Doug Carter

Folk Roots Legend Willie P. Bennett Dies

by patti stirling

Canadian folk music legend Willie P. Bennett died Friday Feb. 15 2008 at his home in Peterborough Ontario at the age of 56.

Willie, who played mandolin and harmonica, performed regularly on his own and with the Fred Eaglesmith Band but it was his amazing talent as a songwriter and wordsmith that will live on in our memories.

Get out your old folk music vinyl, cassettes and CD's  and have a Willie Fest today.

Put on your Blackie and the Rodeo Kings cover tunes and raise a glass to an extraordinary man with an extraordinary talent.

You will be greatly missed Willie but your songs will live on; your music represents a generation of Canadians who found their identity and their voice through your music.  Rest in Peace .

Doug Lang of Better Days Radio has posted a musical tribute to Willie P. on his page…. www.myspace.com/betterdaysradio

Fellow Canadian Scot Nolan was a wonderful tribute to the spirit of Willie P. in a song he wrote titled: Drive Day. You can find the song on Scott’s myspace page: www.myspace.com/thescottnolanband

Sweet Soul Music

Sweet Soul Music

Early 60's soul music continues to be resurrected by the Brits...I'm talkin' Jamie Lidell!
I just love the voice & the sweet soul grooves...yeah I know he's got related personas too, but the soul!.  His sound encompasses everything early funky from Ska to Stax, from Herbie Hancock in his Headhunters era to Jimmy Reed's "Shame, Shame, Shame" but he adds a nice contemporary feel.  The man goes upside my head and the cat can dance!  Check out his videos.  I see a lot of another old favourite of mine, David Byrne, in his visual presentation.  Leg wigglin' music.  Anyone who got into James Hunter's 2006 offering, "People Gonna' Talk" are gonna' love Jamie's style.   Check Jamie out at jamielidell.com, I can't get enough of the tune on his homepage in the video showing Lidell and the band working on a new song. 

And in related blues music news Fathead has again been nominated for a JUNO award,
for their latest disc "Building Full Of Blues", for "Blues Recording Of The Year". It is the band's third nomination. They had previously won the coveted award in 1999 for "Blues Weather". The Junos take place this year in Calgary on Sunday April 6.

And it's great my old 'soul' mate Guitar Mikey's got a new CD out...check it out Jam Zero 1 at
therealthing.com/jamZero1/

talk to you soon,  d