Powder Blues Band

The Powder Blues is a Canadian blues/pop/jazz band formed in 1978 in Vancouver. Its first album Uncut went double platinum in Canada. The second album Thirsty Ears was similarly popular.

Powder Blues
OriginVancouver, BC, Canada
GenresBlues/Jazz
Years active1978–present
Websitehttp://www.powderblues.net
MembersTom Lavin
Bill Hicks
Bill Runge
Miles Black
Paul Baron
Vincent Mai
Rod Murray
Pat Caird
Mike Kalanj
Past membersJack Lavin
Willie MacCalder
Mark Hasselbach
Duris Maxwell
Wayne Kozak
Gordon Bertram
David Woodward
Daryl Bennett

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

The 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, the band released their self-financed and self-produced debut album, Uncut, in 1980, followed by a tour of Canada and the US. 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 winter 2020.[5]

The initial lineup of the band consisted of:[1]

Current lineup

The band's most recent release is blues + jazz = BLAZZ! (2004). The lineup on that album consisted of:

  • Tom Lavin – guitar, vocals
  • Bill Runge – bass, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
  • Bill Hicks – drums
  • Miles Black – piano
  • Paul Baron – trumpet
  • Vincent Mai – trumpet
  • Rod Murray – trombone
  • Pat Caird – tenor saxophone
  • Mike Kalanj – Hammond organ

Discography

Singles
  • "Doin' It Right" – 1980 #40 CAN
  • "Boppin' with the Blues" – 1980 #88 CAN
  • "What've I Been Drinkin" – 1980
  • "Hear That Guitar Ring" – 1981
  • "Lovin' Kissin' & Huggin'" – 1981 #47 CAN
  • "Thirsty Ears" – 1981 #17 CAN
  • "Farmer John" – 1983
  • "I'm on the Road Again" – 1985

Albums
  • 1979 Uncut (Blue Wave)
  • 1980 Uncut [re-issue] (RCA)
  • 1981 Thirsty Ears (Liberty/Capitol-EMI)
  • 1982 Party Line (Liberty/Capitol-EMI)
  • 1983 Powder Blues (Liberty/Capitol-EMI)
  • 1983 Red Hot/True Blue (RCA)
  • 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)

Awards

References
  1. 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.
  2. "Powder Blues." CRIA Database.
  3. "7th Annual Blues Awards Archived 2009-02-11 at the Wayback Machine." The Blues Foundation.
  4. https://www.durhamregion.com/whatson-story/9528821-powder-blues-celebrating-in-ajax/
  5. https://powderblues.net/tour/
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