Jeff Healey Blues Band up for a leading seven Maple Blues Awards
Written by THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
TORONTO - Late guitar great Jeff Healey and one of his musical groups lead the list of nominees for the 2009 Maple Blues Awards.
Members of the Jeff Healey Blues Band are collectively up for seven trophies, including recording of the year for the album, "Mess of Blues," organizers announced Tuesday. The other honours are for individual players from the Toronto-based group.
Healey, a blind musician who died in March after a lifelong battle with cancer, has three posthumous nominations for entertainer of the year, electric artist of the year and guitarist of the year.
His accompanists - drummer Al Webster, keyboardist Dave Murphy and bassist Alec Fraser - are each nominated in their respective instrument categories.
Other nominees include pianist Julian Fauth and veteran act Downchild, both of Toronto, who have four nominations apiece.
Next in line with three nods are Toronto vocalists Treasa Levasseur and Paul Reddick, as well as guitarists Garrett Mason of Truro, N.S. and Amos Garrett of Turner Valley, Alta.
One of Garrett's nominations is for the performance of his band member Dave Babcock, up for best horn player.
The 12th annual Maple Blues Awards gala is set for Jan. 19 in Toronto.
Nominees are selected by a panel of blues experts from across Canada, and winners are selected by the online votes of Canadian fans.
Voting begins online at www.mapleblues.ca this Saturday and ends Dec. 6.
