Blackburn Brothers

Last updated
Blackburn Brothers
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresBlues, Funk, Soul, R&B, Jazz, Rock
Years active1996–present
Labels Electro-Fi Records, Arctic Records Canada, Make it Real Records
Members
  • Duane Blackburn
  • Brooke Blackburn
  • Cory Blackburn
  • Neil Brathwaite
  • Andrew Stewart
  • Ted Peters
Past membersMark Ayee
Website blackburnbrothersmusic.com

The Blackburn Brothers are a Canadian blues band composed of a core group of three siblings, Duane Blackburn (lead vocals, organ, piano), Brooke Blackburn (guitar, vocals, composition), and Cory Blackburn (drums, harmony vocals). [1] They are most noted as two-time Juno Award nominees for Blues Album of the Year.

Contents

Formerly known as Blackburn, the band has been described by Living Blues magazine as a "generational family band [that] plays traditional blues and R&B with a contemporary take." [2]

Additional band members include longtime horn section bandmates Neil Brathwaite on tenor saxophone and Ted Peters on trombone, as well as Andrew Stewart on bass guitar. Their studio production team includes oldest sibling Robert Blackburn (guitar, vocals, composition), Howard Ayee (producer, bass), and cousin Nathan Blackburn (bass).

History

Formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1996, the band's music synthesizes the blues with rhythm and blues, soul, and funk. [3] Members of the Black Canadian community, they are the sons of blues singer Bobby Dean Blackburn, a longtime performer in Toronto's music scene. [4]

The band's first album, Soul Searchin', was released in 1997. [5]

In 2010, they released their second album, Brotherhood, [6] and won the Maple Blues Award for Best New Band. [7]

In 2015, Blackburn Brothers released Brothers in This World, which earned them their first Juno nomination for Blues Album of The Year at the Juno Awards of 2016. [8]

Their fourth album, SoulFunkn'Blues, was released in 2023, [9] and garnered the band their second Juno Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024. [10] Additionally, the album received three Blues Music Award nominations for Album of the Year, Soul Blues Album of the Year, and Song of the Year (a new precedent from a Canadian band), and a record-setting nine nominations in the 2024 Maple Blues Awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Electric Act of the Year. [11]

Discography

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResultReference
2010Maple Blues AwardBest New BandWon [7]
2011Maple Blues AwardHorn Player of the Year, Neil BraithwaiteWon [12]
2015Maple Blues AwardPiano/Keyboard Player of the Year, Duane BlackburnNominated [13]
2016Juno AwardBlues Album of the Year, Brothers in This WorldNominated [8]
2016Maple Blues AwardElectric Act of the YearNominated [7]
2017Maple Blues AwardPiano/Keyboard Player of the Year, Duane BlackburnNominated [14]
2019Maple Blues AwardPiano/Keyboard Player of the Year, Duane BlackburnNominated
2020Maple Blues AwardDrummer of the Year, Cory BlackburnNominated
2020Maple Blues AwardPiano/Keyboard Player of the Year, Duane BlackburnNominated
2021Maple Blues AwardPiano/Keyboard Player of the Year, Duane BlackburnNominated
2022Maple Blues AwardElectric Act of the YearNominated
2022Maple Blues AwardDrummer of the Year, Cory BlackburnNominated
2023Canada South Blues Society Hall of FameInductionWon
2024Juno AwardBlues Album of the Year, SoulFunkn'BluesNominated [10]
2024Blues Music AwardAlbum of the Year, SoulFunkn'BluesNominated [15]
2024Blues Music AwardSoul Blues Album of the Year, SoulFunkn'BluesNominated
2024Blues Music AwardSong of the Year, "Bobby's Blues"Nominated
2024Maple Blues AwardEntertainer of the YearNominated [11]
2024Maple Blues AwardElectric Act of the YearNominated
2024Maple Blues AwardSongwriter of the Year, Brooke BlackburnNominated
2024Maple Blues AwardRecording of the Year, SoulFunkn'BluesNominated
2024Maple Blues AwardProducer of the Year, Howard Ayee and Cory BlackburnNominated
2024Maple Blues AwardMale Vocalist of the Year, Brooke BlackburnNominated
2024Maple Blues AwardGuitarist of the Year, Brooke BlackburnNominated
2024Maple Blues AwardPiano/Keyboard Player of the Year, Duane BlackburnNominated
2024Maple Blues AwardDrummer of the Year, Cory BlackburnNominated
2024Maple Blues AwardBassist of the Year, Nathan BlackburnNominated

References

  1. ↑ Robin Caudell, "The Blackburn Brothers, wayshowers of 230 years of Canadian Roots & Blues". Press-Republican , June 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ Bill Kopp (January–February 2024). "Blackburn Brothers: A Band of Brothers". Living Blues.
  3. ↑ Austin, Jack (2023-12-03). "Featured Interview – The Blackburn Brothers". Blues Blast Magazine. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  4. ↑ Talbot, Michael (February 16, 2023). "The musical legacy of local legend Bobby Dean Blackburn". CityNews .
  5. ↑ Lenny Stoute, "Band's Soul Searching builds on family musical tradition". Toronto Star , October 2, 1997.
  6. ↑ Eric Thom (March 10, 2009). "Blackburn: Brotherhood". Exclaim! .
  7. 1 2 3 Coral Andrews, "The beat of the Blackburn brothers". Waterloo Region Record , April 1, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Junos 2016: Complete list of Juno Award nominees". CBC News. February 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ Brian Kelly, "Music 'buzz' best for Blackburn Brothers". Sault Star , February 3, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Junos 2024: full list of winners". CBC Music, March 23, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Maple Blues Awards 2024: The Blackburn Brothers earn nine nominations". CJRT-FM . November 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ Adam Bowie, "Matt Andersen earns three Maple Blues nominations". Telegraph-Journal , October 28, 2011.
  13. ↑ Adam Bowie, "Province's blues acts earn Maple Blues nominations". The Daily Gleaner , November 3, 2015.
  14. ↑ Adam Bowie, "Matt Andersen sings his way to fourth straight national award". Bugle-Observer , January 27, 2017.
  15. ↑ "2024 Blues Music Awards nominees announced". Blues Rock Review, January 25, 2024.
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