Gary Kendall
Encyclopedia
Gary Kendall is an award-winning Canadian bassist
, vocalist and band leader, best known for his longstanding association with the Downchild Blues Band
.
, Ontario, has been a working musician since the late 1960s, in addition to being involved with music as a record producer and booking agent. He is a multiple Maple Blues Award
winner as bassist of the year, where, since 1999, he has acted as the musical director of the awards program. His distinguished musical career was so honoured by the Maple Blues Awards as early as 1993.
Kendall played with the Downchild Blues Band during the 1979-1983 period. With fellow Downchild alumnus Cash Wall, Kendall subsequently formed the Kendall Wall Blues Band, which was well-known in Toronto and area during the 1980s and early 1990s. As the house band at Toronto's Black Swan Tavern, the Kendall Wall Blues Band played with such blues legends as A.C. Reed
, Pinetop Perkins
, Eddy Clearwater
, Tinsley Ellis
, Little Willie Littlefield
, Chubby Carrier
, Bernard Allison
, Eddie C. Campbell
, Lefty Dizz, Eddie "Clean Head" Vinson, Eddie Shaw
, Carey Bell
and Fenton Robinson
.
Kendall has also performed with such artists as Snooky Pryor, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson
, Big Jay McNeeley, Bob Margolin
, Big Dave MacLean, Duke Robillard
, Morgan Davis, Zora Young
and Phil Guy
. He has recorded with Chris Murphy, Little Bobby & The Jumpstarts, Peter Schmidt and Shane Scott, Brian Blain and Maria Aurigema.
Since 1994, Kendall has been the booking agent for the Silver Dollar Room
, one of Toronto's best known blues bars, which has operated continuously, in various formats, since 1958.
Kendall rejoined Downchild in 1995 and has continued to play and record with the band since that time, in addition to contributing to the work of other musicians and leading his own band, The Gary Kendall Band. His association as musical director of the Maple Blues Awards resulted in the formation of the Maple Blues Revue, with which Kendall continues to be associated and to tour.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, vocalist and band leader, best known for his longstanding association with the Downchild Blues Band
Downchild Blues Band
The Downchild Blues Band is a Canadian blues band, described by one reviewer as "the premier blues band in Canada". The band is still commonly known as the Downchild Blues Band, though the actual band name was shortened to "Downchild" as of the early 1980s....
.
Biography
Gary Kendall, originally from Thunder BayThunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario, has been a working musician since the late 1960s, in addition to being involved with music as a record producer and booking agent. He is a multiple Maple Blues Award
Maple Blues Awards
The Maple Blues Awards are Canada’s blues awards, "honouring the finest in Canadian blues". They are the only comprehensive national best in blues awards program. The program's goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement...
winner as bassist of the year, where, since 1999, he has acted as the musical director of the awards program. His distinguished musical career was so honoured by the Maple Blues Awards as early as 1993.
Kendall played with the Downchild Blues Band during the 1979-1983 period. With fellow Downchild alumnus Cash Wall, Kendall subsequently formed the Kendall Wall Blues Band, which was well-known in Toronto and area during the 1980s and early 1990s. As the house band at Toronto's Black Swan Tavern, the Kendall Wall Blues Band played with such blues legends as A.C. Reed
A.C. Reed
Aaron Corthen, better known as A.C. Reed was an American blues saxophonist, closely associated with the Chicago blues scene from the 1940s into the 2000s.- Biography :...
, Pinetop Perkins
Pinetop Perkins
Joseph William Perkins , known by the stage name Pinetop Perkins, was an American blues musician, specializing in piano music...
, Eddy Clearwater
Eddy Clearwater
Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater is the stage name of Edward Harrington ,) an American Chicago blues musician. Blues Revue said Eddy plays “joyous rave-ups…he testifies with stunning soul fervor and powerful guitar. One of the blues’ finest songwriters.” -Early life:He was born in Macon, Mississippi,...
, Tinsley Ellis
Tinsley Ellis
Tinsley Ellis is an American blues and rock musician, who grew up in southern Florida.-Biography:...
, Little Willie Littlefield
Little Willie Littlefield
Little Willie Littlefield is an American R&B pianist and singer.-Career:By 1947, at the age of sixteen, Littlefield was already a local attraction on many of Houston's Dowling Street Clubs and was recording for local record shop proprietor Eddie Henry who ran his own label "Eddies".Influenced by...
, Chubby Carrier
Chubby Carrier
Roy "Chubby" Carrier is an American zydeco musician. He is the leader of Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band.Carrier's father and grandfather both played zydeco music, and his cousins recorded under the name The Carrier Brothers. He was taught to play accordion by his father, Roy Carrier Sr.,...
, Bernard Allison
Bernard Allison
Bernard Allison is a blues guitarist based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.His father, Luther Allison was a Chicago blues musician...
, Eddie C. Campbell
Eddie C. Campbell
Eddie C. Campbell is an American blues guitarist and singer, active in the Chicago blues scene.-Biography:...
, Lefty Dizz, Eddie "Clean Head" Vinson, Eddie Shaw
Eddie Shaw
Eddie Shaw is an African American, Chicago blues tenor saxophonist.-Biography:In his teenage years, Shaw played tenor saxophone with local blues musicians such as Little Milton and Willie Love. At the age of 14, he was involved in a jam session in Greenville, Mississippi with Ike Turner's band...
