Tony Flaim
Encyclopedia
Tony Flaim was among the early professional blues
singers in Canada
, most notable as the lead singer for the Downchild Blues Band
on six of that band's albums. Flaim was associated with Downchild for extended periods over fifteen years.
as the lead singer the Downchild Blues Band in 1974. Hock Walsh had been fired by his brother and Downchild band co-founder Donnie, prior to work commencing on the band's third album, Dancin. Hock rejoined the band in 1977, at which time Flaim joined the Cameo Blues Band, the legendary house band
at the Cameo Lounge of Toronto's Hotel Isabella. Flaim succeeded Hock Walsh as the lead singer of the Cameo Blues Band, in the same manner as he had succeeded Hock Walsh as the lead singer of Downchild. When Hock Walsh quit Downchild in 1978, Flaim again was his replacement. In 1982, Flaim was replaced by John Witmer
, best known to that point as the lead singer of seminal Canadian blues band Whiskey Howl
, and who remained as Downchild's lead singer during the 1982-1986 period. Flaim then formed a new blues band, Tony Flaim and The Dukes, which was generally well received, becoming a house band at Toronto's venerable Jarvis House Tavern. He also was the original lead singer for Fathead, a multi award-winning, Toronto-based blues and rhythm and blues band. In 1986, Flaim succeeded Witmer in Downchild until 1989, when Hock Walsh rejoined and was fired from Downchild for a final time.
Flaim died of a heart attack
, on March 10, 2000, at the age of 52, less than three months after Hock Walsh and barely a month after appearing at a tribute concert in memory of Hock Walsh. At the time of his death, he was scheduled to contribute vocals to a forthcoming album by Dave "Big Daddy G" Glover, with whom Hock Walsh had made his last recordings. One of the demo tracks Flaim completed with Glover was included on the Big Daddy G Topless album (2000), which also included the tribute song, "Blues for T.F."
Flaim was remembered by way of a benefit memorial concert at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern
, on May 7, 2000. Playing in his honour were such acts as Downchild, Fathead, Big Daddy G, the Cameo Blues Band and The Dukes—the bands with which Tony Flaim had been associated during a career of over twenty-five years—plus Michael Pickett
, who publicly acknowledged Flaim's encouragement of and influence on Pickett's own career. Proceeds from the concert were to provide educational support to Tony Flaim's son.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singers in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, most notable as the lead singer for 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....
on six of that band's albums. Flaim was associated with Downchild for extended periods over fifteen years.
Biography
Tony Flaim first came to prominence as a blues singer when he succeeded Richard "Hock" WalshRichard "Hock" Walsh
Richard "Hock" Walsh was one of the first professional blues singers in Canada. He is particularly notable as the co-founder of the Downchild Blues Band and was the original singer of that band's best-known songs....
as the lead singer the Downchild Blues Band in 1974. Hock Walsh had been fired by his brother and Downchild band co-founder Donnie, prior to work commencing on the band's third album, Dancin. Hock rejoined the band in 1977, at which time Flaim joined the Cameo Blues Band, the legendary house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
at the Cameo Lounge of Toronto's Hotel Isabella. Flaim succeeded Hock Walsh as the lead singer of the Cameo Blues Band, in the same manner as he had succeeded Hock Walsh as the lead singer of Downchild. When Hock Walsh quit Downchild in 1978, Flaim again was his replacement. In 1982, Flaim was replaced by John Witmer
John Witmer
John Douglas Witmer was a Canadian blues singer, songwriter and harmonica player, most notable as the lead vocalist for the band Whiskey Howl and the Downchild Blues Band.-Biography:...
, best known to that point as the lead singer of seminal Canadian blues band Whiskey Howl
Whiskey Howl
Whiskey Howl was a Toronto-based Canadian blues band, most popular between 1969 and 1972. The band is notable as being one of the early Canadian bands promoting and developing blues music in Canada.- History :...
