Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Remembering the Legendary Ronnie Hawkins
The music world lost a titan on May 29, 2022 when Canadian icon Ronnie Hawkins passed away. Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Ronnie was born in Arkansas but moved to Ontario early in his career due to the great reception he received here. He's also responsible for helping launch the careers of many musicians such as the Band, Crowbar and many more.
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My heart sank when I heard “The Hawk” just flew into the sunset.
The story of The Band began with Ronnie Hawkins. He was our mentor. He taught us the rules of the road.
Ronnie Hawkins brought me down from Canada to the Mississippi delta when I was 16. He recorded two songs I’d written and thought I might be talented. He tried me out on guitar and bass the only problem was; I’m too young to play in the clubs they toured, I was too inexperienced, not a good enough musician yet, and there are NO Canadians in southern rock and roll bands. But I practiced until my fingers were bleeding and he ended up hiring me against all odds.
Ron prided himself in always having top notch players in his group. Levon Helm his drummer in the Hawks and I talked Ron into hiring Rick Danko on bass and vocals, Richard Manuel on piano and vocals and Garth Hudson on organ and sax. Along with Levon and me this became the magic combination.
Ronnie was the godfather. The one who made this all happen.
He had us rehearsing constantly into the wee hours. We balked about it, but we got better and better. Our goal whether we knew it or not.
After the Hawks left Ron and went out on our own, we joined up with Bob Dylan. Next the Hawks became The Band and the rest is history, as they say.
All starting out with Ronnie Hawkins.
He was not only a great artist, a tremendous performer and bandleader, but had a style of humor unequaled. Fall down funny and completely unique. Yep, God only made one of those. And he will live in our hearts forever.
My deepest condolences to his family.
Bless his soul.
This is a tough one. RIP Ronnie Hawkins, a brilliant, hilarious, once in a lifetime entertainer and family friend. My first stint as a Hawk was in the summer at 15 years old before going back to school. Thanks Ronnie for so many laughs and lessons, a musical education like no other, and thanks for letting a young kid wear your hat.
Such a generous man, he was a father to me, I joined at age 19, but he told everyone I was 16 lol. Ronnie Hawkins introduced me to the real rock and roll lifestyle. We played everywhere from concert halls to biker bars, to supper clubs to strip joints. Through Ronnie, I met BB King and Johnny Rivers and Roy Buchanan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley and Ian and Sylvia. We played with Levon Helm and Dr John and had a great band with King Biscuit Boy, John Till, Mike Short, Stan Szeleste, Carl Mathers, Rob Johnston and Wayne King to name a few who are all lifelong friends. An amazing legacy of great entertainment; humour and music. RIP Ronnie Hawkins.
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the legendary Ronnie “The Hawk” Hawkins today.
While I was plying my trade as a young musician living in Toronto in the 1980’s, I always looked up to Ronnie Hawkins. He was the “king” of the local “Rock’n’Roll” scene while I was just starting out. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to catch his live act on numerous occasions and eventually got to meet the man...more than once.
It turned out “The Hawk” was a boxing fan, just like me. We’d run into each other at boxing matches, whether it was a live event featuring Canadian Olympian Shawn O’Sullivan, or a closed circuit match featuring Oscar De La Hoya, Ronnie Hawkins was always there. “The Hawk” was a true “man of the people” who loved to talk about music, boxing, and was always quick with a one-liner.
As I reflect today on this “larger-than-life” character, it’s clear “The Hawk” had a huge influence on my own music career. We both loved “Rockabilly” music, playing with a high-energy, talented band of musicians, and putting on a show. Thanks Ronnie!!
RIP “THE HAWK”
He will never be forgotten.
I got to meet Ronnie Hawkins at his home in March. Gary Lucas invited Wendell Ferguson, Mike McCurlie and myself to come play a few BAND songs with accordion, guitar and mando. He loved it. Even said I had a bit of Garth Hudson going on in my playing which was a big compliment for me. Woo, the stories. LOL! Great to have met The Legend, The Hawk and sad to see him go.
The Smoke Wagon Blues Band
Very sad to hear of the passing of the legendary Ronnie Hawkins. Even though Ronnie was originally American his finger prints are all over Canadian Rock'n'roll & Blues history. Especially here in the Hammer and Ontario you'd be hard pressed to find a Rock or Blues group that wasn't touched or directly influenced in some way by the Hawk.
