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Aaron Solomon:
Aaron's musical career has spanned three decades starting as a prominent Cape Breton fiddler. He is also a solo performer and spends a lot of time in the studio performing and producing. When he plays at King Henry’s Arms, everybody is all ears. |
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Shakey Dagenais: Shakey spent some time in Ft. Lauderdale with a jump/blues band called The Regulators, and with Stan Street and the Streetwalkers, a NewOrleans/blues band. He played all over the state from Tampa to Key West with various other bands too. Lately, he’s been playing in Port Credit with a band called the Southside Shuffle.
 See & hear Shakey play!
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Al Brisco: Al is one of the foremost steel guitar players
in the world today. I've known Al for close to thirty years
and we've played in several bands together. Al has played with
everyone from Ronnie Hawkins to Frank Zappa along with almost
any country music artist that has played or recorded. Al also
originated and runs the steel guitar club of Canada.
See & hear Al play! |
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Denis Keldie: Denis is one of the premiere keyboard players in the GTA, but
when he plays with me I ask him to bring his accordion because
I've never heard anyone play the accordion as well as Denis
does. Denis has played with countless artists and bands over
his illustrious career and he certainly adds a touch of class
to any musical ensemble he is part of.
See & hear Denis play! |
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Drew Jurecka: Drew plays with the band Bebop Cowboys and is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Royal Conservatory of Music. He has played with the Oshawa-Durham Symphony Orchestra, the Canton Symphony, and has played the Hollywood Bowl with Diana Krall, Shirley Horn and Dianne Reeves. He has also appeared with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, is a featured soloist with Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, and has starred in the film “Liszt's Rhapsody” playing a gypsy violinist.
See & hear Drew play! |
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Chris Whiteley: Chris has appeared on over 150 recordings, by such diverse artists as Leon Redbone, blues greats John Hammond and Blind John Davis and country stars Prairie Oyster and Stompin' Tom Conners. His awards include Jazz Report Blues Album of the Year, six Juno Award nominations, Maple Blues Awards as Horn Player of the Year and SOCAN Songwriter of the Year. He has written a #1Canadian country hit for Prairie Oyster, and had his songs recorded by such artists as Amos Garret, Cindy Church, Penny Lang, Quartette and Fathead. He has also written music for radio, television and film, including Sesame Street and the National Film Board.
See & hear Chris play! |
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Gord
Waszek: Gord is a graduate from the school of fine
rock n' roll guitar technique yet he is quite comfortable playing
any kind of music he chooses. There is a very good reason why
he is nicknamed "The Wizard", because that's exactly
how he plays. He is a virtuoso guitarist with a real flair for
showmanship. There are always a lot of notes flying around when
Gord and I get together. |
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Terry
Clements: For the thirty years that Terry and I have
been friends, he has also been Gordon Lightfoot's guitar player.
Terry will always be acknowledged as one of the best guitarists
in Canadian music history. He has been instrumental in my development
as a songwriter and musician and it's always a pleasure to have
him as my guest. |
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Steve Piticco: Guitar phenom Steve Piticco is an exceptional
musician and has been revered as one of the best pure guitar
pickers that Canada has ever produced. He is in great demand
for session work and tours Europe regularly with his band South
Mountain. Steve is featured on my live CD and it's a real privilege
to play with him.
See & hear Steve play! |
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Grant Lyle: Grant is one of my favorite guitarists to have
as a guest. Not only is he one of the best blues players I've
ever had the pleasure of playing with, he's a nice guy to boot.
Grant is featured on my live CD and the stage really rocks when
we're together.
