The Second Recipients Of The “Erin McCallum Blues Legend & Legacy Distinction” Have Been officially Recognized.
For over 50 years of musical contributions dedicated strictly to the Blues, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Morgan Davis is recognized with the distinction of Blues Legend.
Photo Credit: Nick Harding
Morgan Davis: Blues Legend
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Morgan Davis has been actively performing for over 50 years. Although he was born and raised in Detroit (he spent his childhood there), he moved to Canada (Toronto, Ontario) in 1968, and has been here since (Davis moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2001). Morgan Davis has been the recipient of many awards over the course of his career, which include: multiple Maple Blues Awards (in multiple categories, including Male Vocalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Producer of the Year and the prestigious Blues With A Feeling Award, amongst others), multiple Jazz Report Awards, a SOCAN (Songwriter of the Year) Award and a JUNO Award (Blues Album of the Year).
Listeners may identify with Davis’ work via song “Why’d You Lie”, which was covered by Colin James on his first album, or by listening to “Reefer Smokin’ Man” (a recording often described as a “cult classic”). He’s been signed with two notable labels in Canadian Blues (Stony Plain Records and Electro-Fi Records), and worked with many other notable Blues artists.
In addition to being officially recognized as a “Blues Legend” by title and a physical acknowledgement, Davis has also received full entitlement to recognize up to two eligible musicians of his choice for the “Blues Legacy” distinction. Each musician recognized with the “Erin McCallum Blues Legend & Legacy Distinction” will be recognized for their contributions to the Canadian Blues Collective on the globally accessible platform, The Sound Café.
Morgan Davis has elected to select two artists to be acknowledged with the “Blues Legacy” distinction: “Back Alley John” (John Carl David Wilson) and Fraser Finlayson.
“Back Alley John” (John Carl David Wilson) was a Canadian singer, songwriter and musician who was active on the Canadian Blues scene from 1969-2006, and is best known as a harmonica player. Originally from Ottawa, Ontario (where he is best recognized for forming the Back Alley John Revue in the early 1980s), Back Alley John took up residency in Calgary, Alberta in 1988 where he remained committed to the Blues genre until his passing at the age of 51.
His recorded works include originals and covers that feature traditional Blues and Country music - some of which include some of Western Canada’s recognizable artists (including producer’s credit to veteran Blues musician Tim Williams, and musical contributions by guitar Master Amos Garrett).
His original songs reflect the influence of his Canadian travels; listeners can identify Prairie Folk and Maritime Reel styles peppered throughout his catalogue of originals. His influences include Robert Johnson, Dutch Mason, Muddy Waters, Carrie Bell, John Hammond, Leadbelly, Norm Clark, and others.
Fraser Finlayson (1950-2011) was an R&B and Blues musician, singer, and bandleader who was a member of various Toronto and International bands. From 1966-1999 he was active in multiple facets of the scene; Although best known as a Blues harmonica player and vocalist, Finlayson’s contributions also included Executive Producer’s credits (a CD compilation featuring the music of slain musician Ron Hedland), occasional acting (Canada and the U.S.) in video and feature films, and on-air radio hosting (“Funky Fridays”, on CIUT, Toronto).
Known as a multi-disciplinary artist who supported the arts and travelled the world, Finlayson is most recognized as an artist who made most of his contributions as part of the Toronto, Ontario music community.
Erin McCallum Blues Legend & Legacy Distinction Criteria
This distinction, established by Erin McCallum, is to recognize and honour artists who have made significant contributions to the Canadian Blues Music Collective. The intention is to provide a unique and credible recognition to artists based on their musical merit, influence, and impact within the Canadian Blues community. The Blues Legend & Legacy Distinction also provides a peer-driven platform for artists to recognize colleagues whose contributions meet the same criteria for this distinction.
How It Works:
Blues Legend Distinction:
The distinction of “Blues Legend” is selected and awarded by Erin McCallum, based upon outlined and established criteria.
Blues Legacy Distinction:
The distinction of “Blues Legacy” is selected by an artist who receives the Blues Legend Distinction.
*All artists with the distinction of “Blues Legend” have the opportunity to give the distinction of “Blues Legacy” to as many as two artists who meet the criteria. This provides “Blues Legends” the right to honour their colleagues, and strengthens the diversity of the artists who will be recognized. This structure maintains the credibility of the distinction, and offers fair representation of eligible artists via peer-driven recognition.
Criteria:
Blues Legend Distinction
Artists who are eligible for the Blues Legend Distinction must meet requirements outlined below:
⁃ Must have been a resident, citizen, or be a current resident/citizen of Canada.
⁃ Have a minimum of 25 years experience as a performing artist.
⁃ Be recognizable within the Canadian Blues community.
⁃ Made a significant contribution to the Canadian Blues music through their musical influence and/or musicianship as a participating member of the Blues community.
Blues Legacy Distinction
Artists who are eligible for the Blues Legacy Distinction must meet the requirements outlined below:
⁃ Must have been a resident or citizen of Canada.
⁃ Be deceased
⁃ Made a significant contribution within the Canadian Blues community
⁃ Be awarded the distinction by someone who is named a “Blues Legend” by Erin McCallum
About Erin McCallum:
Blues singer, songwriter, musician, performer, investigative writer, and contributor to the Canadian Blues Collective for decades, Erin McCallum, was inspired to develop an official distinction that is based on the foundation of peer-driven recognition. The basis of this inspiration is to provide a space for recognition that honours eligible artists based strictly upon their musical merits and contributions, without political bias or influences outside of the eligible artist’s musical merits/contributions. The Blues Legend & Legacy Distinction does not operate by submissions, deadlines, vote or committee, however, offers opportunity to recognize artists, and inform and educate Blues fans, through its structure of peer-driven selection of the Blues Legacy Distinction. This structure is unique to the Canadian Blues Music Collective, in the sense that it is strictly artist driven, self funded, and possess a high criteria for recognition.
This distinction is not sponsored by any record companies, managers or entities, and will not profit financially through any fees, memberships, or payments. Due to its high mandate/criteria, The Blues Legend & Legacy Distinction will remain an elite honour that recipients themselves have the authority to contribute to - maintaining the intention and integrity of merit based recognition it is founded on.
Each artist who is selected to receive the distinction of “Blues Legend” will be notified, and presented with a physical award, commemorating their contribution(s) to the Blues.