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Hometown: Moose Jaw, SK, CA
Label: Desmond & Hodi Records, Desmond and Hodi Records
Website: www.whiteboy-slim.com
Sounds Like: Chris Thomas King, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout
Genre: Blues
Whiteboy Slim has played music since he was a child, learning trumpet, piano, and sousaphone before he discovered the blues and picked up guitar and harmonica. From his first time on stage in a rock band when he was sixteen, he knew his path in life.
While studying at the Berkelee College of Music in Boston, he rubbed shoulders with musicians like Gary Burton, pianist Al Copley (co-founder of Roomful of Blues), and bassist Ron McClure (bassist with Charles Lloyd, Wynton Kelly, Quest, The 4th Way, Joe Henderson, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Pointer Sisters, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk).
After years on the road in everything from showbands to top-40 cover bands, he landed in Toronto where he founded the New Wave Band "Dirty Movies" which still has fans today.
Finally returning to his first love, he formed the Blues Band "Automatic Slim", which played most of the blues clubs in the city, including the legendary El Mocambo, The Silver Dollar Saloon, and the Black Swan. Automatic Slim was the house band at four different clubs on different nights of the week, and was noted for having best grossing Wednesday night downstairs at the El Mocambo.
After Automatic Slim broke up, he played solo before moving west and starting fresh as Whiteboy Slim. playing bars and festivals such as the Sasktel Jazz Festival, The Mid-Winter Blues Festival, The Prairie Arts Festival, the Flatland Music Festival, Blues for Peace, and many others.
in 2014, Whiteboy released two albums--"Box? What Box?" a two record set that contains both traditional Blues and genre-bending experimental track, and "Live at the Plains Hotel" recently remixed tracks from performances in 2005.
The 2010 release "I'm Still Here" spent over six months in the top ten of the Canadian Roots and Blues charts. It contained the song "Hey Little Girl" was named Best Blues Song by Toronto Exclusive Magazine
His second cd, the envelope-pushing "aka Whiteboy Slim." which earned him three awards at the 2007 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Music Awards--Best Blues Album, Best Blues Song ("Hey Hold On Stop"), and Best Males Blues Artist..
"It Ain't Art" won Honorable Mention in the first round of the 2007 Singer/Songwriter Awards.
2007- was given the "True Blues Man" award for perpetuating and preserving the Blues by The Black American Blues Historical Society of Canada.
In 2005 he was nominated Best Blues Act --Toronto Independent Music Awards.
“Our blues pal Slim has outdone himself this time – no QUESTION. Definitely a box full-o-blooz that will turn you on your head! The opener on Volume 1 (this is a two-volume set), “Undercover Blonde“, pits Whiteboy’s gravel-laden voice against some rippin’ guitar licks that make this song alone worth the purchase price of the set. If you don’t get on that train to Chi-town, “Baby Took The Train“, you’ll be missin’ out for sure. It was the jumpin’ “Down By The River” on Volume 1 that got my vote for favorite of all 24 tracks, though… absolutely gittin’ DOWN on this one! For rabid blues fans everywhere, this one gets my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.98. Get more information at Slim’s official website. Rotcod Zzaj”
Rotcod Zzaj - Improvijazznation Nation
“It is certainly a rarity nowadays to be treated to a double album and it is equally a rarity to be treated to a double album as diversified as Whiteboy Slim's great new release, ""Box? What Box? Vol 1 Bluesification" & Vol 2 Transgenred", two amazing little masterpieces, together covering over a half a dozen distinct genres, which included Blues, Jazz, and Funk via Vol 1 and Ska, Reggae, Americana, and Ambient grooves via Vol 2. Together Whiteboy Slim has no problem showing us all how amazingly unique and creative he is as an artist.”
John Vermilyea - Blues Underground Network
“Here is the latest release from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan native Whiteboy Slim titled aka Whiteboy Slim. Slim has produced a set of music that you will either love it or hate it. That is true with much of his music, and the verdict so far has been people love it�”
Bluestown: The City of Blues
“Down home blues from the Whiteboy Slim! This guy has a great vocal delivery wrapped in soothing southern blues music. Great recordings and blues licks give these tracks a real southern soul flow! Blues hasn't been lost on this boy, indeed!”
Catsask Music and Entertainment
