Our History
On the Bass: Cathy Davis
Cathy spent most of her life living the blues. Born in St. Andrews, Scotland, Cathy moved to Canada in 1966. Her Father played Accordian and wouldn't let her sing with him for many years. The school choir did though and the convent nuns in Red Deer Alberta gave her vocal lessons. In 1966 she debuted on CKRD Television with younger brother James singing Nobody's Child. Most appropriate because Cathy was born legally blind.
In 1967 she was chosen to join Bobby Gimby's troupe singing "Canada" during Red Deer's centennial celebrations.
The music really began in 1972 in Vancouver's Gas town. Cathy joined a group of buskers and got the bug. There was a minor interruption when she met and married her first husband. Tough to play and raise three kids. The need to sing never went away, Cathy started singing a cappella at coffee houses taking all the kids along.
In 1979 she picked up a guitar and started writing songs. Both of her husbands died young so she had lots to write about for sure.
Cathy moved to Nanaimo in 1984 and hit the country music scence. Again interrupted briefly with the birth of her fifth child, she was broke and started busking at the liquor store. What a way to get educated! Freezing cold, pregnant and with four other kids on a street corner! The merchants complained and called the cops, who attended and dropped in a dollar for each kid!
Then came the bars and more lessons. Trying to stay straight and sober was tough.
In 1995 Cathy played the CBC afternoon show.
She studied vocals and guitar at Malaspina College earning a creative writing scholarship for her poetry.
Cathy has played everywhere imaginable from Silver Star Ski Resort to Egg Island Light Station. She has busked with her children and her brother's children all over BC and Alberta.
Cathy plays rhythm guitar, sings harmony and lead vocals as well as holding down the bass guitar position. she is comfortable with Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks and Koko Taylor. Her repertoire includes every thing from classic rock to old country and jazz standards. She also has a ton of Celtic tunes and originals.
On the Drums: Kevin Hicks
I was born in Ottawa, Canada, and moved to Nanaimo, British Columbia, a small community on Vancouver Island, Canada, when I was 3. This also happends to be where jazz-great Diana Krall went to school.
My dad and older brother Billy both played drums. Being a member of a musical family, I started plauing drums in elementary school. Playing the drums became an obsession when I entered high school. Since the age of 14, I had been asked to play with some of the local blues musicians. Because these opportunities to play were in the bars, I was asked to spend my breaks in the back hallways. As long as I promised to attend school the next day, my mother allowed me to play these gis. Keep in mind that the city of Nanaimo has a very low crime rate and I am sure that was a key factor in my mom's decision to let me follow my dream of being a musician.
By the age of 16, jazz music had found a place in my heart. I twas then that my high school band went to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. All of my practice and dedication gained me the attention of Wally "Gator" Watson, drummer for Lionel Hampton.
Our friendship remained solid over the next few years as I ran into some serious personal problems. Through these dire times, I constantly found peace in music.
Still tarnished by the past, I began to travel the world, finding more than what I was looking for. In honor of my savior, I spent the turn of the millenium in Bethlehem, Israel. That trip came to a close as I journeyed up through Turkey in order to buy some priceless cymbols.
With my spirit back intact, and the cymbols from Istanbul, I was ready to play again.
Vocal Guitarist: Johnny James
Johnny toured Canada and the United States with various bands, playing the blues and paying his dues.
Along the way he honed his song writing skills, learned a little bit of country and a lot about life.
He is an amazing singer, he can scream and shout or knock you out with the sweetest ballad.
Johnny plays a mean bass but it's his guitar that sings with the soul of a true blues man. His harmony vocal are impeccable.
From BB. King and Ben E. King to Robert Cray and even Ray Charles or Chuck Berry, Johnny has got the sound and the soul.