Dutch Mason

Dutch Mason, (19 February 1938 – 23 December 2006) was a Canadian musician born in Lunenburg N.S. with his local accent he received his nick name Dutch. He was inducted into the Canadian Jazz and Blues Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2005. In 1991 Dutch won the JUNO Award for "Best Roots and Traditional Album , with his performance on the CBC compliation album  The Great Canadian Blues Project Vol 1, Saturday Night Blues". After doing an opening set, B.B. King dubbed him  The Canadian King Of The Blues but then Dutchie' s long time friend & harmonica player Rick Jeffery, renamed him "The Prime Minister of the Blues" since they were Canadian. Dutch was a renowned joker when asked what the JUNO meant to him he quipped "Thats nice & everything...but I'd rather have the cash"

Italicized quotes are from the video "Bluesman Dutch Mason ~ The 1996 Boom Boom Tour ''  on youtube.

Career
Dutch started performing in the mid-1950s, with his parents playing drums in their Dixieland Band at 14 yrs old on New Yeras Eve. Later he switched to guitar playing rock and roll or rockabilly standards as well as traditional music from the Canadian Maritimes. Dutch regularly played the local twin city lounge scene, notably The Wyse Owl / Eastern Billiards, The Dartmouth Inn and The Monterey in Halifax. After discoving B.B. King and the blues, he became known as a blues artist in the sixties, he started to tour various parts of Canada. Into the 1970s and onwards, he became a very popular act and toured the country regularly, performing at the legendary Albert Hall in Toronto and the Rising Sun in Montreal. In Ottawa he played The Black Swan, The Downstairs Club, & The Rainbow Bistro

1970 - 72 Under the name   The Dutch Mason Trio   Dutch Mason (Guitar, Piano, Lead vocals) Ronnie Miller (bass) Ken Clattenburg (drums). "At The Candlelight". The recording was augmented with Bucky Adams (Sax) & Joe Sealy (Organ). It contained  Georgia on My Mind, Sweet Little Angel, Danger Zone, The Shape I'm In, Good Good Woman, Boss Man, Everybody's Talkin' (Harry Nilsson' s hit written by Fred Neil) and Soul Gravy (Dutch & Ronnie wrote this one) (there was a couple of releases of this album with different songs this list just might have them all)''

Bassist Ronnie Miller tells this tale of the earlydays

  On the first album, The Dutch Mason Trio at The Candlelight, Much of the album was recorded on one track due to the familiarity the trio had with the tunes,''

''On the 2nd album, Putting It All Together, more of a Country album apparently, there was the addition of Bubsy Brown (guitar & harmonica), who came to the session from Moncton, & Billy Budd (steel guitar). Apparently Billy Budd played on one tune and then took off due to something about his wife. He was never seen by the trio after that!''

Both albums were recorded in a gym at a high school in Dartmouth on a Sunday morning.

''On the first album, the promoter/technician asked if they needed anything before playing, a mic, amp, whatever. Dutch said they had played last night and weren't used to being up so early so all they really needed was a bucket of fried chicken & a quart of rum. Then they'd be ready. The promoter got them what they needed.''

''On one or the other sessions, the engineer said, "Stop, stop, stop!" Apparently there was a parade going by outside and there were bagpipes playing, coming through the walls of the gym, and being recorded. Once the parade passed they continued the recording.  

1972 "Putting It All Together"  This one had a lot country music ...Waiting For A Train, Here I Go Again, You Win Again, Steamroller Blues, Crazy Arms, High Heel Sneakers, Milk Cow Blues, Dang Me, What Did I Say.

1972 -75 The Jeffery brothers Jack (Bass) and Rick (Harmonica) Mike Leggatt (Keys), Gary Blair (Drummer extraordinaire) in the beginnings of the "Dutch Mason Blues Band"

1975  Janitor of The Blues  - Dutchie Mason (Jeffery brothers Jack (Bass) and Rick (Harmonica) Mike Leggatt (Keys), Gary Blair (Drummer extraordinaire))  Swing Low Sweet Cadillac, Sludgefoot, Goin ' Down, Down And Out, vocal version of Miles Davis' All Blues, Mystery Train, St James Infirmary Blues in The Dark, All Right Ok.

1976 Dutchie released the "Dutch Mason Blues Band - The Blues Ain't Bad" with Wade Brown also on guitar, Gary Blair (Drum.) Gregg Fancy (Bass) & Rick Jeffery (Harp) which was distributed by London Records. Pawnbroker, Diddly Diddly Daddy, The Thrill is Gone, Get Out of My Life Woman, Move Up to the Country, I'm Ready, Hard Times, Baby Please Don't Go, Walkin' Blues

In 1979 the "Wish Me Luck" album was released on London Records and rereleased on Attic Records in 1981. Along with songs from his "The Blues Ain't Bad" album they became to be the backbone of his repertoire. It's Your Thing, Ain't Nobody's Business, Dust My Broom, Going Down, Goin' To Chicago, Polk Salad Annie, Barefootin', Going Down Slow.

Attic Records came in and released his next 2 projects starting with"Special Brew" and  '' Give Me A Break" with his masterful musicians.  Rick Jeffery (Harmonica), Gary Blair (Drums), Gregg Fancy (Bass) Mike Leggett (Piano) Donnie Muir (Organ, Piano), John Lee (Piano) and Kenny Pineo (Drums on "Gimme A Break" only).  All augmented by incredible horn players.

Eventually arthritis forced Dutch off the guitar and the road and he disbanded his band and retired but after a while the phone calls from musicians from across Canada offering to have their bands back him up in their neck of the woods. Dutchie was back, at it touring again, but as a vocalist only.

