BIG WIN FOR THE LATE GREAT

JEFF HEALEY AND BANDMATES

The results are in for the Twelfth Annual Maple Blues Awards held this year at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto on Monday, January 19th. Jeff Healey and the Jeff Healey Blues Band garner multiple awards.

Jeff Healey's father, Bud, and wife, Cristie accepting an award in Jeff's honour
Photo by Eric Thom

The late great guitarist Jeff Healey, who sadly passed away in 2008, and the Jeff Healey Blues band have won big at this year’s Maple Blues Awards, taking home a total of seven out of the seventeen honours handed out – including Entertainer, Electric Artist, Guitarist and Recording of the Year (for his posthumous album Mess of Blues produced by Healey and bassist Alec Fraser). Healey’s seasoned accompanists Al Webster received the Drummer of the Year award, Dave Murphy won Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year and Alec Fraser took home the Bassist of The Year award. 

MORE WINNING HIGHLIGHTS 

Saskatchewan native and Toronto-based singer-songwriter Suzie Vinnick, picked up the Female Vocalist of the Year once again, while multiple nominee Paul Reddick has a first-time win for the category SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Award. John Mays, who heads the group Fathead, earned the Male Vocalist of the Year title with his powerful, soulful voice. Western guitar-slinger Harry Manx won the Acoustic Artist of the Year Award. This is the second year in a row Manx has won in this category.

Amos Garrett, who was honoured with the BLUES WITH A FEELING AWARD, is a veteran who’s spent more than 40 years fascinating blues fans with his unpredictable and tastefully understated licks, and has an exhaustive list of credits, including his famous riffs on Maria Muldaur’s hit “Midnight at the Oasis”.

The coveted NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD went to Daddy Long Legs of Waterloo. Described as playing gritty, electrified blues full of thick, raw tones, smart-mouthed lyrics and razor-sharp arrangements, this group has captured the attention of many promoters and audience members alike for their modern, original mix of here-and-now blues/rock, jump and shuffle/swing style.

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR went to another 40-year veteran, Taj Mahal. The Harlem-born bluesman is one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th Century blues and roots music. Though he began his career with American blues, his passion and curiosity has broadened his artistic scope to a more global perspective which is reflected in his current music. 

  Blues Booster Recipient: Rob Bowman with Derek Andrews and Jay Sieleman

BLUES BOOSTER OF THE YEAR AWARD (selected by the Toronto Blues Society Board of Directors) was graciously received by the lecturer, publisher and broadcaster affectionately known as “Professor of Rock n’ Roll” Rob Bowman, for his outstanding contributions to the Canadian blues industry. Bowman is a five-time Grammy Award nominee, and one-time winner. His broadcast credits include a five-part radio series on the history of Canadian popular music and frequent guest spots on CBC Radio's Definitely Not the Opera.

Radio personality Garvia Bailey elegantly led Monday night’s ceremonies with style, humour and enthusiasm. Last year’s top winners, Downchild (nominated in two categories this year), received an award for horn player Pat Carey. Ottawa’s dynamic harp man Steve Marriner scooped the award for Harmonica Player of the Year.

With the Maple Blues band as the glue, the night sparkled with intermittent live performances by the gospel blues gang the Sojourners, the soulful Treasa Levasseur, (who was joined onstage by the Sojourners), the one-man band Ray Bonneville, 30-years-plus veteran Harrison Kennedy, the sultry Shakura S’Aida, and the wailin’ guitar grooves of JW-Jones. Truly a stunning and captivating event.

2008 / 09 MAPLE BLUES AWARD WINNERS

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Jeff Healey

ELECTRIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Jeff Healey

ACOUSTIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Harry Manx

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

John Mays (Fathead)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Suzie Vinnick

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Daddy Long Legs

RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Mess of Blues (Stony Plain)
Jeff Healey
Producers: Jeff Healey & Alec Fraser

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Taj Mahal

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR

Jeff Healey

HARMONICA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Steve Marriner

PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dave Murphy (Jeff Healey Blues Band)

HORN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Pat Carey

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

Al Webster (Jeff Healey Blues Band)

BASSIST OF THE YEAR

Alec Fraser (Jeff Healey Blues Band & Broken Joe)

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Paul Reddick

BLUES WITH A FEELING AWARD (Lifetime Achievement)

Amos Garrett

BLUES BOOSTER OF THE YEAR

Rob Bowman

The Maple Blues Awards are supported by FACTOR and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Music Fund, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, KMP Designs Inc., Stony Plain Records, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments and CBC Radio/Saturday Night Blues.