The Powder Blues Band is a Canadian musical band formed in 1978 in Vancouver. Its first album Uncut went double platinum in Canada. The second album Thirsty Ears was similarly popular.
Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues (aka Powder Blues Band) | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Genres | Blues, jazz |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Members | Tom Lavin Mike Kalanj Bill Runge Vincent Mai Tony Marryatt Al Webster |
| Past members | Jack Lavin Willie MacCalder Duris Maxwell Wayne Kozak Gordon Bertram David Woodward |
| Website | http://www.powderblues.net |
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
editThe 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 2024.[5]
The initial lineup of the band consisted of:[1]
- Tom Lavin – guitar, vocals
- Jack Lavin – bass
- Duris Maxwell – drums
- Wayne Kozak – saxophone
- Gordon Bertram – saxophone
- David Woodward – saxophone
- Will MacCalder – keyboards, vocals
Discography
editThis section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Non-use of wikitable(s), laundry list appearance, unreferenced. (June 2021) |
Singles
edit- "Doin' It Right" – 1980 #40 Can[6]
- "Boppin' with the Blues" – 1980 #88 Can[7]
- "What've I Been Drinkin" – 1980 #28 CanAC[8]
- "Hear That Guitar Ring" – 1981 #22 Can-CanCon[9] #22 Can-AOCanCon[10]
- "Lovin' Kissin' & Huggin'" – 1981 #47 Can[11]
- "Thirsty Ears" – 1981 #17 Can[12]
- "Farmer John" – 1983
- "I'm on the Road Again" – 1985
Albums
edit- 1979 Uncut (Blue Wave) (#5 Can.[13])
- 1980 Uncut [re-issue] (RCA)
- 1981 Thirsty Ears (Liberty/Capitol-EMI) (#11 Can.[14])
- 1982 Party Line (Liberty/Capitol-EMI) #36 Can.[15]
- 1983 Powder Blues (Liberty/Capitol-EMI)
- 1983 Red Hot/True Blue (RCA) #88 Can (4 weeks)[16]
- 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)
Albums on Compact Disc
edit- As of 2024, their three most commercially successful albums are not on Compact Disc: Uncut (1979), Thirsty Ears (1981) and Party Line (1982)
Awards
edit- 1981 – Juno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year"[17]
- 1986 – W. C. Handy Award for Blues, Best Foreign Band
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Powder Blues." CRIA Database.
- ^ "7th Annual Blues Awards Archived 2009-02-11 at the Wayback Machine." The Blues Foundation.
- ^ "Powder Blues celebrating in Ajax". DurhamRegion.com. 9 August 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "Tour | Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues". Powderblues.net. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 26, 1980" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - September 6, 1980" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 50 AC - October 25, 1980" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 30 CanCon Singles - December 30, 1978" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 30 AO-CanCon Singles - April 11, 1981" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 50 Singles - November 21, 1981" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 50 Singles - October 3, 1981" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - August 16, 1980" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 50 Albums -October 3, 1981" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - October 30, 1982" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - October 22, 1983" (PDF).
- ^ "PAST NOMINEES + WINNERS: Powder Blues". Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2021-05-14.