Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Downchild Blues Band Say Farewell: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1576

Episode Date: November 7, 2024

In this 1576th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Downchild Blues Band member Pat Carey about the iconic band, their legacy, and why they're calling it quits. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Yes We Are Open podcast from Moneris and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

You know this next song is from our last CD. It was nominated for Juno and Donnie wrote this one. It's a special one. I love the song actually. It's a, you know all about that one in a million girl. You know the one that changes your life, turns you around, makes everything great. That one in a million.

Of course I was married four times so it's one in 250,000. But I love them all. This one for you. We hope you like it. Isn't it something I want to say? What I love about you and your special way It never seems ahead from day to day You keep me on the right path so I won't stray One in a million is warning you, huh? Now you're in war and you are

What up Miami? Toronto VK on the beat Check I'm in Toronto where you wanna get a city love I'm from Toronto where you wanna get a city love Welcome to Episode 1576 of Toronto Miked! Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities good times and brewing amazing beer order online for free free free local home delivery in 3. Local Home Delivery in the GTA Palma Pasta Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville

The Advantage to Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada Learn how to plan, live, smarter, Smarter, and Invest. Season 7 of Yes We Are Open, an award-winning podcast from Minaris, hosted by FOTM Al Grego, Recycle My Electronics.ca, committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past, and Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Today, making his Toronto mic debut is Pat Carey, saxophonist with the Down Child Blues Band. Hey Pat. How are ya? Good, how you doing? Okay good, you can hear me. I can hear you loud and clear, you sound good. Where are you buddy, where are you

in the universe? I've been my home in aobicoke. You know what and now imagine not here what you don't have to give me specifics but what part of the Borough of Etobicoke are we talking about the very southwest corner? Okay, so I'm recording the video so afterwards Will share addresses because I'm in the pretty close to the southwest corner. Oh, okay. So I'm in New Toronto, but I guess you're in Long Branch. Yeah, we're in Long Branch.

Okay. Your neighbor to the east here in New Toronto. Nice to meet you. You too, as well. You're cool if we just dive right into this? Sure. Amazing. Okay. Anything for a fellow Et uh, a Tobaccokean.

Hey, what do you, you call it? Tobaccoker, a Tobaccokean. What do you think the proper term is? A Tobaccoan silent K. Yeah. That K throws off a lot of well-meaning people. Try to get them to fill it in the U S. I've given up with that whole country. That's another podcast, right?

Yeah, exactly. Pat, after 55 years, 19 albums and countless awards, the legendary Down Child blues band is on their farewell tour performing November 12 and 13 at Hughes Room Live. It's the end of an era. Please, why is Down Child shutting it down? Why are they calling it quits after five decades? Well, nobody's young anymore, by any means. Well, nobody's young anymore, by any means. Some of the guys are pushing the age of 80, and it just gets tougher as you get older to do it. All right. So it's just time to wrap up the live performing before you're shouting out Ridley Funeral

Home. Yeah, that's pretty well lit. But you know, all of us, most of us got the, what I guess I would call the side band in Dowjowl, we play in a bunch of different bands and we'll continue to do that. So, you know, I just saw yesterday, I saw Bruce Springsteen in the E Street band. Right. Now, you know, Bruce is 75, but I mean, this guy, he goes hard for three hours, okay? I don't know if I saw him take a sip of water.

He doesn't. It's unbelievable. My mind was blown. My first ever time seeing him live, have you seen him live? No, I've never got the chance to see him live. Well, this was my first go, and I'm still kinda like like in shock by it was

unbelievable, so inspiring. But you know, he's called the boss for a reason, right? So it doesn't matter if Max Weinberg wants to keep going. Bruce decides when the band is done. Is there anything any similar nature in down child blues band like like maybe Pat wants to keep going but he's he's not the boss No, I wouldn't say that that type of situation that exists in down. So I Mean that bring scene is notorious for doing concerts like four hours and you know, four and a half hours sometimes, right? well last night he started late, which is very rare for him because he's usually pretty punctual but I He started late, which is very rare for him, because he's usually pretty punctual. But I was worried for a moment when we hit,

it was 11.45 or something, and I remember the last GO train to Mimico station runs at like 12.17 or something. Right. And I was like, oh, a 7.30 start. I didn't think I'd have to worry about catching the last train to Mimico at 12.17. Yeah, exactly.

Yeah, yeah. And you know, and it's different days now for us. In the old days, we'd be playing clubs in the US, and you'd be doing three one-hour sets, and you'd be playing until three in the morning sometimes. Yeah? So these days for us, it's mainly theater performances, and they are generally speaking 90-minute sets.

