Michael Pickett
Encyclopedia
Michael Pickett is a multiple award-winning Canadian blues
and roots
singer, guitarist
and harmonica
player.
, a seminal Canadian blues band, based in Toronto
. After the breakup of Whiskey Howl in the early 1970s, Pickett continued his career as the lead singer and harmonica player for blues band Wooden Teeth, of which he was a co-founder. As of the late 1970s, Pickett developed a career in his own name, with both the Michael Pickett Band and as a solo artist. Among other awards, he is the recipient of several Maple Blues Awards
, honouring his contributions to blues music.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and roots
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
singer, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player.
Biography
Pickett commenced his music career as a member of Whiskey HowlWhiskey Howl
Whiskey Howl was a Toronto-based Canadian blues band, most popular between 1969 and 1972. The band is notable as being one of the early Canadian bands promoting and developing blues music in Canada.- History :...
, a seminal Canadian blues band, based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. After the breakup of Whiskey Howl in the early 1970s, Pickett continued his career as the lead singer and harmonica player for blues band Wooden Teeth, of which he was a co-founder. As of the late 1970s, Pickett developed a career in his own name, with both the Michael Pickett Band and as a solo artist. Among other awards, he is the recipient of several Maple Blues Awards
Maple Blues Awards
The Maple Blues Awards are Canada’s blues awards, "honouring the finest in Canadian blues". They are the only comprehensive national best in blues awards program. The program's goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement...
, honouring his contributions to blues music.
Whiskey Howl
- 1972 Whiskey Howl (Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
; CD Release 2008, Pacemaker) - 1981 Live At The El MocamboEl MocamboThe El Mocambo Tavern is a live music and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Spadina Avenue, just south of College Street, the bar played an important role in the development of popular music in Toronto since the 19th century...
(As The Whiskey Howl Big Band; CD Release 2005, re-release 2009, Solid Gold)
Compilation albums
- 2006 Saturday Night Blues: 20 YearsSaturday Night Blues: 20 YearsSaturday Night Blues: 20 Years is a 2006 2 CD compilation album, released by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and, internationally, by the Universal Music Group, of live performances of Canadian blues artists, as featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio program Saturday Night...
(CBCCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
)