goodbye to daisy

very sad to hear a little while ago of the death of Daisy Debolt - a wonderful artist, and a legend, really, in Canada.
I first heard her perform many years back in a little cafe called Egerton's, which was on Gerrard Street in Toronto. Then she was playing everywhere over the years, until i saw her once more at the Women's Blues Revue - an annual fest put on by the Toronto Blues Society. Daisy wowed audiences every time she played, with her very powerful voice and presence, and she was an inspiration to me.

later on, up in Haliburton, i started bringing performers to that part of Northern Ontario, in the Sugar Shack series i organized. in 2006, I had Daisy come and perform with the marvellous Marg Stowe. They put on a wonderful show. There are pictures on my website - that archival reminder of years past - that show Daisy and Marg performing at the Wintergreen Pancake House, and then all of us back at my place later, posted here.

Daisy liked my 'Rats and Welfare' tune, done in animation by Jonathan Amitay, and she very kindly posted it on her own website, before it ever got to youtube.

thanks, Daisy for all the years of fabulous music, and for your commanding devotion to your art.

p.s. this Saturday Oct. 22 - 9pm at Gate 403, Toronto. I'll be singing.