It is with great sadness that we report that Wade Brown, one of this country’s premier blues guitarists, has passed away. He was found dead in his home by a neighbour on Friday, February 19.

Wade was known as a guitarist’s guitarist, laying down licks and riffs of sublime intricacy. He was called the backbone of the Dutch Mason Band during their peak years and became an even greater influence as arthritis began to limit Dutch’s ability to play guitar.

He influenced two generations of guitar players on the East Coast scene, either by example or by teaching. Joe Murphy recalls, “He was so generous. When I was just starting out and trying to improve my guitar playing, Wade gave me a lesson for a whole afternoon and that lesson would last an entire year. Then I went back for another one.” 

Wade also spent countless hours teaching Garrett Mason and has been a huge factor in Garrett’s growth as a musician. He loved nurturing young talent – this past year, he has been teaching young Brendan Gallagher, a 14-year-old budding blues guitarist.

Many others in the East Coast Blues world were saddened by the news. Eileen Joyce, musicians and founder of the East Coast Blues Society said, “We’ve lost part of our history – Wade was with Dutchie at the beginning.”

David Wolf, producer of the Dutch Mason Blues Festival said it was the passing of an era. “Wade was a huge part of the scene here and a long time friend of Dutchie. In fact, he took care of Dutch right up to Dutch’s passing. It’s so ironic that Friday was Dutch’s birthday. He joined the late night jams at the DMBF last summer and quickly earned the respect of the international musicians who joined in. He will be missed by the blues community and the entire music community.”

A memorial service is being planned, details will be posted when confirmed.

Some links to more info and YouTube video from the 2009 Dutch Mason Blues Festival late night jam.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2010/02/23/obit-brown-wade.html

http://www.mattatallfh.com/Obituaries/51510/

http://thechronicleherald.ca/ArtsLife/1169062.html

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/magazine/article/964071

COMMENTS FROM FANS AND MUSICIANS:

I was lucky to have had an opportunity to meet and jam with Wade Brown at the Dutch Mason Blues Festival after party/jam with Joe Murphy.(2 years in a row!). A very good guitar player who always had a smile on his face for me and made me feel welcome on stage. I am honored to have gotten to play with him and my condolences to his friends and family. Dave Hoerl, The Twisters

Wade and the guys were a great influence on me in the late 70's and early 80's as the Dutch Mason Band was a regular fixture on the Toronto scene. I have to say that those days were so much fun because I dragged my buddies from Agincourt (now Scarborough) downtown and to GTA venues to catch the band, I was about 17 and stole my older bro's expired license to get into the bars. We literally followed them around from bar to bar every weekend. I wanted to be Rick Jeffreys with that harmonica - knew I didn't have the guts to be Dutch. My condolence to all his family and friends. It's just so cool to hear Garrett play the way he does, the spirit lives on.  Mark Bird Stafford