Late Jeff Healey star of Maple Blues Awards
The late Jeff Healey was the big winner at the Maple Blues Awards in Toronto on Monday night.
The Canadian blues guitarist and his band won seven out of 17 awards handed out at the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Monday, including best entertainer, electric artist, guitarist and recording of the year for his posthumous album Mess of Blues.
His accompanists ó drummer Al Webster, keyboardist Dave Murphy and bassist Alec Fraser ó also won their respective instrument categories.
Healey died in March after a battle with the same cancer that robbed him of his sight when he was a baby.
Other winners:
Female vocalist of the year: Saskatchewan born and Toronto-based singer-songwriter Suzie Vinnick.
Songwriter of the year: Toronto’s Paul Reddick.
Male vocalist of the year: John Mays, who heads the group Fathead.
Acoustic artist of the year: Harry Manx of Salt Spring Island, B.C.
New artist of the year: Daddy Long Legs of Waterloo, Ont.
International artist of the year: Harlem-born veteran Taj Mahal.
Harmonica player of the year: Ottawa’s Steve Marriner.
Last year’s top winners, Toronto-based Downchild, received an award for horn player Pat Carey.
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