, Carey Bell
Carey Bell
Carey Bell was an American blues musician, who played the harmonica in the Chicago blues style. Bell played harmonica and bass for other blues musicians during the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s before embarking on a solo career...
and Fenton Robinson
Fenton Robinson
Fenton Robinson was an American blues singer and exponent of the Chicago blues guitar.-Biography:Born in Greenwood, Mississippi, United States, Robinson left his home at the age of 18 to move to Memphis, Tennessee where he recorded his first single "Tennessee Woman" in 1957. He settled in Chicago...
.
Kendall has also performed with such artists as Snooky Pryor, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson
Luther Johnson (Guitar Junior)
Luther Johnson is an American Chicago blues singer and guitarist, who performs under the name Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson....
, Big Jay McNeeley, Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is "Steady Rollin'".-Biography:Bob Margolin was born and raised in Brookline...
, Big Dave MacLean, Duke Robillard
Duke Robillard
Michael John "Duke" Robillard is an American blues musician.After playing in various bands and working for the Guild Guitar Company, he co-founded the band Roomful of Blues with pianist Al Copley in 1967. He has also been a member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds which included Kim Wilson, replacing...
, Morgan Davis, Zora Young
Zora Young
Zora Young is an American blues singer. She is a distant relative of Howlin' Wolf.Young's family moved to Chicago at age seven and sang gospel at the Greater Harvest Baptist Church...
and Phil Guy
Phil Guy
Phil Guy was an American blues guitarist. He was the younger brother of Buddy Guy.-Biography:Born in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Guy played with the harmonica player Raful Neal for ten years in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area before relocating to Chicago in 1969 where he joined his brothers' band...
. He has recorded with Chris Murphy, Little Bobby & The Jumpstarts, Peter Schmidt and Shane Scott, Brian Blain and Maria Aurigema.
Since 1994, Kendall has been the booking agent for the Silver Dollar Room
Hotel Waverly
The Hotel Waverly is located at 484 Spadina Avenue on the northwest corner of Spadina Avenue and College Street in downtown Toronto. It opened in 1900 making it one of the oldest Toronto hotels in continuous operation. The white four-storey hotel is located next to Toronto's Chinatown and to...
, one of Toronto's best known blues bars, which has operated continuously, in various formats, since 1958.
Kendall rejoined Downchild in 1995 and has continued to play and record with the band since that time, in addition to contributing to the work of other musicians and leading his own band, The Gary Kendall Band. His association as musical director of the Maple Blues Awards resulted in the formation of the Maple Blues Revue, with which Kendall continues to be associated and to tour.
Awards
- 1993 Blues With a Feeling Award, Toronto Blues Society, honouring distinguished career
- 1997 Maple Blues Award, Bassist of The Year
- 1999 Maple Blues Award, Bassist of The Year
- 2000 Maple Blues Award, Bassist of The Year
- 2002 Maple Blues Award, Bassist of The Year
- 2002 Thunder Blues Award, City of Thunder BayThunder Bay-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
- 2002 Keeping The Blues Alive Award, Thunder Bay Blues Society
- 2005 Maple Blues Award, Bassist of The Year
- 2007 Maple Blues Award, Bassist of The Year
With The Downchild Blues Band
- 1979 We Deliver(AtticAttic Records (Canada)Attic Records was a Canadian independent record label, founded in 1974 by Alexander Mair and Tom Williams. The label was known for developing Canadian talent, including Anvil, Lee Aaron, Maestro Fresh Wes, The Nylons, Teenage Head, and Triumph...
) - 1980 Road Fever (Attic)
- 1980 Double Header (Attic) (double album reissue of Straight Up and We Deliver)
- 1981 Blood Run Hot (with Spencer DavisSpencer DavisSpencer David Nelson Davis is a British musician and multi-instrumentalist, and the founder of the 1960s rock band, the Spencer Davis Group.-Early life:...
) (Attic) - 1982 But I'm On The Guest List (Attic)
- 1988 We Deliver/Straight Up [double album re-issue] (Attic
- 1997 Lucky 13 (Downchild Music)
- 1998 A Case Of The Blues - The Best Of Downchild (Attic)
- 2000 A Matter Of Time - The Downchild Collection (Blue Wave - US)
- 2003 Body Of Work - The Downchild Collection Volume 2 (Blue Wave - US)
- 2004 But I'm On The Guest List [re-issue] (Unidisc)
- 2004 Blood Run Hot [re-issue] (Unidisc)
- 2004 We Deliver [re-issue] (Unidisc)
- 2004 Come On In (Downchild Music)
- 2007 Live At The Palais Royale (Downchild Music)
Kendall Wall Blues Band
- 198? The Kendall Wall Blues Band (Independent)
- 198? One Take (Independent)
Other
- 1999 Chris Murphy, Blowin' The Horn (Speakeasy; also co-producer, with Michael FonfaraMichael FonfaraMichael Fonfara is a keyboard player who is most notable for his work with the bands The Electric Flag and Rhinoceros in the 1960s, Lou Reed in the 1970s and The Downchild Blues Band, from 1990 to the present.- History :Fonfara's career as a professional musician commenced in 1963, when he started...
) - 2001 Little Bobby and The Jumpstarts, Tickets in the Glove Box (Green Bullet)
- 2003 Peter Schmidt and Shane Scott, Blues Approved (Stone Pillar)
- 2004 Chris Murphy, I'm A Happy Guy
- 2004 Maria Aurigema, Take Me
- 2005 Brian Blain,Overqualified for the Blues (Northern Blues)
- 2007 Various Artists, Unsigned, Sealed and Delivered (Bullseye; also producer)
External links
- Gary Kendall Website; www.garykendall.com.
- Gary Kendall Band MySpace Page