Dwayne LaForme Relaxing Into His Moment with a Debut Album Decades in the Making
- Ken Wallis
- Aug 2
- 4 min read
By Ken Wallis | The Sound Cafe Journal
Dwayne LaForme has been a familiar face on the Blues circuit for years. He’s a seasoned performer whose guitar mastery, stage presence, and musical instincts have earned him a loyal following. Yet despite decades of playing, fans never had a full album of original material from him. That changes now. LaForme has released Relax, his official debut album, a project built on a lifetime of playing the Blues..
A Long Road to a First Album
LaForme admits he’s been thinking about recording for years, but he wanted to do it right. He did release a small project back in 2000, but as he explains, “it wasn’t up to my standards.” This time, he set a clear goal: every track had to be his own. No covers. No fillers. Just pure, original Blues.
That commitment turned Relax into a deeply personal statement. The album is a collection of songs written and lived through years of performance. Some tunes had been with him for ages; others came together spontaneously. As he describes it, “I think of the music first… I hum it in my head, then translate it onto the guitar.” Often, once the melody was set, the lyrics flowed naturally. Six of the album’s tracks were written on the spot, with LaForme remembering them perfectly the next time he played them, despite never writing anything down.
Why Relax?
The album’s title carries a simple but universal message. In LaForme’s words, “Relax is something we all need to do… whether we’re having down days, sad days, angry days.” In a world that feels increasingly tense, he wanted to create a musical space where listeners could breathe, unwind, and let Blues do what Blues does best, soothe the soul.
A Tour Through the Blues
LaForme didn’t want Relax to sit in one stylistic lane. Instead, he crafted a full-spectrum Blues experience: instrumentals, slow burners, uptempo grooves, boogies, and funk-infused tracks. His biggest inspiration, Albert Collins, guided the album’s eclectic spirit. LaForme set out to “cover all the bases,” and the result is a record that showcases both his versatility and his deep respect for the genre.
The album opens with an instrumental, Dwayne’s Thang, a bold choice that immediately sets the tone. It’s a piece he’s played for years, one that never needed lyrics. As he puts it, “This song doesn’t need any lyrics, so let’s just call it Dwayne’s Thang.” It’s a confident introduction, a musical introduction that invites listeners into his world.
A Band Built on Chemistry
A great blues album needs a great band, and LaForme assembled an exceptional lineup of musicians he trusts and has played with for years:
Jim Casson (drums): formerly of Downchild
Shane Scott (bass): known for his work with Jack de Keyser
Chris Wheeler (second guitar): a Hamilton musician whose playing complements LaForme’s perfectly
Mike Doyle (organ): LaForme’s longtime musical partner of nearly 30 years
Pat Carey (saxophone) : a well-known player who also played with Downchild
The chemistry is unmistakable. Each musician adds depth without overshadowing LaForme’s voice and guitar, creating a cohesive, polished, and soulful record.
Where to Get Relax
It’s easy to buy the album. Fans can message his band page for mailed copies or pick one up directly from him at live shows. Relax is available on all major digital platforms, including iTunes and Spotify.
A Debut Worth the Wait
Relax isn’t just a first album. It’s a testament to the Blues. It captures the essence of a musician who has spent decades honing his craft and developing a sound that’s unmistakably his own. It’s Blues with heart, history, and craftmanship.
Dwayne LaForme has finally given fans the album they’ve been waiting for.
For more information visit Dwayne's official music page HERE
At The Sound Cafe we don't simply review music. We explore the stories behind the songs, the journeys behind the artists, and the moments that shape their creative lives. Our role is not to tell readers what to think, but to help them understand why the music matters.
About The Writer.
Ken Wallis has been a cornerstone of Hamilton, Ontario’s media and music scenes for decades. He began his career at CHCH TV in 1973, producing arts and cultural content, creating revenue-generating campaigns, and even directing a segment with Sophia Loren.
After 13 years in television, Ken joined Mohawk College, retiring as Associate Dean of Media and Entertainment after 28 years. There, he championed Hamilton’s music and arts communities, producing concerts with legends like Jimmie Vaughan and Larry Carlton, supporting the Hamilton Music Awards, and collaborating with Boris Brott.
Ken’s passion for blues led him to host BluesSource Canada on INDI 101.5 FM, the show aired for close to ten years globally on our sister platform, Blues and Roots Radio, and was featured here at The Sound Cafe as a podcast for five years. The radio show continues today on INDI 1015 FM and now is syndicated on Blues Radio U.K. and archived on Mixcloud.
Ken also established BluesSource Entertainment, promoting live blues in Hamilton. He serves on blues boards, contributes to The Sound Cafe and and has contributed to Hamilton City Magazine, which documented performances through concert photography.
Most recently, Ken co-founded the Escarpment Blues Society with Juno Award-winning Steve Strongman, serving as President to support local musicians, promote music education, and strengthen Hamilton’s live music community.
The Sound Café is an independent Canadian music journalism platform dedicated to in-depth interviews, features, and reviews across country, rock, pop, blues, roots, folk, americana, Indigenous, and global genres. Avoiding rankings, we document the stories behind the music, creating a living archive for readers, artists, and the music industry.
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