Draft:Son Roberts

Son Roberts is a Canadian singer/songwriter and harmonica player.

History
Son Roberts studied harmonica with Al Lerman (Fathead ) who came under the tutelage of Chicago blues harmonica player Carey Bell.

Early Life, Ancestry and Influences
Wayne Son Roberts was born in 1957 and raised in Montreal, Quebec. His maternal grandfather, Jack Lamont, was a violin player during the Depression in Montreal and played for pre-eminent families of the era, including members of the Bronfman family. His paternal grandfather, Augustus Roberts, was originally from Newfoundland and became an eye surgeon and MPP in the Ontario Government, representing Sault Ste. Marie.

In 1978, Wayne Son Roberts completed General Military Training and joined the Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG). His regiment performed in military parades and "changing of the guard" ceremonial duties on Parliament Hill and at the Governor General's residence in the Canadian national capital of Ottawa, Ontario.

Son Roberts moved to Toronto in 1979 to study journalism at the former Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (Toronto Metropolitan University). During this period Roberts witnessed live performances by legendary blues musicians including B.B. King and Muddy Waters, who often performed at local venues such as The Colonial Tavern and El Mocambo nightclub.

In 1980 Roberts was hired to work for the Canadian National Railway (CNR) in Northern Ontario. His experiences on a track gang provided source material for the songs "Kowkash Boogie" and "The Brakeman", the latter of which earned him the International Music Award in 2013 for Best New Blues Song.

A 2001 trip to Memphis and the Lorraine Motel, inspired Roberts to write "Lorraine", a song about the murder of civil rights leader, The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. The Song was listed as a finalist in Billboard magazine's 2007 World Song contest in the Blues category.

In 2007, Son Roberts traveled to Arras, France, to research the site of the WWI Battle of Vimy Ridge. He subsequently wrote the song "Vimy Ridge is Callin.'"

Music Career
In 2005, Son Roberts formed the original Son Roberts Band, consisting of his music-writing partners, John Crosbie on rhythm guitar and Ed Roth on accordion and keys. The band included Yuri Gorbachow on djembe, bass player Dave Boire, and Bruce Adamson (Staggered Crossing, The Crown Jewels) on lead guitar. The group gigged at Toronto-area venues such as the Blue Cave, The Steam Whistle Brewery, and the Black Swan Tavern.

Son Roberts has performed extensively on the Southern Ontario blues festival circuit, including the Trius Blues Festival, Orangeville Blues Festival, and the Toronto Waterfront Blues Fest. In addition to the core band members, Son Roberts has performed with Gary Kendall (Downchild Blues Band, Kendall Wall Band), Jesse Whiteley, Adam Beer-Colacino (JV's Boogaloo Squad), Jake Chisholm (Jake and the Blue Midnights), Duncan McBain, Alan Zemaidis, and Nicolas Balcou (Bent Roots). Roberts has performed sets at Toronto's Silver Dollar Room (opening for Fathead), Grossman's Tavern, Gate 403, Mitzi's Sister, and Healey's where the Son Roberts Band opened for Roman Carter.

Debut Album
In 2007, the Son Roberts Band, including founding members Roberts, Crosbie, Roth, and Boire, released its independent debut album "You Don't Know Yet" including all-original material. The recording featured Sergio Faluotico on percussion and drums and Jeff Eager on bass. The album received a Maple Blues Awards nomination for Best New Blues Artist/Band of 2007 (won by Thom Swift).

Second Album
In 2011 Son Roberts released Tell That Story, again featuring all-original compositions, performed with his writing partners John Crosbie, Ed Roth, Sergio Faluotico, and Ralph MacDonald. Gary Kendall on bass, Martin Alex Aucoin on keys, drummer Duncan McBain, and bassist Hap Roderman (Rough Trade) also played on the recording. His daughters, Kate Roberts (Tall Grass, Gammage, The SkaDoos, My Sister's Boyfriend) and Gail Roberts (Tall Grass, Gammage, Blombo, My Sister's Boyfriend), and Toronto vocalist Chloe Watkinson (Tall Grass, Gammage, Park Eddy, The Distillery) provided backup vocals.

With the release of "Tell That Story", Roberts began a residency at Trane Studio on Bathurst Street in Toronto. His "Blue Monday" event hosted musical guests including Jake Chisholm, Larry Kurtz of the Orangeville Blues Festival, harpist Mark "Bird" Stafford, and Brian Blain of the "Blues Campfire". In 2015 Son Roberts recorded a cover of Love Potion No. 9 for a blues-based compilation disc released by Nicolas Balcou of Bent Roots. Roberts later performed the song with Balcou, Michael Fonfara (The Electric Flag, Rough Trade, Downchild Blues Band), Hap Roderman, and Duncan McBain at the Revival Concert Hall on College Street West, sharing the stage with Chris Whiteley and Diana Braithwaite.

Third Album
Son Roberts released his third album of original songs in late 2018, collaborating with sound engineer/contributing musician Brett MacMillan on "Three’s a Charm " at The Meat Locker studio in Toronto. Supporting players included Brett MacMillan on guitar, Sarah Thawer on drums, Ralph MacDonald, Gary Kendall, Duncan McBain, Sergio Faluotico, Scott Bannister on trumpet, Donnie Hopper on sax, and Alan Zemaitis and Jesse Whiteley on keys. Bassist Charles Collymore, Alan Zemaitis, and the Roberts sisters, Kate and Gail, provided backup vocals.

Professional Background
Wayne Son Roberts is the owner/operator of Blade Creative Branding, a branding and advertising company he founded in 1991; and owner and operator of Gate Productions Inc., a company focused on music and movie production.

With The Son Roberts Band
Release Year Title Label
 * 2007 You Don't Know Yet (Independent)
 * 2011 Tell That Story (Independent)
 * 2018 Three’s a Charm (Independent)

External Links website: www.sonroberts.ca Facebook: Twitter: YouTube: Instagram: |}