So we have a band that's 55 years old, but you have not been you pad have not been in the band for 55 years No, I joined down child in June of 1985 So maybe we start off with just a little a little history of the band for those who maybe are ignorant And then we can dive into like who you are and your role in it all but Donnie Walsh so Donnie Walsh who I'm told does not do press is that true because if I find out that's a lie I'll be so angry no no that that is correct yeah so Donnie Walsh sends in uh Pat Carey as his proxy. There you go. You know, I guess with my almost 40 years with the band,

I know quite a bit of what was going on. You know, I forget 1985 was almost 40 years ago. Yeah, exactly. It's insane. Okay, so Down Child's blues... I always want to put an S on that. The Down Child blues band forms in 1969, and it's Donnie Walsh, of course, still with the band and his brother. I mean, what do you know about the history of this band?

Well, yeah, the band started with Donnie and his brother Hock, Jim Milne on bass, I believe Cash Wall on drums, and Dave Woodward on saxophone and Dave went went on to play with Powder Blues Band when he moved to Vancouver and Nat Abraham I believe was the other sax person so it was the only rhythm was guitar no piano in those days. And then one of the great stories and I'd love to hear it from an actual member of the band. That's you, Pat, not me, that's for sure. But the Blues Brothers, okay, I'm sure you're sick of talking about this. Every time you do an interview to promote this farewell tour, they want to talk about

Dan Aykroyd and the Blues Brothers. But can you, for the record, just share with us, how does the Down Child Blues Band influence Dan Aykroyd's Blues Brothers? Well in the 70s in Toronto, Dan was running what was called the booze cam at the time, which is an after-hours club on Queen Street and he had met John Belushi through Second City and at that time Dan was working at Second City in Toronto so they were at his booze cam one night and Dan put on Down Child Blues Band, the straight up album. And at that time, John Belushi was really, he was into heavy metal.

So he heard Shotgun Blues and he went, what is that? I got to sing that. So that's basically how musically he became turned on to blues was through Dan. So it's safe to say no Down Child, no Blues Brothers. Precise? Yeah, that is totally correct. That's amazing, that's amazing. And do you know where the band name comes from? Where does Down Child Blues Band, where does that Down Child come from? There was a song by Sonny Boy Williamson entitled Mr. Down Child and that's where Donnie took the name from. Sonny Boy was a famous Chicago blues harmonica player and a huge influence

on Donnie and his play. I write a quote from Donnie. He says over this 55 year history of the band, which sadly is coming to an end, but we'll get back to that. But Donnie Walsh says there's been over 120 musicians that have played with Down Child or are associated with Down Child since it was founded in 1969. That's correct. Yeah. I mean, when I joined the band at 85, that was still going on. Guys would come and go in and out in and out. But basically in 1990 when Chuck Jackson joined the band as lead vocalist, the

band stayed pretty well, the same guys really until a few years ago when our drummer, Mike Fitzpatrick retired from music. And then Jim Casson came back in the band who had been in the band in the nineties before. music. And then Jim Casson came back in the band who had been in the band in the 90s before. So if I go to Hugh's room, shout out to FOTM Jane Harbury. I have to shout her out when I talk about Hugh's room. But if I get Hugh's room for this final, I mean, I might have to go to both nights. So November 12 and 13. Yep. But there can't be any tickets left. Are there any tickets left? I heard there was a few tickets left for the 12th.

The 13th's been sold out for a few weeks. Don't add a show on the 14th because that's also a move that'll tick me off if you do that. That's the move, right? You do the, we're doing two shows, final shows in your city, and then you add a third and all the eager beavers who bought tickets to the second show have to now buy tickets for the third show. Yeah, it's. I'm giving you marketing advice, but only there you go.

Only because I just wanted to point out with Dan Acre, like Dan, you know, major, major supporter of blues music around the world and his syndicated blues radio show that he had never think he's ever done in the Blues Brothers and he's always said that without down child there wouldn't have ever been a Blues Brothers but the back effect was of that was it gave down child the stamina you know to keep going for all those years too but you know regardless that, Donnie has consistently written original music for the entire time period, up until our last original CD, which was 2017, because the album after that was live at the Toronto Jazz Festival.

So no resting on your laurels? No. I can't just be, you know, nostalgic to our playing. I've got everything I need or shotgun blues or whatever. Yeah. Yeah. Which of course are in the show, but we've picked out tunes that expand the entire timeframe of down shop. They better be in the show.

Can you imagine you go see the final show and flip flop and fly is not performed? There'll be a riot. Exactly. Okay, Pat. So now I remembered where I was going there. So if I go see the shows at Hugh's room, who is in the band today? Who will I see on stage with Down Child Blues Band? The band today is Jim Casen, as I mentioned on drums and Jimmy had been in the band in the nineties, came back when Mike Fitzpatrick retired, which I guess was just after COVID.

So, 2020-2021, Gary Kendall on bass, and Gary sort of has the same, he was in the band in the 1970s, rejoined the band in 1994, and Gary's been with us ever since that time. Tyler Urema on piano. Tyler's a great piano player, singer, leader of his own with his own band. Tyler Urema on the rhythm. Myself on saxophone. Peter Jeffery on trumpets and Peter has been on every Downshall record since 1989 and basically he would do all the big shows if we did Massey all over things like that but for the last couple years he's been doing all the shows with Downshall and of course Donnie Walsh on slide guitar guitar and harmonica and

Chuck Jackson who was our lead vocalist and a harmonica player and Chuck joined the band in 1999. Some sad news for Chuck recently his brother Mike Bullard passed away yeah exactly very sad very sad and I should mention too that quite a number of songs and down child's repertoire are written by Chuck as well very interesting now can you name all 120 musicians I'll go for a bike ride and come right back that would be tough didn, didn't it? Okay, so I'm going to get you. Sorry, go ahead. Even just the sax players would be hard to do.

I will say the, of course, the legendary sax player for the E Street band was Clarence Clemens who passed away, but his nephew, Jake Clemens now plays the role. And Jake, like yourself now, okay, because you're now an FOTM, that means friend of Toronto Mike, you've made your Toronto Mike debut here today, and I can tell you that Jake Clemens has been on the program as well. Oh excellent, fabulous. Yeah. I'm collecting all the sax players. Well, Clarence was a huge influence on everybody, you know, he had such a sound, such a tone, and he had a way of playing that made statements. He was a fabulous player. Larger than life, right? Yeah, and I

hear Jake's continuing on with that, so that's great. You know, Jake's doing a great job. It was a fun seeing him last night. Now, let's talk about you a bit here, and then we'll find out how you end up in the down child blues band It seems to me like on this program lately, there's been a lot of Manitoba content Because only because Chantel Kravya Zhek was just here, right? I'm always shouting out this podcast from mineras called. Yes. We are open and Al Grego who hosts it He went to Winnipeg to collect all the stories for most of the stories for season seven and there's also we did an episode about um with

a gentleman who wrote a book on the Guess Who he's from Winnipeg his name is Robert Lawson. I think there's been a lot of Manitoba content lately and this is no exception because you're a Manitoba guy. Absolutely yeah I was born in the Palm, Manitoba, went to high school in Thompson, Manitoba, and went to university in Winnipeg. Okay. I'm checking with, uh, Danny Graves from the Watchmen. He said that qualifies. You are definitely a Manitoba man.

That's for sure. Especially being from the North. My goodness. That's a province I haven't visited yet. And I would like to. Yeah, yeah, go in the summer of course. I would, you know Torontonians always hear about these like mosquitoes the size of like small aircraft, airplanes. Yeah, I was gonna say either it's cold or it's mosquito season. Sounds like a beautiful place to be. Yeah. All right.

So go ahead. The cool thing about Winnipeg when I started at University of Manitoba when I was 17 years old and in the city of Winnipeg at the time, there was three full-time big bands that played all over the city. Every rock band played original music and there was at least 15 clubs that you could play for a week at a time without repeating a club at a very active music scene the the Winnipeg Symphony the Rainbow Stage Theatre it was just incredible the amount of stuff going on in Winnipeg at that time much more than

the guess who yes those three bands can you name those three bands the three oh I thought I heard you say there were three bands playing original music or no no three big bands three big bands okay can you name them yeah the Jimmy King Orchestra the Ron Paley big band and the Kerry cluner big man You know you're talking about bands with 20 20 people in them right now for a city the size of Winnipeg. That's you know It's unheard of it in Toronto. There might be two big bands that perform regularly at this time, right? Can you name them? Yeah The John McLeod Rex Orchestra, which is a great, great big band.

The Whitney Smiths, Whitney Smiths theme band is another one. And you know, there's smaller versions of those things too. The Monarch Tavern seems to be doing a lot of that kind of stuff, which is cool. Very interesting. So yeah, I like to learn on these programs. So you're educating me. Very interesting. Now educate me. I'm gonna get you

and I hope I don't put you the name of this band. I'm gonna call this band Rocky Roletti. Absolutely, yeah. It's tough to mess it up, right? Maybe give me a little taste, like when did you realize you had this gift and you wanted to be in music and be a musician and then tell us a little bit about joining Rocky Roletti. Yeah I mean my father was a doctor but he was he loved music and he

played piano and drums and violin. My mom played piano, all my brothers and sisters played piano, my sister played flute. At any house party in the pod there'd always be a little combo of guys playing live music and people around singing and dancing. So it was constantly around me. In other words, when I was 13, my father took me to see Count Basie in Winnipeg. And Eddie Lajaw Davis was playing sax at the time and it's just at the age of 13, I was just blown away.

And I went, I want to do that. Because Eddie went out front to the front of the stage. He did about 20 passes on a blues. He didn't repeat like one kind of idea. Just kept coming up with new ideas and stuff. Then he turned around, he threw his sax up in the air, and he grabbed it and sat back down. And I went, I want to be that guy. So that's where that started and when I was 17, that's when I went to University of Manitoba into the music program there.

Unfortunately in Winnipeg at the time there was no jazz or program and at the time there was one blues band in the whole city of Winnipeg at the time. So you know I was playing everything, rhythm, blues, jazz, playing weddings, playing rainbow theater. And then I joined the Rock and Roulette band and Rocky started as a basically a rhythm and blues cover band is the way it started. And that evolved where he started writing a bunch of original music. So in 1982, we won the Trans Canada Rock Contest. Okay. Tell me a little bit about this because I know this will secure you a recording session

with Bob Ezrin, which is amazing. Okay. Yeah. What exactly was the Trans Canada Rock Contest? It was, it was, I can't remember if it was actually sponsored by AM AM records, but I think it was. And, you know, they would get the recordings, they would pick the winner for Canada, and then you would get 24 hours with Bob Ezrin and his engineer Ringo. So they flew to Winnipeg. We had exactly 24 hours to do, in those days, a 45 record in A&B side. And it was amazing to watch those two guys work, because in those days

nothing was digital, obviously. So Bob and Rungo would be cutting the master tape all the time and they're like, oh my god, what are they doing over there? It was just amazing. They'd splice and cut and it was just an incredible, incredible experience at the time. Amazing. So I can, uh, I can listen to this, uh, these recordings. They're hard to find. There's a bunch of live stuff on YouTube because we did a bunch of stuff for CBC at the time, but the actual recordings themselves, I, I, I have the original, but I haven't seen it anywhere. Do you have it, uh, digitized?

No. Okay then then I was gonna next step would be get that to me and I'll splice it into this episode of Toronto Mike but you don't you don't have it digitized. No I don't don't believe so. Is it good? Well it's amazing. No I believe it I want to hear it I do want to hear it. You know in to hear you know in 1982 was part of the new wave movement Yeah, so like that that band had two female vocalists Rocky singing plus five-piece band behind them Yeah, can pick did you compare it to a band?

In my I'm thinking I guess it's sounding blondie. What do we what do I hear in my head? less poppy than blondie Spoons what are we hearing here? Maybe a bit of the cars. Okay. Okay. Yeah, but serious cars. Yeah Serious cars. Okay. Love it very much. Okay. Now while you're a member of Rocky Roletti, you guys open for a reunion of the guess who? Yes. Yeah. In Canora, Ontario. So tell me a little bit about that. Shout out to Robert Lawson, who fact checks the appearances on Toronto Mike of Randy Backman. And he's and right I just had Tim Bova Conti just came over last week I want to say and the current guitarist for Cummings Bert burden coming so I just would love to hear a little bit of like how that went

Opening for the guess who in the reunion tour all I can really remember is driving from Winnipeg to Canara in one of the worst All I can really remember is driving from Winnipeg to Canara in one of the worst center store rainstorms I'd ever seen in my life. It just like poured. You can see like six inches up front of you. But the, you know, it was a beautiful outdoor venue. We did the opening set. Guess who sounded amazing? Of course. Well, you must have been, there must have been something. I would only assume that the guess who were a bit of well you must have been there must have been something i would only assume that the guess who were a bit of a a role model for you guys i would guess coming up but in winnipeg yeah and uh different generation of course because the guess who started in the 60s obviously yeah so different style of music totally but yes that's you get an example of oh look a band from Winnipeg can have a number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 exactly yeah yeah a

lot of bands out of Winnipeg Queen City Kids Crocus I don't remember if you remember the band Crocus Graham Shaw and the Sincere Serenaders. I got a Graham Shaw album right here. Alright so there is the Sincere Serenaders. I see the first song on side one the first song is Jolene so. Oh yeah that was a great song. And the song I have it for is the song that City TV here used back in the the good old days of when they were everywhere is a pentatis I always say that wrong pentatis pentatis potato potato. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah Okay, so what I did read also is at this point are you doing work with like jingles and different radio and television show audio elements at this point?

Oh, just before you put that away, that record. It's coming back, Pat, don't worry. Susan Lethbridge, the blonde vocalist. Yep. Susan was in rock and roll lighting. You know what? You just blew my mind. There you go. My brains are all over the walls right now.

