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| Downchild Blues Band to Play Benefit Concert Downchild, which has been a vital part of Canada's blues scene since it launched its career on Toronto's Spadina Avenue back in 1969, is headlining a special performance at Hugh's Room on Tuesday November 27. Despite the fact that the band is Toronto-based, it plays only rarely in Toronto itself. The band will be joined by pianist Bill King and Toronto's leading New Orleans-style band The Happy Pals in a celebration in memory of Jane Vasey, who played keyboards in Downchild for eight years before her death in 1982. The event is a benefit for the Jane Vasey Memorial Scholarship fund set up at Brandon University's School of Music, where she studied before coming to Toronto. Money raised at the benefit will be doubled in a special program sponsored by the Government of Manitoba. Each year the fund, founded by her parents and the band, distributes two $2500.00 scholarships to students in piano performance at the school. Downchild has been nominated for a record number of Maple Blues Awards, earning nods as Entertainers of the Year, Electric Act of the Year, and for Recording of the Year for the “Live at the Palais Royale” CD, produced by bandleader Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh. Every member of the band - Michael Fonfars, Pat Carey, Mike Fitzpatrick, Gary Kendall - is nominated in their respective instrumental categories, and singer Chuck Jakcosn is nominated as Male Vocalist of the Year. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |