B.C. Read Bio
B.C. Read (1975)
B.C. Read started his musical career over 30 years ago in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing the local coffee house and house party circuit. In 1978 he moved to Alberta to work with long time friend Wilf Truchon. Brian and Wilf were a main stay in the Western Canadian lounge circuit throughout the early 80's. They recorded extensively, but never released an album. The music was a mix of roots country, folk and blues. The guys latter added a bass player and drummer and continued to work together as the Truchon-Read Band until 1983.
B.C. & Wilf Truchon (1980)
After a short stint at Red Deer Collage, B.C. joined what was to become one of the most popular ski hill circuit bands in the country. With Ron Grace and Dave MacLachlan providing bass, guitar and vocals, MacLachlan, Grace and Read was born. Again the emphasis was on the roots music from the 60's and 70's. Covering acts as diverse as Crosby, Stills Nash and Young to The Rolling Stones, from James Taylor to The Eurhythmics, the band was a hit every where they went.
B.C. Ron Grace, Dave MacLachlan (1984)
In 1986 B.C. moved back to his home town of Saskatoon, he started The Big City Rockers with some of the city's best blues ,R&B, and rock musicians. The group was instrumental in the early success of the famous blues club Buds on Broadway. For the next 2 years the Rockers would prove to be a tough act to follow. Playing major festivals like "The Hootenanny In The Hills", and opening for any of the major blues acts that passed through town. 1988 saw B.C. leave the band to pursue his solo career.
The Big City Rockers
Tom Palmer, B.C., Doug Scarrow, Al Vickaryous, Sherman Pearce (1988)
The Sask-Tel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival would be the coming out party for his new band "The Bullets". The group was made up of the best blues musicians the city had to offer. George Tennent on Bass, Sheldon Corbett on Sax & Keyboards and Brent Burlingham on Drums. Put together to back up the headliners at the very first "Blues Gardens", featuring Big Dave McLean, Brent Parkin, Jack Semple and B.C. Read. The gardens was sponsored at the time by Coors Light Beer and the band was called "The Silver Bullets". That name was already taken, so the Silver was dropped when the guys decided to continue to play together.
The Bullets (1989)
Tom Palmer, B.C. Brent Burlingham, George Tennent, Sheldon Corbett.
Through the opuses of FACTOR and the Saskatchewan Arts Board, B.C. was able to record and release an album in 1998. "My Tunes" quickly received rave reviews. It has be charted in the top 10 for blues albums as far way as Australia, Germany, Spain and closer to home on many radio stations throughout the US and Canada. Real Blues Magazine placed the album in their "Top10 Canadian Blues Albums for 1998".
2002's "LIVE" CD also helped to boost B.C.'s career on the Western Canadian Festival circuit. This was a recording of a radio show for C.B.C.'s Gallery. It was also supplemented by 3 tracks taken from a performance at The Regina Mid-Winter Blues Festival. The material was mostly cover tunes, but it shows that B.C. is a dynamic guitarist as well as a great singer. It was featured on "Saturday Night Blues" (Canada's national blues radio show) and has received lots of play on Galaxy Satellite Radio as well.
B.C. Read's new album of original music is called "Bowl of Sugar". It was released in January of this year and has already received rave reviews. B.C. recently won a SASKO Award from C.B.C. Radio for a song that appeared on the new album "(Get Yourself a) Garbage Man". The award was presented during the JUNO AWARDS weekend while the band appeared on C.B.C. Radio's "The Afternoon Edition" live.
Over the years B.C. Read has
worked with some of the biggest acts in the roots music scene. At clubs and
festivals all over western Canada. His songs have been
used in movies (Something More) and on television shows (The Incredible Story
Studio). He has also been a featured artist on Canada's national blues radio
show "Saturday Night Blues". He is also in demand for his
voice over & jingle singing (Radio & TV Commercials) and has done regional and
national spots for many clients.
He is best known for his acoustic blues act (with stand up bass player George Tennent). Most of his shows are at concert venues, festivals, restaurants or corporate functions.
But since the release of "Bowl of Sugar", "The B.C. Read BIG BAND" (10 pieces) has been doing dates in support the new recording and are now taking bookings. The show has grown and the sound is big, with a full horn section and back ground singers.
He has been involved with The Saskatoon Blues Society (as the founding president and continues as an adviser to the board of directors) in presenting "Blues In Schools - A Blues History Workshop" in schools throughout the province. This is a affordable and popular way to introduce young people to the music. For more information contact B.C. at the address below.
For the past few years B.C. Read stayed close to his home town of Saskatoon, to raise his children. But with the release of "Bowl of Sugar" he will be back out on the road. If you are interested in booking B.C. Read, please contact the address below for more information.
Photo by: Ben Checkowy
B.C. Read (2005)
CONTACT:
BLUEBUDDA MUSIC
BOX 21035,
Saskatoon, SK, Canada,
S7H 5N9
Phone: (306) 290-1272