See & hear Grant play! |
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Michael
"Pepe" Francis: Of all the guitar players
that I know, Pepe is the best. He has been my guitar mentor
for the past thirty years. His technical prowess is beyond reproach
and his creativity is unmatched. Not only is Michael a world-class
guitarist but he's also a world-class person too. If you are
a guitar enthusiast you've got to see Pepe to believe how incredibly
accomplished he is…unbelievable. |
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James Anthony: Virtuoso guitarist James Anthony was the
guitar player in the house band at LuLu's Roadhouse in Kitchener
for several years where he backed up all of the major acts in
the music industry. His exposure to such great talent has helped
make him one of the best guitar players in the business. It's
hard say what "style" of guitar player he is because
he plays everything so well. |
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Michael
Tabares: My old buddy, guitarist Mike Tabares is
a great guitarist. Mike and I played together at a bar called
Penny's Roadhouse in Richmond Hill for two years with a band
called The Swingin' Dicks. The time we spent together has made
playing together very comfortable for us and we always have
a good night whenever he's my guest. |
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Mitchell
Lewis: Mitchell Lewis is another favorite guitar
player of mine. Mitchell is a multi talented musician who always
brings a raft of guitars and plays them all really well. My
favorite is the straight steel guitar (no pedals or levers)
that he plays with the skill of a surgeon. He's also an accomplished
drummer and that gives him a keen insight into the rhythm of
the music.
See & hear Mitch play! |
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Roly Platt: Harmonica virtuoso Roly Platt has played with
such greats as Ronnie Hawkins, Matt Minglewood and Dutch Mason
to mention only a few. He is a dynamic musician who can make
the harmonica sound like several different instruments. His
performances are always very impressive and he is a favorite
with audiences everywhere.
See & hear Roly play! |
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Carlos del Junco: Carlos del Junco plays the harmonica like nobody else in the world. He has the reputation of an improvisational genius and is revered as a true virtuoso on his instrument. Carlos has won countless National and International Awards including two Gold Medals from the Hohner World Harmonica Championships in Germany. He has also played with many world renowned artists and bands. Audiences are blown away at every performance and return for more at show after show. |
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Wendell Ferguson: I couldn't be more excited about playing
guitar with anyone else. Wendell's a tremendous guitar player
and a very funny and personable human being. He is a six-time
guitar player of the year award winner for the CCMA and has
countless other national and international awards for his talents.
He is featured on my live CD and is a session guitarist who
is, as you might well imagine, in great demand.
See & hear Wendell play! |
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Al Lerman: Al is the founder of the hard drivin' blues
band Fathead. He is an excellent harp player and can play a
soulful saxophone too. I always look forward to his guest appearances.
See & hear Al play! |
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John Tilden: John is a wonderful guitar player who spends
a lot of his time teaching guitar at the prestigious twelfth
fret music store. He still finds time to play the occasional
engagement around town and I'm lucky to be one of them. |
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John P. Allen: The first band I ever joined was with John
P. Allen in the late 1970's. Since then John has gone on to
play with The Good Brothers, Ian Tyson, Sylvia Tyson, Prairie
Oyster and many others. His dynamic fiddle style has always
been a favorite everywhere he has played. He is featured on
my live CD playing both fiddle and mandolin. |
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Teddy
Leonard: Teddy plays in the hard drivin blues band
Fathead. His distinctive style has made him one of the most
renowned country/blues guitarists in the business. |
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Paul Chapman: Guitarist Paul Chapman is a phenomenal guitar
player who can almost play faster than the human ear can hear.
He is a popular session guitarist but still stays busy working
weekends and touring with various artists. You really have to
see him to believe how he plays. |
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Nellzy:
Nellzy has been a regular fixture on my guest list for the past
seven years. His traditional fiddle style is always a favorite
and his progressive approach to some songs always adds a hint
of excitement too. He is featured on my live CD and actually
does some twin fiddle breaks with John P. Allen on selective
cuts.
See & hear Nellzy play! |
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Steve "Guitar" Briggs: Steve plays with the renowned
country swing band The Bee Bop Cowboys. His jazzy approach to
the guitar lends itself well to the Bob Wills type of swing
music the Bee Bop Cowboys play. He is a very accomplished guitarist
and can be a spontaneous virtuoso when called upon.
