Band Members

Donnie Walsh

Donnie Walsh, the leader and co-founder of The Legendary Downchild Blues Band, named his band from a song by blues singer, songwriter and harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson; his other early heroes included Elmore James and Muddy Waters. More than 55 years later, Walsh remains one of the most enthusiastic musicians to be found anywhere — on the rare occasions when he’s not fronting a Downchild gig or fishing up north, he can be found sitting in with friends — and he has ’em in dozens of towns and cities throughout Canada and the United States.

Known as “Mr. Downchild” since he started the band, Walsh’s fans still argue as to whether he’s a better guitarist than he is a harp player — most figure it’s a tie — but musicians everywhere give him an A+ mark on both instruments, with special praise for his slide guitar work. Younger players in the tradition cite him as one of their strongest influences. He is also the band’s main songwriter, who’s song “I’ve Got Everything I Need (Almost)” was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019, alongside some of the greatest songwriters of our time, including Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot. Unlike most bands in the idiom, almost all the material in Downchild’s shows is written by Walsh or singer Chuck Jackson. Off–stage in the summertime — between jazz, blues, and folk festival gigs in Canada and around the world — Walsh avoids the crowds by relaxing on his fishing boat.

Chuck Jackson

Chuck Jackson is Downchild’s lead singer and harmonica player; the sort of openhearted, friendly guy who builds an instant rapport with audiences. He came to Downchild 30 years ago after a long career with a number of top Canadian bands including Cameo Blues Band and The Labatt’s Double Blues Band which was the official band of the1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. An Award-Winning singer, who rates Big Joe Turner, Otis Redding and Junior Wells as major influences, Jackson is also is an excellent songwriter. A number of his songs can be heard on the many Downchild recordings. As a dynamic harmonica player, one special highlight of the band’s performances is a harp duet with Mr. Downchild, Donnie Walsh. Chuck is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the annual award-winning Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival celebrating it’s 22nd Anniversary in 2020. The Festival has become a major event on the North American festival circuit.

With Downchild, Chuck has appeared on 10 CD’s and been nominated for 7 Junos and won 2 Junos for Blues Album of the Year. Chuck has been nominated 6 times as Male Vocalist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards in Toronto. He has had the honour of winning the award twice in 1999 and again in 2007. He was also honoured in 2002 with the Toronto Blues Society’s prestigious Blues With a Feeling Award for his achievements during a distinguished career. In 2012 Chuck received the prestigious Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2013 was inducted to the Mississauga Music Walk of Fame and Mississauga Legends Row. 2017 saw Chuck honoured with a MARTY by the Mississauga Arts Council in the category of ‘Music-Solo-Vocalist. In 2020 Chuck will be touring across Canada with The Legendary Downchild Blues Band as they
continue to celebrate the band’s 50th Anniversary. Chuck is also part of the highly regarded Lance Anderson tributes to The Last Waltz – A Musical Celebration of The Band and Mad Dogs and Englishmen – The Music of Joe Cocker and Leon Russell. Now in his 31st year with Downchild and 50th year in the Canadian Music Industry, Chuck says “Being able to play the music I love and entertain the wonderful people across Canada and around the world is certainly a dream come true and one I will continue to follow.”

Jim Casson

Jim Casson is a veteran of the Canadian Blues Scene for over 30 years.  Notably spending five and half years in Downchild from 1996 – 2001. He recorded on two Downchild albums, “Lucky 13” and “Come On In.” He has also toured throughout North America and Europe and/or recorded with Rita Chiarelli, The Official Blues Brothers Revival (Musical Director), Sparkjiver, Chuck Jackson’s All-Stars, The Johnny Max Band, The Mighty Duck Blues Band, Jani Lauzon, Carlos del Junco, Bill King’s Rockit 88 Band, The Gary Kendall Band, The Stickmen, Chris Murphy, Joe Mavety and many others.  He is the drummer for the Maple Blues Band, the house band for the Maple Blues Awards.  He has performed on over 70 albums and has twice been nominated for a Maple Blues Award for Drummer Of The Year. His mantle boasts Maple Blues Awards, Jazz Report Awards, Hammer Blues Awards and nominations for Juno Awards, Genies and Niagara Music awards.  Jim has released three critically acclaimed solo albums under the name “Dark Orchard” and two under the name “The Reluctant Cosmonaut.” He hosts a weekly radio show on CFBU in St. Catharines called “Cerebral Cinema”, teaches several students and has his recording studio “The Cherry Pit” at his farm in Niagara..

Pat Carey

From northern Manitoba — just a few hundred miles south of the Arctic Circle — sax player Pat Carey is the most schooled of Downchild’s players, with a degree in music from the University of Manitoba. He played with The Winnipeg Symphony, Jimmy King & the Golden Boy Brass, Rocki Rolletti, and his own jazz groups before moving to Toronto in 1984, where he played with such artists as the late Richard “Hock” Walsh and the late Tony Flaim and the Dukes before joining Downchild in 1985. His horn arrangements are an integral part of many Canadian recordings by such artists as Jack DeKeyzer, Chuck Jackson and the All–Stars, Big Daddy G and Sunny Fournier.

As well as his many recordings with Downchild, Pat has also recorded with Rita Chiarelli, Fathead, Danny Brooks, Curley Bridges, Kenny Blues Boss Wayne, & Sam Myers. Pat has been recognized as Horn Player of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007 & 2008. In 2002, Pat recorded the CD Starlight with his own band Pat Carey’s Jazz Navigators. In this same year Pat became the President of The Iridescent Music Company Inc., a company comprised of a diverse group of Canadian musicians and business people.

Gary Kendall

Gary Kendall is one of the best known bassists on Canada’s blues scene adding a rock solid bottom end to the band’s distinctive sound. In his first period with the band (1979–83) he worked on four albums, We Deliver, Road Fever, Blood Run Hot and But, I’m On The Guest List. Since returning in 1995 he’s played on Lucky 13, Come On In, Live At The Palais Royale, I Need A Hat, Can You Hear The Music and Something I’ve Done. He was honoured with the Blues With A Feeling Award in 1993 and has received the Maple Blues Award as Bassist of The Year in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2012 and 2013.

Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Gary has also been honoured by his hometown, receiving the Thunder Blues Award from the City Of Thunder Bay and the Keeping The Blues Alive Award from The Thunder Bay Blues Society in 2002. When not touring and recording with Downchild he performs with The Gary Kendall Band, releasing two solo recordings, Dusty & Pearl and Feels Real Strong plus the download singles “This Sacred Ground” and “Sumlin Around”, all on his own 47 Records label.