That's like, what were the odds that would be just kind of staring at me as you talked? I mean, just a gift from retro Ontario. Yeah. And here it is. Graham Shaw. And I just, it's just a, you know, Graham Shaw looking his Graham Shaw yest. Yeah. And there's the, yeah, I'm just reading the back.

Yeah, there she is. So. Yeah. There you go. Small world. You know, Graham Shaw looking his Graham Shaw yest. And there's the, yeah, I'm just reading the back. Yeah, there she is. So yeah, there you go. Small world. And I worked with Atlanta's Rambo millions of times doing various gigs around the city. It was all the same time period. Did you have good manners in the 1980s?

Don't remember a lot of the 1980s, but of way if you can remember the 80s you weren't there Shout out to Steve Anthony You know, we were doing tons of traveling in those days too. We'd play all over Western Canada. We played in Toronto And it was you know a big move and what sort of ended rocky was And it was you know a big move and what sort of ended rocky was A&M records wanted to sign rocky and the two girls But they didn't want to take the band They wanted to use the bit and you know Toronto studio guys to play on the recordings and rocky actually turned it down. Oh

Yeah, that's a noble of rocky. Yeah. Yeah, I'm gonna say the trick would be you just go and become the studio musician they use Yeah But you would have had to have been here for a long time before that But you did work many years as a studio musician. Yes. I've done tons of studio recordings Jingles anything you can imagine over the years Now if I interrupted you you were going somewhere go back to that, if I interrupted you, you were going somewhere. Go back to that. But I was going to ask you if you could name a jingle I might know. I'm just, you know, you always find out, oh, this, you know, that pizza Nova jingle that you heard a hundred thousand times. Oh, I played on that or whatever. Like, is there any jingle you are featured on that I would know?

I don't know if you'd remember but there was a jingle for Blue Mountain Resort that George Oliver had written and put together and I played sax on that. Get ready to take the ride of your life. Blue Mountain's great slide ride. Or for excitement that's wet and wild, it's Blue Mountain's famous slipper-dipper. So go for the day or plan to stay at the new Blue Mountain Inn. It's a mountain of good times. Highway 26 West of Collingwood, open seven days a week. Go on down.

But we're talking about 30 years ago? But you know, I'm of an age where I remember 30 years ago. I consumed a lot of media 30 years ago. Can you hum a few bars? No. No, that's too much here. Okay, so you were performing a lot with George Oliver in the Gangbuster. Yeah, but when I first moved to Toronto, my first gig was with Donnie's brother, Hawk

Walsh. Right. Oh, actually, my first gig was actually with Tony Flamin' the Dukes. And Tony was one of the lead singers at Down Child's as well. Then I joined Hawk's band, and then I joined George Oliver and Gang Buster. And we were playing at the Blue Note on Peaches on Paris. That used to be that club, but I'm Paris Avenue. And, uh, Donnie saw me play with his brother and he had asked me to join down child in 1984, but it was right around new year's Eve and I was doing a tour of Israel, Cyprus and Germany with a band out of Winnipeg.

So I couldn't do that, but I said, definitely interested in the future and then June of 85. But also I remember George Oliver asking me at the time he said because you know I was subbed out to do downshoud gates and he was you know you got to make the choice are you gonna stay with me or go with downshoud and I said well George I have to go with downshoud we're you know putting out records and playing original material etc etc etc right because that was my first recording in Toronto was with Donnie it's been so long And you're the thing I need the most

I got a car to buy, to walk it before, got a wish on a star that you'll be mine I got everything I need, almost, I got everything I need almost But I don't have to, and you're the thing I need the most A A big thanks to Long Branch Pat for chatting with me about the Down Child Blues Band. And an equally big thanks to Great Lakes Brewery, who also brew their beer in Southern Etobicoke. Delicious. Palma Pasta, not too far from Pat in Mississauga, and Oakville. They're hosting us November 30th for TMLX 17. Everyone's invited. Pat, I want to see you there. November 30th, noon to 3 p.m. I mentioned, yes, we are open. Al's most recent episode is about Shooter's Family Golf Centre and Restaurant. In Winnipeg, the Sarasani family transformed a modest driving range into a beloved community

hub for the past 30 plus years. Hear this inspiring story as episode 5 of season 7 of Yes We Are Open. RecycleMyElectronics.ca, that's where you go if you have old cables, old electronics. Put in your postal code and find out where you can drop that off to be properly recycled. And as always we shout out Ridley Funeral Home, Pillars of the Community Since 1921. Now back to Pat. You know, Dennis Gracious, I'm just glancing at all these awards you've won through the through the years like you've won and I'm just going to assume in the spirit of a Christmas story that this is a prestigious award.

Okay. It's not a leg lamp. Okay. Maple Blues Award. You've won multiple of these. Where are these Maple Blues Awards right now? Do you have them on display? I don't know if you'll be able to see, but I actually do. I'm going to see if I can see.

