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In 2010, Slap Johnson & the Trowellers will celebrate their twentieth fourth anniversary as a musical institution in Thunder Bay. Their fun, energetic and engaging shows have always been a sure fire way to raise spirits, put big smiles on faces and fill dance floors beyond their legal capacity.
The Trowellers are led by irrepressible vocalist Lee Johnson who has been a pillar of the local music scene for well over twenty-five years singing in several bands including Blue Streak. He has opened for Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley and appeared at the Midnighters’ Ball starring Paul Shaffer and Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. He played a pivotal role in the Thunder Bay Brings Home the Blues fundraiser for Magnus Theatre and the Thunder Bay Blues Society’s All-Star Blues Bash. Johnson is also a funny-bone-tickling hit with audiences as his stand-up comic character, Esu Rautsalainen.
Guitarist and Tulsa, Oklahoma native, Michael Abraham was singing by the age of five and began playing the guitar at the age of thirteen. His love of blues, folk and bluegrass music has always been evident in his performances. He has appeared on stage with Colin James, Bruce Cockburn, Valdy and the Downchild Blues Band. Abraham can be heard regularly in local taverns as one third of the country-blues trio Suitcase Stanley.
Bassist, Tom Sinkins has been keeping the rhythm of music in Thunder Bay humming along since the 1970’s when he played with Ken Hamm and the Bay Street Blues Band. A skilled veteran who has performed in numerous local bands, he can write names like Bo Diddley, The Mamas and Papas, Paul James, Paul Shaffer and Jack de Keyzer on his extensive résumé.
Wayne Breiland (drums) and Hugh Hamilton (keyboards) have been bright lights on the local music marquee for many years. They both featured prominently in the Thunder Bay Blues Society’s highly successful All-Star Blues Bash.
Thunder Bay should be thrilled that long-time Troweller, David Smythe, will be in town to perform with the band. Smythe is well known to Magnus Theatre audiences from his work performing, composing and directing music for more than a dozen productions at the old McLaughlin Street theatre. Smythe has been a very successful musical director on productions for the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Centaur Theatre in Montreal and the St. Lawrence Centre in Toronto. He was resident musical director at the Bluewater Summer Playhouse in Kincardine from 1999 to 2001. Cheatin’ Hearts, which he co-wrote (with Paul Ledoux), premiered at Magnus theatre and has seen several productions across Canada, Finland and the U.S.A. In September 2005, he played at a benefit at the Lakehead University Hangar with Paul Shaffer (piano) and Tom “Bones” Malone (trombone). As a guitarist, Smythe has performed with five members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Denny Doherty, Gene Pitney, Koko Taylor, Bo Diddley and John Phillips). Don’t miss this bountiful bonanza of local talent!
Ken Wright
