SandyBone
.. A long-time stalwart of the Canadian music scene, born in the nation’s capital, Sandy was deeply influenced by music he heard at an early age growing up in Chicago and Africa, and has since been performing, recording and touring around the globe for over 25 years. The twist is, he spent most of that time in the drum seat, and although he has played a myriad of styles and genres, his love for blues and his trademark shuffles are a dominant influence on his career to date.
~ The list of musicians he’s played and/or recorded with over the years is substantial and impressive. You may have seen or heard him on record, playing a festival, or in your favourite watering hole anywhere in or between New Orleans to Toronto, Vancouver to Halifax, or Texas (where he set his hat for three years) to Whitehorse with the likes of Pinetop Perkins, Clarence "Big" Miller, Russell Jackson, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Big Time Sara, Lou Pride, Jumpin ’ Johnny Sansone , Sue Foley, Big Jack Johnson, Sonny Rhodes, Tim Williams, Diana Braithwaite, Back Alley John, Drew Nelson, Muddy Fraser, Big Dave McLean, Johnny Ferreira, Shuggy Otis, Long John Baldry or Amos Garrett ..... you may also have seen him sharing the stage with Kim Wilson, Linton Garner, Matt Minglewood , Dutch Mason, Donny Walsh, Eddie Shaw, Sneezy Waters, Linton Garner or Tom Lavin ..... the list goes on and so does the music!
~ For the last 10 years Sandy would most often be seen on drums , vocals, and guitar with his JUNO-nominated band, The Twisters, with whom he recorded three records and won The Canadian Independent Music Award for "Best Blues Record of 2003". Sandy was awarded eight times "Best Canadian Blues Drummer" by Real Blues Magazine (1995-2003), "Best Canadian Blues Songwriter" (2003) and thrice nominated by The Maple Blues Awards , "Best Canadian Blues Drummer" (1999, 2000 & 2003 ) .
~ In the fall of October 2004, after several years of fighting with a severe case of acute tendonitis in his left (shuffle) arm Sandy finally had to lay down the sticks and leave his drumming gigs behind. Since that time he has been honing his skills as a songwriter and guitarist and has re-emerged as a force to be reckoned with, fronting his new band SandyBone & The Breakdown . Playing and singing a repertoire, much of which is original composition, the strong influence of blues, his many years in music and countless miles on the road are felt immediately, with tastes of zydeco , rockabilly, folk, country and bugaloo all making their voices heard in his heartfelt tales of life and death, women and whiskey, home fires and travel, and of course, love and heartbreak. With a brand new band full of the finest talent Vancouver has to offer and a brand new record in the works..... Make a point of checking him out next chance you get!