After almost 10 years Dutch finally recorded again. Stony Plain Records released "I'm Back" with a "Who's Who" mix of Toronto and Ottawa musicians, Big Ben Richardson (Producer, Bass), Geoff Arsenault (Drums),Tony D.(Guitars), Paul "MADDOG" Brown (Piano), Tortoise Blue (Hammond Organ & Harp), Pat Rush (Guitars) Joe Toole(Guitar), Jerome Godboo (Harp), Rob Misener (Bass) Marty Vickers (Drums) Melwood Cutlery(Piano) & Rique Franks (Bg. Vocals)

In 1991 Stony Plain's release of CBC's  '  'The Great Canadian Blues Project Vol 1, Saturday Night Blues" containing his version of Walter Jacobs "Just Your Fool" and won the JUNO Award for "Best Roots and Traditional Album  sharing the that JUNO with  'The Visit by Loreena McKennitt".''   Spurred on by this double win The JUNO's decided the Blues should finally have their own category.

Which led to the Stony Plain 1992 release of "You Can't Have Everything" with Ottawa's "The Drew Nelson Band " giving it a go backing Dutch. Drew Nelson (Producer, Guitar), Steve Lund (Drums), Guy Del Villano (Piano, Organ) Brian Magner (Sax), Wild Bill Rowat (Trumpet), Suzi Vinnick (BG Vocals) and Ross Murray (Engineer & Percs.).

Also in '92 he won CBC'S listeners poll the1st Annual "Great Canadian Blues Award".

Dutchie keep touring with various Bands across Canada. In Quebec with The Boppin' Blues Band, in Ontario & Quebec with Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo with Tony D. or Steve Lauder on Guitar. In Toronto with Guitarist Pat Rush as band leader, Bruce Brooker Drums) and down home in the Maritimes with a new versions of the Dutch Mason Blues Band...Wade Brown (Guitar). Terry Edmunds (Guitar, in the 80's ) Craig Roode(Guitar)12 years, Dale White - Bass, Carter Chaplin (Guitar), Anslie Jardine (Drums)23 Years, Charlie Phillips (Bass) and his son Garrett Mason (Guitar)..... this is partial list

1996 Dutch unearths a copy of some Live recordings with the "Special Brew" musicians from 1980 and is released as "Appearing Nightly Dutch Mason The Prime Minister Blues / Live At The Boom Boom Lounge". Then goes on a short fall tour promoting the album with Ottawa's Mumbo Jumbo Vodoo Combo. Near the end of the tour a documentary is shot called "Bluesman Dutch Mason" at J.D.'s in Brampton, Ontario. .This featured said road tour version of Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo with "The Mighty Popo (Guitar), Joe Hawkins (Bass), Don Cummings (Organ) and Steve Lund (Band Leader, Drums). Which is available to see on YouTube as "Bluesman Dutch Mason ~ The 1996 Boom Boom Tour with Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo"

1998, Dutchie's 60th Birthday Celebration CBC recorded a live tribute CD that includes performances by the Nova Scotia Mass Choir, Sam Moon and Frank MacKay. In 2004, he was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Blues album and in 2005 nominated for Best Blues album at the East Coast Music Awards. on this album Dutch sings  Born Under A Bad Sign 

Dutch once received a birthday card from PM Jean Cretien, written inside.. "from one prime minister to another, happy birthday Dutch"

1999 Goodtimes with Johnny Tornado – Live Album

Live at Ottawa Bluesfest July 14th 2001, Dutch performs and is honoured by CBC Radio DJ, Holger Petersen and founder of Stony Plain Records for his huge contribution to blues music in Canada. He was backed by his friends and bandmates from over the years. The concert ended with overwhelming standing ovation. The band consisted of his son Garrett Mason (Guitar,) Rick Jeffery (Harmonica), John Lee ( Organ, Piano), Greg "Fish" Fancy (Bass), Tony D. (Guitar), Steve Lund (Drums), Drew Nelson (Guitar,) Brian Magner (Sax,) and Zeek Gross (Sax).

2004 Dutch records his last album, Half Ain't Been Told new songs and redos on some old favourites, with all star cast featuring his son Garrett Mason (Guitar), Joe Murphy (Harp, Guitar), Geoff Arsenault (Drums), Jamie Gatti (Bass), Morgan Davis (Guitar), Dave MacIsaac (Violin, Mandolin, Guitar), Bill Stevenson (Piano) & Novalea Buchan (Bg Vocals)

Dutch is survived by his sons Charlie Mason and Garrett Mason, who won the 2005 Juno Award for Best Blues album.

"Dutch was also much beloved by his fans & friends who always came up to say hello at gigs and by his fellow musicians who always came out wanting to get up to jam with him. Dutch had his own unique blues vocal & his wonderful scatting style. He was sometimes called "The Rodney Dangerfield of the Blues" & was well known for his humour and storytelling, There was many night staying up after the gigs listening to him, regale us his road stories. If i had only taped these late sessions"  Steve Lund June 30, 2024

Discography
Reissued as Dutch Mason Blues - 1979 Reissued as Appearing Nightly: Prime Minister Of The Blues - 2003
 * At the Candlelight – 1970
 * Putting It All Together – 1971
 * Janitor of the Blues – 1975
 * The Blues Ain't Bad – 1976
 * Wish Me Luck – 1979
 * Special Brew – 1980
 * Gimme A Break – 1981
 * I'm Back – 1991
 * You Can't Have Everything – 1992
 *  Appearing Nightly' The Prime Minister Of The Blues Live At The Boom Boom Lounge'' – 1996
 * Dutchie's 60th Birthday – 1998
 * Goodtimes with Johnny Tornado – 1999
 * Half Ain't Been Told - 2004