boat Theatre
• Sonali Menezes (artist, writer)
• Tania LaCaria (artist)
• Tanis Sydney Macarthur (costumer, dance artist, choreographer, aerialist, stilt walker, prop maker and creature designer)

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Lyla Miklos (broadcast journalist, community organizer, education worker, publicist, vocalist and writer)
• Tom Beckett (musician, Beckett art galleries and studios)
• Ardyth Brott (Brott Music Festival, National Academy Orchestra of Canada and BrottOpera)
• Gary Smith (director, choreographer, critic, author, teacher, dramaturge)
• John Terpstra (Writer, poet, publisher)

Links: Hamilton Arts Awards, More Hamilton Arts Awards Stories

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Previous  (Throwback Thursday: Groove Corporation Debut Album) - - - Next (Throwback Thursday: Melissa McClelland - Victoria Day)

Throwback Thursday: Groove Corporation Debut Album - Record Prophets

Original Post: April 4, 2009

Updated: May 22, 2025

Update: The band is no longer active so it will be hard finding a CD version of this recording. This was the band's only album.

On April 4, 2009, Hamilton's Groove Corporation released their debut album, Record Prophets. This is a recording to play and boogie. Their funk, soul, R&B sound is infectious and will have you dancing.

Consisting mainly of cover tunes (Jungle Boogie, James Brown's Cold Sweat, a swing version of KISS's Detroit Rock City, and more) - the collection also has three incredible originals by the band.

The album is available through You Tube, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Band members: 

• Bass – Steve Hilbert
• Drums – Frank Vignanello
• Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Mixer – Alex MacDougall
• Keyboards, Vocals – Lily Sazz
• Lead Vocals, Congas – Kim Campagnaro
• Saxophone – Peter McFarland
• Saxophone, Vocals – Cole G. Benjamin
• Trumpet – Rich Sumstad, Rob Gellner

More information

• Engineer, Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Ian Nielsen
• Mastered By – Nick Blagona

Stream the album below.

Links: Groove Corporation, More Groove Corporation Stories, Album above courtesy of Groove Corporation - Topic, More Releases

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Victoria Day Videos by Mayor McCa aka CA Smith, John Cale, Roger Glover

Update of 2021 Post

Links: CA Smith (new name for Mayor McCa), More CA Smith Stories, Video above courtesy of Sonic Unyon Records

Links: John Cale of Velvet Underground, More Velvet Underground Stories, Video above courtesy of contrebandier

Links: Roger Glover, More Deep Purple Stories, Video above courtesy of kneelandpray2

More Victoria Day Videos

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Winners of the 2025 East Coast Music Awards

The East Coast Music Awards: Festival and Conference (May 7-11, 2025) ended in a number of talented Eastern Canadian artists earning accolades in St. Johns, NFLD. This included Nova Scotia's Old Man Luedecke, a musician signed to Waterdown's True North Records.

• Songwriter of the Year: Old Man Luedecke - “The Raven and The Dove” (signed to Waterdown's True North Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Old Man Luedecke, More Old Man Luedecke Stories, Video above courtesy of OldManLuedecke
  
  
• Acadian or Francophone Artist of the Year: Les Hay Babies
• African Canadian Artist of the Year: Maggie Andrew
• Album of the Year: Vishtèn Connexions - Expansion
• Artist Management of the Year: Hurricane Music Artist Management
• Blues Release of the Year: Campbell & Johnston - “Find Your Way”
• Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Loviet
• Bucky Adams Memorial Award: Marc Perry
• Innovator of the Year: Chelsi Madonna
• Children’s Artist of the Year: Heather Feather
• Classical Composer of the Year: India Gailey - “Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth: I. SKY”
• Classical Release of the Year: Suzie LeBlanc - “pour une Amérique engloutie”
• Content Creator of the Year: Jud Haynes
• Country Release of the Year: Brett Matthews - “If I Die Today (feat. Classified)”
• Dance Release of the Year: Summer Bennett - “Just a Phase - Dave Aude Remix”
• Electronic Release of the Year: Rich Aucoin - “Sonica”
• Entertainer of the Year: Kellie Loder
• Event of the Year: Congrès mondial acadien 2024
• Folk Release of the Year: Vishtèn Connexions - “Kouma”
• Fusion Release of the Year: Vishtèn Connexions - “Kouma”
• Global Music Release of the Year: Ana Luísa Ramos - “Clouds”
• Group of the Year: Neon Dreams
• Indigenous Artist of the Year: Deantha Edmunds
• Industry Builder Award: Wade Pinhorn
• Instrumental Release of the Year: Mark Fewer - “The Simple Life (Arr. for Violin & String Orchestra by Andrew Downing)”
• Jazz Release of the Year: Measha Brueggergosman-Lee - “Zombie Blizzard”
• Lifetime Achievement Award: The Ennis Sisters
• Loud Release of the Year: The Order of the Precious Blood - “Suffer & Die”
• Media Person of the Year: Zach Snow
• Musician’s Achievement Award: Chris Ryan
• Pop Release of the Year: Noah Malcolm - “January”
• Producer of the Year: Classified
• Rap / Hip-Hop Release of the Year: Classified - “Sure Enough”
• R&B/Soul Release of the Year: Jah’Mila - “Never Fail”
• Release of the Year: Classified - “Amnesia”
• Rock / Alternative Release of the Year: Maggie Andrew - “DAY JOB”
• Roots Release of the Year: Quote The Raven - “Already Gone”
• Solo Artist of the Year: Classified
• Traditional Release of the Year: Rum Ragged - “Paddy Hyde”
• Venue of the Year: Shore Club
• Video of the Year: Kellie Loder - “Can't Go Back” (Directed by: Ashlea Wessel)
  
