Canadian jazz and blues great David Clayton-Thomas will sear your soul with his powerful blues-drenched voice on Sunday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m., during a concert in the PEI Jazz and Blues Festival tent.
The second in the Confederation Centre’s 2007 Confederation Bridge Concert Series, this evening of great jazz and blues is presented in a first-time partnership between the Centre, and the PEI Jazz and Blues Festival.
Clayton-Thomas will be backed by an eight-piece band, made up of Howard Ayee on bass; Bruce Cassidy, trumpet, EVI and music director; Paul DeLong, drums; Bernie LaBarge, guitar; Danny Martin, trombone; Mike Murley, sax; Doug Riley, piano and organ; and Rick Waychesko, trumpet.
A brilliant songwriter, Clayton-Thomas found fame in 1969 with the jazz-rock band, Blood Sweat &Tears (BS&T). Hailed by Billboard Magazine as possibly “the greatest blues-oriented singer to come out of his generation,” he continues to perform his classic signature songs, including “Spinning Wheel,” “And When I Die” and “You Make Me So Very Happy” as well as exciting new material.
With a career that spans over four decades, Clayton-Thomas is one of the most recognized performers and songwriters in the world, selling over 30-million albums worldwide. In 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, taking his place beside such Canadian musical icons as Oscar Peterson, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.
Clayton-Thomas was already a central figure in Canadian music before he became lead singer of BS&T. His 1968 debut album with BS&T sold 10-million copies worldwide and won an unprecedented five Grammy awards. It featured three hit singles, “You've Made Me So Very Happy,” “And When I Die”, and “Spinning Wheel,” as well a rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” that became a signature song for him. Subsequent albums resulted in massive worldwide sales and more hit singles including “Lucretia Mac Evil,” “Hi-De-Ho” and “Go Down Gamblin.”
After touring with BS&T in North America and Europe, Clayton-Thomas left the band in 1972, and moved to Los Angeles where he recorded four solo albums. Two years later, he returned to lead BS&T back to the concert stage. The band toured successfully until 2004, when he moved back to Canada to devote himself to his solo projects.
Now living in Toronto where he grew up, he heads a 10-piece jazz/rock fusion band under his own name. In October 2005, he recorded a live album entitled David Clayton-Thomas In Concert: A Musical Biography at the Opera House in Toronto, which includes his classic hits as well as new material. The album was released in May 2006 on Justin Time Records.
Tickets for the concert are $25, and can be purchased at the Confederation Centre Box Office, 1-800-565-0278, or online at www.confederationcentre.com. The Confederation Bridge Concert Series is sponsored by Confederation Bridge, Tourism PEI and the City of Charlottetown.
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Media contacts: Anna MacDonald, Publicist, (902) 628-6135 confederationcentre.com;
Amanda Rafuse, PR Assistant, (902) 628-6139
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