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Rockin' Good Time at the MBAs
David Gogo (Guitarist of the Year), John Mays (Male Vocalist of the Year) and Colin Linden (Producer of the Year) jamming up a storm at the Maple Blues Awards gala. Photo by Greg King
(See more photos in the MBA Gallery.)
Blues musicians from across Canada were honoured and celebrated at the 2004 Maple Blues Awards, held in Toronto on January17th.
The gala event at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre was hosted by Raoul Bhaneja. The leader of Raoul and the Big Time, he also has an active career as an actor, and is currently starring in the popular television series Train 48.
Ottawa's Sue Foley was the evening's only multiple winner, receiving three Maple Blues Awards, including Recording of the Year for her first live release, "Change" on Justin Time Records. Her first acoustic album, the CD also netted her the award for Acoustic Act of the Year, as well as honours as the Female Vocalist of the Year. These awards increase Foley's existing record for the most Maple Blues Awards in the event's eight-year history - so far she has won 17 of the distinctive blue maple leaf-shaped awards. Foley was unable to be present at the Awards; she is currently on tour in Europe.
Another Ottawa group, the JW-Jones Blues Band, won The Electric Act of the Year award. Representing the east coast, Cape Breton's Matt Minglewood won Entertainer of the Year, while Nova Scotia resident Morgan Davis received the songwriting award for the second consecutive year. Halifax native Tom Bona received Drummer of the Year, his 4th consecutive win in this category. Bona is the drummer for Sue Foley, as well as for Raoul and the Big Time.
From the west coast, Nanaimo B.C.'s David Gogo received Guitarist of the Year, capping a year of national touring for his new recording, "Vibe". Peterborough, Ontario's blues prodigy, 14-year-old Jimmy Bowskill, won the Maple Blues Award for New Artist of the Year, which carries with it the Galaxie Rising Star award from the CBC, which is accompanied by a cash prize. Jimmy's bassist, and the producer of his two CDs, Alec Fraser, was honoured as Bass Player of the Year.
Other instrumental winners included Toronto-based musicians Carlos del Junco for Harmonica Player, and Downchild members Michael Fonfara (Keyboard Player of the Year) and saxophonist Pat Carey (Horn Player). The Male Vocalist award went to John Mays, the frontman for Fathead, and also a singer with the Juke Joint Rockers.
Colin Linden, a musician, songwriter and producer with a long history in Toronto, and who now lives in Nashville, won the Maple Blues Award for Producer of the Year for his work on the NorthernBlues recording "Bury Him at the Crossroads" by American singer Janiva Magness. Winning jointly with Magness, this adds to Linden's mantel of Producer awards.
Multi-talented musician and actor Jackie , acclaimed for her work in theatre, film, television, and music, was honoured with the Blues with a Feeling Award for her lifetime contribution to blues music in Canada.
The Blues Booster of the Year award, a special Maple Blues Award honouring outstanding contribution to the Canadian Blues industry, was awarded to Brian Slack, a Quebec-based artist manager and event producer, and the founder of the Montreal Blues Society.
Finally, the legendary blues superstar, septuagenarian B.B. King, won the award for International Artist of the Year.
The Maple Blues Awards is Canada's national blues awards program, and is organized by the Toronto Blues Society with the support and participation of blues societies across the country. Its goal is to promote blues music nationally, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. The nominees are selected by a national panel of distinguished blues DJs and journalists, and the winners are selected by on-line voting by blues fans across Canada.
Guest artists performing at the awards ceremonies included Jim Byrnes from Vancouver, Saskatoon native Suzie Vinnick and veteran blues guitarist Mel Brown, who now lives in Kitchener.
The awards ceremonies followed the second Blues Summit, a three-day gathering of blues industry people from across the country which provided
an opportunity for the blues community to connect and to attend professional development seminars, working meetings and showcase concerts.
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