We got Maple Blues awards and a Juno Award. What's the Juno for? That was for Down Child's album, Can You Hear the Music? Yeah, that was probably 92 or something like that or Uh, no, that was in the 2000s. Okay, probably 2011 maybe okay. Okay That's all the maple blues awards Wow a bunch of teaching awards that I won a jazz reporter reporter award that Donsol won in the 90s,

and the Juno. Good for you, man. Yeah. Well, it's good to be recognized. You're doing it, I'm sure you're doing it for love of the art, but to be recognized like that, it just must feel good. Yes, absolutely. Yeah.

Makes it, you know, know that you're doing the right thing. Well, even, you know, you don't need to win awards though I say that as a podcaster who never wins any awards, but I get to talk to interesting people like you Although I'm you know, just to be full disclosure here Usually I'm like, oh, you know Pat carries in like I know he's in Winnipeg or something So that's a long drive to New Toronto. Of course, we got to do this on zoom, but just I'm just Thinking about you in Long Branch and wondering how come we're not in the same room right now? Right.

The question probably never got asked. Well, I know I asked a certain person we know and love, definitely asked, but here we are, so let's make the most of it. So tell me about the jazz navigators. Yeah, that's, uh, um, as I say, Winnipeg, there was so much different music going on. I was playing with Ron Paley and Ron Paley is the, you know, the king of Winnipeg jazz and jazz music, you know, from the time I saw count Basie that was always in my heart and I'm playing in a blues band. So it seemed you know to certain people. Well, why is he trying to put out a jazz record?

Well, that's was my true love so I put out Two albums with the jazz name of it navigators and then in 2008 One thing I've always loved is the B3 classic trios with saxophone, guys like Jimmy McGriff, Groove Holmes, you know, Joey DeFrancisco of the modern age. So I went down to New York City, Jake Lienle was living in New York at the time,

so Jake produced it for me. And that was called Jumpin' in Jersey. So that was more blues influenced jazz which is you know that's got a special place in my heart as well. Geez and you've performed with some heavyweights you know I was glad maybe shout out some like who are some of these these legends many no longer with us sadly but some of these legends that you performed with well in Winnipeg with the Winnipeg Symphony they would augment the symphony by bringing in a big band with the symphony so I mean I was 19 years

old playing third alto in the big band and we backed up Tony Bennett's Idle Hampton Sarah Vaughn it was just you know Mel Torme was another one. So at the age of 19 I was like oh my god this is just incredible. Then the funniest one I did was I backed up Rodney Dangerfield. So the band for him was an upright piano, drums and saxophone and that was it. Okay so is this, I did have a cassette of Rodney Dangerfield where he had a member there was a cut on that called rap and Ronnie oh yeah right Matt rapid Rodney sorry rap and Ronnie I think is the Simpsons parody where Reagan but rap and Rodney definitely you know he just does is I

got no respect no respect at all. I know whatever it is, it's all like his rap song. But what album is Ronnie Dangerfield recording with You Plan? This was just a live concert at the Winnipeg concert hall. And he did two shows that night, both sold out of course. But you know, when he first came on stage, you know, he came out in the bathrobe and the shoes with the socks and garters And we're going well, this is gonna be funny. Well All comedians if they're in the biz they're total pros

So it wasn't you know, the rehearsals were this is what we're doing. This is how it goes You do this you do that you do that very matter-of-fact and very professional and Dan Ackroyd is the same way as well How he's a total pro? And he introduced the tragically hip on Saturday Night Live But he never got down child blues band on Saturday Night Live, right? No, that never happened. It's not too late though It's almost too late though. It does we're close to it being too late is what I'm saying here. But you know Dan has been such a great supporter over the years. I played with him live on stage

I don't know 30 times and always you know always a total pro and great to be around. All right and speaking of legends we could talk about Leslie Gore and you know buddy guy and all these legends but Colin James. Yep. So what's your relationship like with Colin James? Colin has been our guest on a number of occasions. I think the first time he was a guest with us we were playing the Natoden Blues Festival in Norway. So we went over and Colin was the guest with us for that show. So that's how that kind of started and then you know he's been our guest at Massey Hall, he's

been their guest out west on a number of occasions. The funniest one I ever did with Colin it was a halftime show at the Argonauts game and there was no charts and it was pre-recorded. So there's three of us horn players. We're just kind of standing there. I really don't know what to do. Then on the jumbotron, there's a shot where this big horn shot comes out the recording like, and the three of us are standing there. That's great.

That's great. All right. I just did a little digging here because I saw your Juno and I wonder why you don't have three. Like because, so Down Child wins best roots or traditional album in 1992. That's what got me confused. Saturday Night Blues. Right. And then 06 album of the year for Let It Loose.

