David Rotundo
Vocals/Harmonica
Toronto blues harpist David Rotundo bought his first harmonica after seeing James Cotton perform at the El Mocambo in 1991: "He blew one note on the harmonica that hypnotized me and I've been playing the blues ever since."
This passion for the blues music led David to travel through the United States, spending time in many of the blues epicenters -- New Orleans, Clarksdale, Austin, Memphis and Chicago -- with little more than his wits and a bag full of harmonicas. "I wanted to hear and experience the real thing," he explains.
David returned to Toronto with a greater perception of the blues and a heightened knowledge of the history of the music. today, he spends hours listening to the greats: Sonny boy Williamson, T-Bone Walker, Little Walter, George "Harmonica" Smith, William Clarke and countless others. And so it is that David has strived to develop his own language of the blues.
In 1997, David started a band called the Blue Canadians (with Peter Schmidt, Shane Scott, Julian Fauth and Walter Maclean) and began playing the Toronto circuit. In 2000, David was asked to join the legendary Jack de Keyzer Band. He was thrilled by the opportunity to play with "one of the best Canadian guitarists." In addition to de Keyzer, he has played with Ronnie Hawkins, and with ex-Muddy Waters' drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.
In the year 2001, David recorded his debut album, "Blowin' For
Broke", with his Blue Canadians. The album features twelve original
songs written by David and produced by bassist and engineer Shane Scott.
This album was nominated "Blues Album of 2001" by the Canadian
Independent ArtistAssociation and was winner of the MapleBlues Awards
"Best New Artist of The Year 2002"
In
2003 David returned to the Stone Pillar studios with his newly formed
international "David Rotundo Band", resulting in the highly
popular, critically acclaimed "Blues Ignited" album featuring
International guitarist Enrico Crivellaro. Rotundo as well as writing
the material for this album also co-produced it with bassist/engineer
Scott.
David Rotundo Awards & nominations include the co awarded prestigious CBC/GALAXIE RISING STAR award and multiple MapleBlues Hamonica Player of Year nominations.
The
David Rotundo band always delivers. When you see the band live, you
are instantly struck by the fact that David lives for what he does.
www.stonepillarproductions.com
Shane plays with a powerful but simple approach, often switching between “upright string bass” and “electric bass” during live performances. Shane’s main influences on bass are Willie Dixon, Larry Taylor And James Jamison which can be heard in his playing. During his time with the Jack Dekeyzer Band, he also had the great privilege of playing with Muddy Waters drummer “Willie Big Eyes Smith” and opened up for Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, B.B. King and Buddy Guy.
As engineer/producer/vocalist/bassist (upright and electric) Shane Scott has made a name for himself on the Toronto music scene, winning the Canadian MapleBlues award for "Bassist of the Year 2003" and responsible for over 30 full-length recordings to date. Two receiving Juno awards, two of which have received nominations for “Blues Album of the Year” Juno Awards, “Blues Album of the Year” Canadian Independent Awards, “New Blues Artist of the Year” Maple Blues Awards And "Winner of the CBC’s New Galaxy Award".
Shane Scott
Bass/Vocals
Shane has become one of the hardest working bass players on the Toronto scene. Working regularly as a key member of the David Rotundo Band, Shane is thought of as a "Pillar". His musical ability, insight, friendship and contributions deeply appreciated by David & associates.
He started playing the bass 1978 at the age of 13. He purchased the Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live album at the age of 15 and he's been hooked on the blues ever since. He was a member of the legendary Jack Dekeyzer band for a number of years and occasionaly plays with Mel Brown, Mark “Bird” Stafford, J. W-Jones Band, Dr. Nick, Danny Marks, Andy Earl, Paul Redick (of The Sidemen)and Little Bobby and The Jumpstart's.
Dan Dufour
Guitar
Dan (Auto Pilot Slim) has been playing the guitar since the age of 11 and was first bitten by the rock and roll bug, playing in rock bands and teaching guitar throughout his teenage years and into his early twenties. He always had an appreciation of the blues but it wasnÕt until moving to Halifax in the late 80Õs and seeing the performances of local blues men Dutch Mason and Joe Murphy that he started to look deeper into the blues. He found inspiration not only from classic blues artists like B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker, but also modern day guitar slingers such as Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard and Jimmie Vaughan. While in Halifax he played with Little Barry and the Blue Devils, Shirley Jackson and Her Good RockinÕ Daddies and also got to sit in with Dutch Mason and Joe Murphy on occasion. Since moving to the Toronto area in Õ97
Dan has become involved in the Toronto blues scene sharing the stage with the likes of Mel Brown, Sonny Rhodes, Rod Piazza, Rusty Zinn and many local musicians.
Chuck D. Keeping
Drums
Chuck has been playing drums for the past 13 years in various bands from Newfoundland to B.C. and south of the border. Performing with such acts as Chris Chown, Jack deKeyzer and Fat Head to name a few.
Driven by a desire to advance his knowledge of music and the drum set, chuck continues to be a dynamic individual in the toronto / canadian music scene
DES BROWN
Guitar
Des
(Downtown) Brown has been playing musical instruments since he was 10
years old starting with the harmonica and piano. He began concentrating
on the guitar when he borrowed one at the age of 12 in his native Trinidad.
His playing was initially influenced by the likes of Laurindo Almeida
and Charlie Byrd with their exotic South American Bossa Nova and classical
rhythms. He continued to expand his playing eventually joining groups
in Trinidad and was exposed to a wide variety of music styles, including
calypso, latin, jazz and blues. He soon began leaning to jazz and blues
listening to players such as Wes Montgomery, Barney Kessel and, B.B. King.
Des moved to Jamaica in the early ‘60s and was introduced to Rock
Steady/Reggae while playing in many clubs throughout the island. While
based in Jamaica, he toured the West Indies including a performance in
the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Hamilton, Bermuda. He then
spent approximately 1 year in the US. before moving to Toronto in 1968
where he soon joined the Studio Twelve Orchestra and performed for countless
functions in practically every hotel in Toronto from the 1970s to the
1990s. In the past few years He has been focusing on the blues listening
to legends like Howlin Wolfe, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy.
.
Des has been playing with the David Rotundo Band for the past 1-½
years and adds a distinctive sound to the band and has shared the stage
with many local players.