The Smoke Wagon Blues Band is no different: We got our big break opening for the Hawk back in 2003 at The Burlington Sound of Music Festival. Ronnie had been fighting cancer and hadn't played for some years so 50,000 folks packed into Spencer Smith Park for the show. At that time we were still holding residency in the small cubs of Hamilton's Hess Village when the Hawk requested a local blues band open for him. We felt so out of our element walking out on that big stage, we couldn't see where the crowd ended gulp! Ronnie was so gracious with us, offering lots of liquid courage back in his trailer as encouragement haha. After the show he invited us back to his trailer for lots of party favors, and to give us shit for covering the same song in our set list (Born in Chicago) haha When he realized my mom was trying to talk to me through the back gates he said get your mom in here whom was dying to meet him.
We most definitely got the full Ronnie experience that evening. I met Ronnie a few times over the years but I'll always remember that first moment. Its pretty damn cool to get the chance to share the stage with one of your idols and he sure made it special. Long live the Hawk in our musical memories.
Links: King Biscuit Boy, More KBB Stories, Duane Allman, Video above courtesy of Deep Track Zach
Video above courtesy of Classic Music Videos & Pictures 1960s
Links: The Band, More Stories of The Band, Video above courtesy of plimfec
Links: Ronnie Hawkins, More Ronnie Hawkins Stories,
Previous ('Grand River Blues Society' Solo Blues Challange Rep Chosen)
Monday, May 30, 2022
CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK! Brooke Blackburn to Represent the Grand River Blues Society at the 2023 International Blues Challenge
Toronto musician Brooke Blackburn was chosen to represent the Grand River Blues Society for the 2023 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. On May 29, 2022, after a hard-fought musical battle at Bobby O'Brien's in Kitchener, judges picked him to make us proud next year when he gets up on the international stage. He also gets a spot on the prestigious Kitchener Blues Festival.
Here's the announcement and acceptance speech.
Video above courtesy of Hamilton B. Lous
Here's a performance of one the songs that helped him get the win.
CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK NEXY YEAR BROOKE!
Below are links to videos of performances from the other amazing contestants:
Sunday, May 29, 2022
CONGRATS! 2022 Hamilton Arts Awards Recipients
Recently, the 2022 Hamilton Arts Awards recipients were unveiled. They'll all be honoured at a celebration on June 9, 2022 as part of Hamilton Arts Week in association with the Hamilton Arts Council.
Here's the complete winners list. Music-related nominees are bolded:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Harrison Kennedy
Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Video above courtesy of Paul Mill
Arts Champion: Jamie (Gunner) Smith (Steel City Music), Art to Go Podcast (Nancy Benoy, Cornelia Peckart), David BeresfordCreator Awards: Jaclyn Desforges (poet, writer), Yuma Dean Hester (Bawaadan Collective)(multi-discipline), Terrance Odette (filmmaker), Joe Ollmann (cartoonist), Marla Panko (painter), Emma Smith (ceramics), Santee Smith (multi-discipline), Donna-Michelle St. Bernard (theatre)
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Friday, May 27, 2022
Fiery New Album from Lester Smith & Trickbag
Ancaster singer/songwriter Lester Smith has teamed with his good pals in Trickbag to forge a fiery new album, Another Day in Paradise. Together, they've created a wonderful melding of Blues, Roots and a little Country.
As always, Les is a skilled songwriter and storyteller. He touches on themes of love, hope, disaster, survival and more. The tracks can be touching, fun, inspiring, intimate and poignant. Above all - it will move you. Les and Trickbag can also groove with the best of them.
You can pick up this unforgettable album at the CD Release on at Stonewalls (Hamilton) on May 28th at 8pm or at any of his other live shows. Picks and Sticks (Hamilton) and Looney Tunes (Burlington) have copies on hand as well. Also, it can be download via Bandcamp soon
Links: Les Smith, More Les Smith Stories, Trickbag, More Trickbag Stories, Songs above courtesy of Lester Smith With Trickbag
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Monday, May 23, 2022
'Bittersweet' by Chairmen of the Board (featuring Hamilton's Harrison Kennedy) Turns 50
This year (1972), Bittersweet, the incredible album from the unforgettable soul group, The Chairmen of the Board, turns 50 years old. At the time, Hamilton Blues legend, Harrison Kennedy was a member of the popular trio. This Invictus Records release would end up being Harrison's final album with the ensemble.
Harrison had this say about this classic album:
My first blues tune on any COB’s releases was Weary Traveller.
Men are Getting Scarce was in protest of the war.
This release was my favorite because of the Country Blues feel. I played harp on Elmo James.
Video above courtesy of Missing Oldies
Video above courtesy of Anthony Rosano
Video above courtesy of uk70singles
Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Chairmen of the Board, More Chairmen of the Board Stories, More 50th Anniversary Albums
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Happy Victoria Day! Videos by Rock'n Blues Boys, Wax Mannequin, Leonard Cohen
Update of 2020 post.
