David Raven

2008.
Chris Ross, Drums
Mark Meadows, Bass
Mo Beeks, Keys
David Raven, Vocal and guitar
David Rutchinski-RavenBorn in Quebec City August 5'th, 1953, raised in Ontario. Started playing guitar at age 7, first song "Down in the valley". By age 16 David was in a band on the west coast called "Python". They opened for "Long John Baldry" and John offered to help them out if they ever came to England. In 1973, drummer Warren Cann and David moved to London. John Baldry introduced them to British musicians and fed the young musicians when it was necessary. Warren became a founding member of "Ultravox". David joined "The Michigan Flyers" an English band obsessed with American music. The Flyers signed with Mike Vernon’s production house which included Fleetwood Mac and Chicken shack. In 1975 "The New Music Express" readers’ poll voted the Michigan Flyers England’s best live act. The Flyer’s appeared with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Brinsley Schwartz, Doctor Feelgood, The Winkies, Big Jim Sullivan and Ray Flack. By 76 David was writing his own material and itching to sing as well. The next step was “Cards” an original band playing London Venues and opening up for “The Talking Heads” on their British debut. In 1980 David took the stage name David Raven, returned to Vancouver and signed with Radio Active Artists. His first single "Dance, Dance, Dance" established David in western Canada. The 80's were a blur doing gigs with Tower Of Power, Joan Armatrading, Ronnie Hawkins, Bo Diddley, Robert Cray, John Lee Hooker, and John Mayall. In the late 1980’s David joined Long John Baldry's tour of the U.S.A. and Canada. David and producer-guitarist Tom Lavin of the Powder Blues wrote two songs for Baldry’s anniversary album, “It still Ain’t Easy”. Released on Stony Plain it features Raven playing slide on the title track. Stony Plain picked up Raven's “Tombstone Boogie” and released it on “Saturday Night Blues”. This CD won David a Canadian Juno award in 1992. Currently based in Toronto, David is active as an original roots music artist.