  
  
  Links: Kellie Loader, Video above courtesy of Kellie Loader
  
  
• Vocal Release of the Year: Laura Roy - “Lucy”

Stompin’ Tom Awards

• Newfoundland and Labrador: Korona Brophy
• Cape Breton: Monica MacNeil
• New Brunswick: Heidi Baird
• Nova Scotia: Mike Campbell
• Prince Edward Island: Ghislaine Cormier

Links: East Coast Music Awards, More ECMA Stories

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Previous (Fiddle Day Videos) - - - Next (Victoria Day Videos)

World Fiddle Day Videos ft Shane Guse

Update of 2019 post

Roger Schmidt



Mark Wood



More Queen Covers/Stories



Links: Western Swing Authority (Shane's Band), More WSA Stories, Videos above courtesy of Shane Guse, More Fiddle Day Videos

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Previous (Throwback Thursday: Laid Off Stelco Worker Writes Heartfelt Songs) - - - Next (East Coast Music Awards)

Throwback Thursday: Laid Off Stelco Worker Records Heartfelt YouTube Videos

Original Post: April 9, 2009

Updated Post: May 15, 2025

Remo Cino, who was laid off from Stelco in November of 2009, wrote and recorded heartfelt songs about Hamilton steel industry's woes. The Hamilton mountain resident has posted them on YouTube.

Click here for his CHCH Interview

Click here for his YouTube page.

Video above courtesy of rcino

Video above courtesy of rcino

Links: Remo Cino, Video above courtesy of rcino

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Previous (Blues Music Award Winners) - - - Next (Fiddle Day Videos)

46th Annual Blues Music Award Winners including Canada's Sue Foley

On May 8, 2026, The Blues Foundation announced the winners of their 46th Annual Blues Music Awards winners in Memphis, Tennessee. The only Canadian artist to win was Ottawa's Sue Foley, who is signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records. 

Below is the new report from Blues Rock Review:

Links: Blues Music Awards, More Blues Music Awards Stories, Video above courtesy of Blues Rock Review

Below is a complete list of winners.

• Traditional Blues Female Artist: Sue Foley (Ottawa) (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
• Acoustic Blues Album: One Guitar Woman, Sue Foley (Ottawa) (signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
  
  
  
  Links: Sue Foley, More Sue Foley Stories, Video above courtesy of Sue Foley
  
  
• Acoustic Blues Artist: Keb’ Mo’
  
• Album of the Year: Blame It On Eve, Shemekia Copeland
• Band of the Year: Rick Estrin and the Nightcats
• Best Emerging Artist Album: Revelation, Piper & The Hard Times
• BB King Entertainer of the Year: Mr. Sipp
• Blues Rock Album: Life is Hard, Mike Zito
• Blues Rock Artist: Tommy Castro
• Contemporary Blues Album: Blues In My DNA, Ronnie Baker Brooks
• Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Ruthie Foster
• Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Ronnie Baker Brooks
• Instrumentalist - Bass: Bob Stroger
• Instrumentalist - Drums: Kenny ”Beedy Eyes” Smith
• Instrumentalist - Guitar: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
• Instrumentalist - Harmonica: Billy Branch
• Instrumentalist - Horn: Vanessa Collier
• Instrumentalist - Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player): Eden Brent
• Instrumentalist - Vocals: Ruthie Foster
• Song of the Year: “Blues In My DNA”- Ronnie Baker Brooks
  
  
  
  Links: Ronnie Baker Brooks, Video above courtesy of Ronnie Baker Brooks - Topic
  
  
• Soul Blues Album: Fine By Me, Curtis Salgado
• Soul Blues Female Artist: Thornetta Davis
• Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado
• Traditional Blues Album: Crawlin’ ’Kingsnake, John Primer & Bob Corritore
• Traditional Blues Male Artist: John Primer

Links: Blues Music Awards, More Blues Music Awards Stories

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Previous (Mother's Day Videos) - - - Next (Throwback Thursday: Laid Off Stelco Worker Writes Heartfelt Songs)

Mother's Day Videos by Dan Edmonds, Jamie Shea, Reid Jamieson, Elvis

Update of 2020 Post 

Links: Dan Edmonds, More Dan Edmonds Stories. Video above courtesy of dan edmonds



Links: Jamie Shea, More Jamie Shea Stories, Video above courtesy of Jamie Shea



Links: Reid Jamieson, Video above courtesy of Reid Jamieson



Links: Elvis, More Elvis Stories, Video above courtesy of AlfaBee2010

More Mother's Day Music

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