Video above courtesy of the The Rock'n Blues Boys
Links: Leonard Cohen, More Leonard Cohen Stories, Video above courtesy of Danielba
Links: Wax Mannequin, More Wax Mannequin Stories, Video above courtesy of zuniordave
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Sunday, May 22, 2022
GOOD LUCK! 2022 Hamilton Arts Awards Short List
From the Hamilton Arts Awards website:
These remarkable local artists, arts collectives, arts community leaders and volunteers have been named to the 2022 City of Hamilton Arts Awards Short List in three categories:
Creator Award (29 shortlisted)
Conferred to individual artists and artistic collectives (including bands) working in any artistic discipline and at any career level.
Arts Champion Award (3 shortlisted)
Honours the work of arts sector volunteers, advocates, or board members who are essential in supporting success in the arts community.
Lifetime Achievement Award (5 shortlisted)
Recognizes those who have contributed substantially to the artistic vitality of the city over the course of a career.
Award recipients will be selected by a jury of leading arts professionals. Recipients to be announced in the coming weeks all will be celebrated at a multi-venue celebration on June 9, 2022 as part of Hamilton Arts Week in association with the Hamilton Arts Council.
Here's the complete short list. Music-related nominees are bolded.
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Harrison Kennedy
- Queen Cee
- Lori Yates
- Nea Reid (poetry, media, sculpture)
- John Terpstra (writer)
Arts Champion
- Jamie (Gunner) Smith (Steel City Music)
- Art to Go Podcast (Nancy Benoy, Cornelia Peckart)
- David Beresford
Creator Awards
- André Bisson
- Charly Chiarelli
- Diana Panton
- Pip
- TH&B Collective (Dave Hind, Simon Frank, Ivan Jurakic, Tor Lukasik-Foss aka musician Tiny Bill Cody)
- Cem Zafir (Zula Presents)
- Stephen Altena (visual art)
- Alex Borghesan (sculpture)
- Tara Bursey (multi-discipline)
- Cesar Correa Cordoba (multi-media)
- Jaclyn Desforges (poet, writer)
- Kristina Durka (media artist)
- Laura Ellis (actor director, artist)
- David J. Fernandes (writer/director)
- Steve Haining (photography)
- Jess Hannigan (illustrator)
- Yuma Dean Hester (Bawaadan Collective)(multi-discipline)
- Janice Kovar (mixed media)
- Robyn Lightwalker (multi-discipline)
- Fareh Malik (poetry)
- Terrance Odette (filmmaker)
- Joe Ollmann (cartoonist)
- Marla Panko (painter)
- Kaime Sherman (acting, public speaking)
- Emma Smith (ceramics)
- Santee Smith (multi-discipline)
- Donna-Michelle St. Bernard (theatre)
- Kyle Stewart (video artist)
- Twenty Twenty Productions/Pink One Productions Inc. (Lisa Crawford, Darren Stewart-Jones, Aharon Jinjihashvili) (production company)
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Friday, May 20, 2022
Happy World Fiddle Day! Videos by Liam McGlashon, Matt Coleman, Ever-Lovin' Jug Band
Update of 2016 Post
Links: More Liam McGlashon Stories, Ferguson Young, More Charlie Daniels Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of The Urban Fiddler
Links: More Matt Coleman Stories, Video above courtesy of Matt Coleman
Links: Ever-Lovin' Jug Band, More Ever-Lovin' Jug Band Stories, Video above courtesy of Jazzbo43
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May 2022 Episode of 'Sold on Hamilton with Judy Marsales' featuring Darcy & Astrid Hepner
On May 7, 2022 CHML 900AM in Hamilton aired another fabulous episode of the 'Sold On Hamilton with Judy Marsales' radio show.
This wonderful show is generally broadcast on the first Saturday on the month between 11am and 12pm. It is hosted by Judy Marsales, owner of Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd (a proud HBL sponsor) and an amazing local music supporter. The program showcases the best and brightest citizens of the Hammer, including many musicians. Judy also discusses the Hamilton housing market.
The May 2022 show featured local talented musician Darcy Hepner and Astrid Hepner from An Instrument for Every Child and real estate broker, Tom Fleming from Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd.
Links: Darcy Hepner, More Darcy Hepner Stories, Astrid Hepner, More Astrid Hepner Stories, Show above courtesy of Global News, Sold on Hamilton, More 'Sold on Hamilton' Stories
Video above courtesy of McMasterUTV
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