Mad Dogs & Englishmen-Joe Cocker Tribute

Biographies

Don Bouchat - vocals & keys

Don Bouchat was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario and studied music at the Royal Conservatory for 10 years. He started his first band at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Touring on 3 continents and the Caribbean, he has performed in some some 13 countries and has written and recorded for commercial jingles, film scores, has recorded 2 CD's with the Big Roll Band and three albums of his own, as well as dozens of credits on other albums. He has also appeared in several music videos and television programs.
As leader of Canada's Legendary Big Roll Band, he served as lead vocalist, keyboard player, harmony singer, arranger and front man gaining much recognition for his talents. The band was featured in Time magazine in 1997 and has played some of the most prestigious engagements in Canada including two Grey Cup games. Don has also made appearances at the Juno Awards festivities, the World Curling Championships, The Western Canada.Games and The Pan Am Games.
He has performed with the legendary Platters as pianist and music director and has shared stages with the likes of Neil Young, Burton Cummings, Trooper, Long John Baldry, Trey Lorenz, Joey Gregorash, Stephanie Beaumont, and has among his friends, many industry luminaries.
In recent years he has been spending his time between his Caribbean home and his Canadian home, making frequent trips to Europe where he performs regularly.
For more detailed information go to www.donbouchat.com

Fred Dawes – drums

Fred Dawes, a native of Winnipeg, is considered one of the finest drummers in this part of the world. In his long career he has been associated with Sylvia Tyson, Tom Jackson, and Joey Gregorash, among others.
He has been a member of The Big Roll Band for 24 years where he contributed not only his drumming skills, but his excellent taste in arrangements and backing vocals.

Brian Klowak - sax

Saxman Brian Klowak thrives in his mixed bag of jazz, rock, funk, and pop. He has been featured on CBC local and national radio and has also been featured on recordings with The Ron Paley Big Band and The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, among others. He has performed with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as well as The Big Roll Band and his own jazz groups and in a variety of other musical settings. He has shared the stage with a wide array of performers including Tito Puente, Rob McConnell, Paquito d’Riviera, and Wayne Newton, among others.

B J Garrison - guitar

B J Garrison originally hails from Montana and came to Canada in the early 1990's to assist local artists, Louisianna Hot Sauce. He has performed as a side man for such artists Susan Gitzi, The Platters, The Foster Martin Band, The Wilkinsons, Valdy, Trooper, and Doug and the Slugs and The Big Roll Band. BJ, the guitarist for the band, is also proficient on a variety of stringed instuments, harmonica, keyboards, and drums as well as being an excellent vocalist and songwriter.

Vaughan Poyser - bass

Vaughan has been a part of the Canadian music scene for 3 decades and has performed as bassist with a who's who of Canadian artists. These include Chris Cummings, Julian Austin, Sean Hogan, Sam Chase, Gil Grands, Jamie Warren, Dianne Chase, Canadian rockers Streetheart, Indie folk artist, Brenda Rogers, and blues artist Tracy K. More recently, Vaughan has been performing with aboriginal artist, Leanne Goose and east coast cajun/zydeco artist, Patice Bouilianne.

Kathy (Kit Kat) Kennedy – back up & lead vocals

Singer/songwriter/promoter Kathy Kennedy has experience in several styles. She has impersonated 10 divas of Rock and pop, sang back up for Chicago's Lou Pride and recorded and performed with Ottawa's National Blues Artist Drew Nelson, fronted, booked, promoted her own various projects. Kennedy is the founder/promoter/ producer and a performer of Women in Blues Manitoba, a non-profit concert stage that has featured up and coming Canadian female Blues talent for eight years. She has produced nine concerts and two live CD’s of central Canada’s up and coming blues women. Women in Blues Manitoba #1 and #2. These include Shelley-Lynne Hardinge, Angel Calnek and Tracy K. She has performed two years with drummer Miche Pouliot (KD Lang and the Reclines, Jann Arden, Bruce Cockburn), along with other Canadian fame. She has opened for Long John Baldry, Jimmie Vaughan, Eddie Shaw (Howlin Wolf), and Maria Muldaur.

Karaleigh Vincent – back up & lead vocals

Born and raised in Carberry, Manitoba, Karaleigh Vincent is an accomplished vocalist with a unique talent for vocal harmonies. She has toured across Canada and United States as a back-up vocalist and has fronted several of her own bands in Brandon and Winnipeg.

www.katblues.ca