Shrimp Daddy & The Sharpshooters

For most people, New Year’s resolutions come and go, but for Mike ‘Shrimp Daddy’ Reid, a 2001 decision to learn how to play the harmonica forever changed his life. Although he had tried the drums and guitar in the past, he admits he didn’t quite have the dexterity to do “two things with his hands at once.”

But the minute he put a harmonica on his lips, he says, it just felt right.

“You don’t really choose the blues,” he says. “It kind of chooses you.”

After just one year of practise he began to perform at open mic nights in Toronto and then began jamming with friends and doing cover shows at local pubs.

But after deciding to take it to the next level he hasn’t looked back, forming a band — Shrimp Daddy and The Sharpshooters — and wowing fans throughout Ontario, Quebec and New York.

But Reid says he certainly doesn’t do it for the money or the fame.

His current gig includes working at a pool company in the daytime to pay the bills, while playing bars and festivals with his band at night and on weekends.

“It’s all about the love for me,” says the Montreal native who has lived in Milton with his long-term girlfriend for years. “I live my life through music; it means everything to me.

“I grew up with music all around me. My dad played Newfoundland folk and my mom loved French-Canadian folk and country music.

“I still love and listen to all that music but I sing and play the blues for my soul.”

He names his musical idol as Little Walter Jacobs, former sideman for Muddy Waters.

As for his personal style he says it resembles that of Chicago blues with a dash of “westcoast swing.”

It was this style, with the technical help of well-known Canadian blues artist Steve Marriner, that landed Reid his big break only a month ago, after he and Marriner completed his CD at the end of 2009.

The Maple Blues Awards, Canada’s national blues awards, nominated him as one of the country’s top new artists.

When more than 3,000 votes cast by Canuck blues fans were counted in January, he was crowned best new artist.

“It was really great to be nominated, but to be voted on by fans is a real honour. As an artist you always wonder if people are being genuine when they tell you they like your stuff, but this confirms it.”

His CD, named Messin’With My System, is now being played all over the globe from London to Rome and from Glasgow to Helsinki.

And he has been getting great reviews on the original album that includes numerous songs, the subject of which mostly revolve around life.

He even says he has been noticing some fans singing along to his music at concerts, a sign his album is gaining recognition.

“When I played at the Mount Tremblant Blues Festival I noticed some people were familiar with my music,” says the 44-year-old. “I have a funny sort of song about losing my girlfriend because I can’t fold fitted sheets.

“Well when I started to sing that on stage, a few people up on a balcony had ripped off bed sheets and started swinging them in the air. As an artist it’s amazing to see that.”

When asked why blues musicians always have such odd names, he tells an interesting tale.

“Back in the olden days during prohibition, a lot of blues musicians used to bootleg booze for extra cash, so their names were often pseudonyms to avoid detection by the police,” he says.

As for his nickname, he says a former singer suggested it on a whim when the group needed a name to start playing gigs.

He says the reality is far less romantic. Chuckling Reid adds: “I’m allergic to shellfish.”

Shrimp Daddy and The Sharpshooters will play Cheryl’s Cookhouse, 550 Ontario St., March 19.

Their album is available online at Amazon, Chapters, HMV and iTunes.

- MIlton Champion by Jeremy Grimaldi,

Had an opportunity last night to catch Shrimp
daddy and the Sharpshooters wa-a-a-a-y out here in
the lonesome `shaw where culture and Walmart are
often intermingled.

Regardless...it was on a hot tip provided by rick
George that we take time out to catch this guy
and I`m glad we [my wife precious, old black dave
and jo ] went..
Shrimp , or mr. Shrimp as i like to call him was
in extra fine blowin` form..this guy tho`
relatively new to me has obviously practiced and
honed his harp-a-bility for quite some time..He
has a the unique style of being able to duplicate
the lonesome wail of a sonny Boy williamson and
then echo back with the raucous excitement of a
little walter instrumental...
Man,...it has been some time since I`ve heard
someone around here play like that and it sure
felt and sounded good.
Shrimp`s version of Help Me was a show stopper.
My good buddy, ol` Black hollered out for some
slim Harpo and we were treated to a fine
impromptu version of Scratch My back...thanks
for that shrimp..I loves slim Harpo..all in all
the guys did a fine job, playing a dinner hour
matinee 6/9 which of course means the evening
crowd hadn`t yet filled in the joint but they
responded like pros and played their hearts out to
the fans who were there..They deserve their own
evening engagement but that i guess is up to the
ownerof Chicagos and I am not about to get into
the politics of that other than to say he[ owner]
has some very ineffectual policies goin` on
there.
Anyhow..the vote was unanimous, Jo.,Precious, Ol
Black and sluggo give Shrimp/band a definite
mojo hands up...
thanks for a swell evenin`...

sluggo

Telecaster...say no more

sluggo

- Mr. Tony Sluggo

Had an opportunity last night to catch Shrimp
daddy and the Sharpshooters wa-a-a-a-y out here in
the lonesome `shaw where culture and Walmart are
often intermingled.

Regardless...it was on a hot tip provided by rick
George that we take time out to catch this guy
and I`m glad we [my wife precious, old black dave
and jo ] went..
Shrimp , or mr. Shrimp as i like to call him was
in extra fine blowin` form..this guy tho`
relatively new to me has obviously practiced and
honed his harp-a-bility for quite some time..He
has a the unique style of being able to duplicate
the lonesome wail of a sonny Boy williamson and
then echo back with the raucous excitement of a
little walter instrumental...
Man,...it has been some time since I`ve heard
someone around here play like that and it sure
felt and sounded good.
Shrimp`s version of Help Me was a show stopper.
My good buddy, ol` Black hollered out for some
slim Harpo and we were treated to a fine
impromptu version of Scratch My back...thanks
for that shrimp..I loves slim Harpo..all in all
the guys did a fine job, playing a dinner hour
matinee 6/9 which of course means the evening
crowd hadn`t yet filled in the joint but they
responded like pros and played their hearts out to
the fans who were there..They deserve their own
evening engagement but that i guess is up to the
ownerof Chicagos and I am not about to get into
the politics of that other than to say he[ owner]
has some very ineffectual policies goin` on
there.
Anyhow..the vote was unanimous, Jo.,Precious, Ol
Black and sluggo give Shrimp/band a definite
mojo hands up...
thanks for a swell evenin`...

sluggo

Telecaster...say no more

sluggo

- Mr. Tony Sluggo