, and who remained as Downchild's lead singer during the 1982-1986 period. Flaim then formed a new blues band, Tony Flaim and The Dukes, which was generally well received, becoming a house band at Toronto's venerable Jarvis House Tavern. He also was the original lead singer for Fathead, a multi award-winning, Toronto-based blues and rhythm and blues band. In 1986, Flaim succeeded Witmer in Downchild until 1989, when Hock Walsh rejoined and was fired from Downchild for a final time.
Flaim died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, on March 10, 2000, at the age of 52, less than three months after Hock Walsh and barely a month after appearing at a tribute concert in memory of Hock Walsh. At the time of his death, he was scheduled to contribute vocals to a forthcoming album by Dave "Big Daddy G" Glover, with whom Hock Walsh had made his last recordings. One of the demo tracks Flaim completed with Glover was included on the Big Daddy G Topless album (2000), which also included the tribute song, "Blues for T.F."
- One of my earliest memories of Tony Flaim is him phoning me at midnight and exhorting me to go down to Grossman's to see the Downchild Blues BandDownchild Blues BandThe 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....
. This would have been about 1969. ...I was in a band with Tony, while we were still teenagers living in Downsview, and while I was discovering the blues Tony knew about and turned me on to: people like Bobby Blue Bland, T-Bone WalkerT-Bone WalkerAaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was a critically acclaimed American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was one of the most influential pioneers and innovators of the jump blues and electric blues sound. He is the first musician recorded playing blues with the...
... guys I had never heard of.
- His encouragement and support for me personally is very close to my heart. He was so much larger than life . He loved these blues. Strike that - he loved music... from Bobby Bland to John ColtraneJohn ColtraneJohn William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
to Little FeatLittle FeatLittle Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
to Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
.
- The last time I saw Tony, he was singing at the memorial/wake for Hock Walsh. ...When Tony got up to play, I was drawn toward the stage where he was singing with a couple of horn players in the Kansas City traditionKansas City blues (music)See also Kansas City Blues for disambiguation.Kansas City blues is a genre of blues music. It has spawned the Kansas City Blues & Jazz festival and the Kansas City Blues Society.-Kansas:...
of Big Joe TurnerBig Joe TurnerBig Joe Turner was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to the songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." Although he came to his greatest fame in the 1950s with his pioneering rock and roll recordings, particularly "Shake, Rattle and...
. I turned to my friend and said, "this is as good as it gets".
- ...I will always remember him with joy and I will miss him for a very long time.
-
- Michael PickettMichael PickettMichael Pickett is a multiple award-winning Canadian blues and roots singer, guitarist and harmonica player.-Biography:Pickett commenced his music career as a member of Whiskey Howl, a seminal Canadian blues band, based in Toronto...
, Remembering Tony Flaim, April 2000; www.torontobluessociety.com.
- Michael Pickett
Flaim was remembered by way of a benefit memorial concert at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern
Horseshoe Tavern
The Horseshoe Tavern is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, and has been in operation since 1947. Owned by "JC", Ken Sprackman, Craig Laskey and Naomi Montpetit, the venue is a significant part of Canadian musical lore...
, on May 7, 2000. Playing in his honour were such acts as Downchild, Fathead, Big Daddy G, the Cameo Blues Band and The Dukes—the bands with which Tony Flaim had been associated during a career of over twenty-five years—plus Michael Pickett
Michael Pickett
Michael Pickett is a multiple award-winning Canadian blues and roots singer, guitarist and harmonica player.-Biography:Pickett commenced his music career as a member of Whiskey Howl, a seminal Canadian blues band, based in Toronto...
, who publicly acknowledged Flaim's encouragement of and influence on Pickett's own career. Proceeds from the concert were to provide educational support to Tony Flaim's son.
Downchild
- 1974 Dancin (Special)
- 1975 Ready To Go (Special)
- 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)
- 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) - 1987 It's Been So Long (Stony PlainStony Plain RecordsStony Plain Records is a major Canadian independent record label, which specializes in roots music genres such as country, folk and blues. The label was the recipient of a 2003 Western Canadian Music Award for "Independent Record Label/Distributor of the Year"....
/BMG)