See & hear Steve play! |
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Carl
Kees: Carl is a very prolific fiddler who knows a
million fiddle songs. I first saw Carl when he played with The
Good Brothers and later I played in Carl's band, The Golden
Fiddle Music Company for a few years. Although Carl's health
has been ailing lately he still manages to get out for an engagement
occasionally. |
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BASS
PLAYERS ---------------------------------------- |
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John
Dymond: John is a three time bass player of the year
recipient from the CCMA and has played with artists such as
K.D. Lang, Murray McLaughlin, Colin Linden, Bruce Cockburn and
David Wilcox. John's expressive style has made him a favorite
on Thursday nights. John also played on my live CD.
See & hear John play! |
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Dennis Pendrith: Dennis has played with several high profile
artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLaughlin, Sylvia Tyson
and many more. Dennis played with me for three years at The
Hollow Valley Resort in Dorset where I thoroughly enjoyed his
string bass playing. Dennis also played on my live CD.
See & hear Dennis play! |
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Omar Tunnock: Omar plays with the hard drivin' blues band
Fathead. He carries that hard drivin' style over to Thursday
nights and adds a unique approach to our band ensembles. Omar
also did all the bass work on my first CD of cottage country
music.
See & hear Omar play! |
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Gene
Falbo: Gene is a great bass player who has played
with Sylvia Tyson, Ray Materick, Charlie Majors and many others.
He is in demand as a session player works steady playing with
various bands throughout the city.
See & hear Gene play! |
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Rodney
St. Amand: Rodney is a very talented bass player
who is also a wonderful singer with an enviable repertoire.
Rodney bass playing has been described like he puts three o's
in the word smo-o-oth. Now that's something special!
See & hear Rodney play! |
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Scottie
Williamson: Scottie is a rock solid bass player who
plays it right down the middle. I've played in various bands
with Scottie over the past twenty years and he has always been
a reliable band member. |
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Alec Fraser: Alec plays bass with The Jeff Healey Band and Brokenjoe. Alec likes to play a contraption he calls a "Gazinkey" with his bass. Click on his name to find out all about it! |
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Donnie Wood: I In the few times I have played with Donnie he has impressed me both as a great bass player and a very good singer to boot. He currently tours with a Scottish Dance Band and has played with several country artists in the past. |
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DRUMMERS--------------------------------------------- |
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Al
Cross: Al is formerly of the band Big Sugar and has
been one of the most sought after session drummers for the past
thirty years. I've never known anyone to enjoy playing as much
as Al. He is a true artist. It's easy to understand why he gets
the yeomen's share of duty on Thursday nights.
See & hear Al play! |
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Sean
O'Grady: Although I don't really know a lot of history
about Sean, but I know one thing for sure, he is a fantastic
drummer. He's very busy and we're lucky to have him when we
do so if you see him on the schedule you know you're in for
something good. |
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Gary
Craig: Gary has played with Anne Murray's band for
the past 15 years and with good reason; he's a great drummer.
He also does lots of session work but his responsibilities to
Anne Murray keep him very busy. |
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Bucky
Berger:
Bucky is a class guy and a class drummer too. He's played with
David Wilcox, Jackson Hawke, Chilliwack, Rough Trade, Downchild
Bluesband, Amos Garrett (one of my guitar heros), Dr. John,
Elvin Bishop and the list goes on and on. Everybody steps their
game up a level when Bucky is on the gig.
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THE
WORKHORSES - Mike McMaster & Jon Towers |
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As
you can well imagine, it's a lot easier to get the special guests
I get on Thursday night than it is for a weekend engagement.
So when a weekend engagement comes up, I usually rely on the
talents of Mike McMaster on bass and when it calls for three
guys or more we call my stepson Jon to play drums. Mike played
twelve years with The Good Brothers and has been playing with
me for the past twenty years of so. We both have cottages on
Raven Lake so for any weekend engagement in the area Mike gets
the call. It's not uncommon to have Jon and his lovely wife
Nicole at the cottage on any given weekend so if Mike and I
need a drummer we have no qualms about including Jon. He's a
very talented young fellow and we have ourselves a real good
time when we play together. |
The
tradition lives on! 