Oh, that's just you. That's not Down Child. Okay, I'm with you now. That's me with child. Okay. I'm with you now. That's me with Kenny blues boss, Wayne. So did you get one yourself or you didn't you they made you buy one or something? Yeah, you would have. I would have had to buy it.

But then 2014, I guess that's the Juneau you showed me right is for can you hear the music? Yeah. Okay. And I won't even like this is take too long if I run down all the Maple Blues award, but let's just say you practically should rename the horn player of the year after you. There's been enough of those. And you know, with Donald Child, we've won for artists of the year. Chuck Jackson's won multiple times as vocalist of the year.

Gary Kendall, bassist of the year. Jim Casson, drummer of the year. And for various recordings that we've done, album of the year, Jim Casson, drummer of the year, and for various recordings that we've done, album of the year, etc. etc. Okay, and I will shout out the album Gone Fishing because my buddy Chris and I loved that album cover. It was like a big deal. In 89, we're like, we love this album, we just love the album cover. I think he bought a copy just for the album cover. And for those who haven't seen it, you can Google it, but it's an attractive topless woman holding a fish.

What's not to love about that? Yeah. Well, now magazine compared the cover to smell the glove. You know, but for a 14 year old, we thought it was pretty sophisticated stuff there to be to be asked. OK, so now back to where we started, which is that you guys are hanging it up. So like what was there a meeting and somebody said, I'm tired. And someone said, I'm tired, too.

And then you said, well, let's let's let's call it after this farewell tour. Like, can you give us a little more insight into how you guys decide that this will be it for the Down Child Blues Band? Yeah, I mean it's a decision that obviously that Donnie had to come to because he's the leader of the band. So basically his decision, that's basically it for that. And you know, Donnie's not adverse to making the tough decisions. The man did fire his brother from the band. Exactly. And that's kind of what Donnie became the leader of down to because nobody else wanted

to. So sort of the way it started. And you know, you got to respect the man because yeah, he's he's the boss. Okay. And he also refuses to do media. You know, do media you know meanwhile you know Howard Stern is talking to Bruce Springsteen but I like this Donnie policy I'm not talking to Toronto Mike I'm not talking to Ian

Hanuman's bridge I'm not talking to Steve Paken I'm not talking that's study but you know the other thing with Donnie is the amount of songs a man has written is just incredible. And on the I believe it was the top 200 songs ever in Canada. Everything I need almost is on that list. And it's the only blues song. No, it's a tremendous, it's a tremendous song, tremendous song. And I'd be remiss because listeners of this program, typically Gen Xers who listen to Toronto Radio growing up. And we got to shout out the Q107 Toronto Music Awards because you guys did win Best Toronto Blues Group in 1989. Yes, we did. And it's been so long. There was actually a song called Don't Mind Dying that actually was played on Q107 all the time. So that was very cool.

that actually was played on Q107 all the time. So that was very cool in the military. No, absolutely. The shadow to the mighty Q. Mighty Q. So we're calling it quits after five decades. Maybe on our way out, a highlight or two because you've been with the band since 1985. Maybe not since day one, but that's an awful long time. What will you miss the most about being in the legendary Down Child Blues band?

Well, you know, we've had so many incredible opportunities and experiences. We played in Europe, we played in Scandinavia, we've toured all over. The only place I haven't played in Canada is the Yukon. We've toured from Maine to Key West Florida 30 times, as far west over as Indianapolis, you know, multi 30 times as well. But you know, it's all those special moments like opening for BB King at Massey Hall.

That's a very fond memory. Another fond memory is playing in Calgary actually in this, I think about 1987. And it was a show was down child blues band with the oldest Rush band and Dr. John and the highlight for the encore was we got to play with Dr. John and Otis Rush buddy guys being a huge friend of the band for years we played buddy guys in Chicago you know things like that are they're priceless buddy guys still Guy's still touring, right? Yeah, that was supposed to be his last tour last year, but he's still going.

But think about that, Pat. Buddy Guy's... You guys are hanging it up before Buddy Guy. Yep. I know, but he's amazing. Well, you guys are amazing. It's not too late to play the Yukon Why not collect them all like I feel like no you got it You guys got to make you do your farewell show at the Yukon and then call it quits There you go Alright quick question because I've been wondering this since uh, you know since I saw Bruce Springsteen last night, so he performed His excellent cover of Santa Claus is coming to town, right? But it was November 6th. So just straight-up Pat I want the real talk here

Isn't that too early to play Santa Claus is coming to town? Yeah With Donald so we would never done that kind of thing Regardless, you're above that. That's for sure It's it's not a doubt. I'll basically use an original band Yeah, we played mainly original music that like flip-flop and fly as a covered right? We do TV mama, which is a cover Caledonia, which is a cover but everything else is original music No, good point unlike that that hack Springsteen.

