Powder Blues Band

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Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues (aka Powder Blues Band)
OriginVancouver, BC, Canada
GenresBlues/Jazz
Years active1978–present
Websitehttp://www.powderblues.net
MembersTom Lavin
Mike Kalanj
Bill Runge
Vincent Mai
Tony Marryatt
Al Webster
Past membersJack Lavin
Willie MacCalder
Duris Maxwell
Wayne Kozak
Gordon Bertram
David Woodward

Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues, often referred to as The Powder Blues Band, is a Canadian blues/pop/jazz band formed in 1978 in Vancouver. Its first album Uncut went double platinum in Canada. The second album Thirsty Ears was similarly popular.

Their best known songs include: "Boppin' with the Blues", "Doin' It Right", "Thirsty Ears", "Hear That Guitar Ring", and "What've I Been Drinkin".

History[]

The Powder Blues was founded in 1978 as a house band in Vancouver, British Columbia. The band was founded by brothers Tom Lavin (guitar, vocals), Jack Lavin (bass, vocals), and Willie MacCalder (keyboards, vocals).[1] After playing in local clubs for 18 months,[citation needed] the band released their self-financed and self-produced debut album, Uncut, in 1980, followed by a tour of Canada and the US.[citation needed] The band won the Juno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year" in 1981.[1] Uncut went double platinum in Canada in 1982, selling over 200,000 copies.[2] Their second album, Thirsty Ears, was released in 1981[1] and was certified platinum in Canada.[2] In 1986, the band won the American W.C. Handy Award for "Foreign Band of the Year".[3] The band's greatest hits album First Decade was released in 1990 and was certified gold.[2]

The band is now known as Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues.[4] They were still touring as of winter 2020.[5]

The initial lineup of the band consisted of:[1]

Discography[]

Singles[]

  • "Doin' It Right" – 1980 #40 CAN
  • "Boppin' with the Blues" – 1980 #88 CAN
  • "What've I Been Drinkin" – 1980
  • "Hear That Guitar Ring" – 1981
  • "Lovin' Kissin' & Huggin'" – 1981 #47 CAN
  • "Thirsty Ears" – 1981 #17 CAN
  • "Farmer John" – 1983
  • "I'm on the Road Again" – 1985

Albums[]

  • 1979 Uncut (Blue Wave)
  • 1980 Uncut [re-issue] (RCA)
  • 1981 Thirsty Ears (Liberty/Capitol-EMI)
  • 1982 Party Line (Liberty/Capitol-EMI)
  • 1983 Powder Blues (Liberty/Capitol-EMI)
  • 1983 Red Hot/True Blue (RCA)
  • 1984 Live At Montreux (Blue Wave)
  • 1990 First Decade/Greatest Hits (WEA)
  • 1993 Let's Get Loose (WEA)
  • 1997 Live At Montreux [CD re-issue] (Peerless)
  • 1997 Lowell Fulson with the Powder Blues Band (Stony Plain)
  • 2002 Swingin' the Blues (Blue Wave)
  • 2004 Blues + Jazz = BLAZZ! (Blue Wave)

Awards[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, eds. (April 2003). All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books (with All Music Guide). p. 446. ISBN 0-87930-736-6.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Powder Blues." CRIA Database.
  3. ^ "7th Annual Blues Awards Archived 2009-02-11 at the Wayback Machine." The Blues Foundation.
  4. ^ "Powder Blues celebrating in Ajax". DurhamRegion.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Tour | Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues". Powderblues.net. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "PAST NOMINEES + WINNERS: Powder Blues". Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2021-05-14.

External links[]

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