But his version of Santa Claus is coming out. It's great. It is great. No, Jake does. I noticed they the deep voice. What's that called when you have that deep voice that Clarence would do goes to Jake now. And I think they're putting an effect on the microphone to get him that low. Like, I think they're cheating a little bit because Jake, who's doing a great job. He doesn't quite have the gravita, that voice that Clarence had. Right. Well, the Clarence had the guttural thing, as they call it. So is that scandalous when I when I break the news, they might be putting an effect

on the on the microphone to get them a little deeper, to get more Clarency. Is that scandalous? No, I guess it's, you know, if it's an EQ thing or a bit of an effect, he's still playing. He's still doing all right. Pat, Carrie, honestly, uh, what a great career for a great Canadian band. I'm sad that it's coming to an end, but it sounds like there's a few

tickets left November 12. So if you guys, you know, forget Taylor Swift, okay? On the aftermarket, pick up some of these tickets November 12 and 13 at Hughes Room Live. It's the end of an era, the farewell tour, the legendary Down Child Blues band is calling it after 55 years, 19 albums and countless awards. Pat, I love this chat. Thanks for chatting with me today. You're more than welcome. And I just wanted to mention we're also in Hamilton on November the 28th.

People can't get to Hughes room. Where's that? Pat, yes. Where's the hammer? Okay. Yeah. So, okay. I'm too quick to cut out here.

Two things. So, the hammer is a short drive for somebody if they can't get tickets to Hughes room So what day is that hammer performance? That's the 28th of November. That's a Thursday, I believe we get Tom Wilson on stage maybe for Tom and Jesse O'Brien is he's filled in with down to how many times and he's a very good friend I bet you Tom can get that Clarence voice going if you want to do Santa Claus is coming to town. Exactly.

And then, so Pat, so obviously this band will be coming to an end, but you're not hanging up the saxophone. No. So let's hear like what's next for you, now that the legendary Down Child, and you know I was told you have to say legendary, you can't just say Down Child Blues Band. The legendary Down Child Blues Band comes to an end, but Pat Carey is not coming to an end, so what are you going to be up to? Well Chuck Jackson, he has a band called Chuck Jackson the all-stars that's been working around Toronto since

cheese the early 90s at least and We perform every Sunday at a place called Rock and Docs in Port Credit in Mississauga And you know gigs all over the place the Maple Blues band is still going concerned I'll be playing with that band the The Hogtown All-Stars, which is basically Down Child, but with a different guitar player. That band will be recording and playing next year. So whatever comes up and whatever comes along. Never a dull moment. What's that?

I said never a dull moment for Pat Carey. Yeah. And I don't know if you know Raul in the big time. I perform Raoul as well, and all kinds of bands. You're a busy man there in Long Branch. Try to be. Well, thanks again for this. And I want to mention as well as André Bisson out of Hamilton. I played with André quite often, and And Andre's a singer guitar player. It's all original music, three piece horn section, myself, Barry Sax player, I'm a Red Hill playing trumpet. That's a great band as well. The only disappointment I have about this chat today is you didn't hum any jingles I might know that you were featured on. I know. I would have to sing like George Oliver,

that's pretty tough. But I feel like so if you did some jingles and stuff that would be aired on CBC or CTV or Global or whatever, there's got to be one. I mean, the one you mentioned, the Blue Mountain one, if I heard it, I probably would remember it because I remember 30 years ago, I listened to a lot of radio, watched a lot of TV 30 years ago. There was no internet. What was I going to do, Pat? But there's got to be one you can drop on me here. No, you know, that's the only one that comes to my mind. But most of my studio work has always been playing on people's CDs or that kind of thing. I mean, I remember doing jingles at Metalworks Studio in the 80s, but I couldn't tell you which ones they were, you know, that

kind of thing. Trey Lockerbie And that brings us to the end of our 1,576th show. Go to torontomike.com for all your Toronto Mike needs. But if you want to catch the Down Child Blues Band on their farewell tour, there's more than just Toronto and Hamilton shows. There's a number of other Ontario shows. Just go to their website, downchild.com. Go there, pick up a ticket, see this legendary band while you can. Much love to all who made this possible. That's Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, RecycleMyElectronics.ca, Raymond James Canada, Monaris, and Ridley Funeral Home. See you all Friday with Rob Del Mundo in the basement. Read Andrew Miller and wander around And drink some goodness from a tin

Cause my UI check has just come in Ah, where you been? Because everything is coming of rosy and gray Yeah, the wind is cold but the sun's so warm to me today And your smile is fine and it's just like mine and it won't go away Because everything is rosy and gray