Born Nov. 23, 1943 in Hamilton, Canada, the legendary saxman began his storied career playing blues clubs in and around the Toronto area where he formed his life-long collaboration with the great Richard Newell (King Biscuit Boy) and eventually into the Juno-nominated rock band, Crowbar (best known for their hit record, Oh What a Feeling). A five-year stint with Arista recording artist, Ray Materick, followed.
Afterwards, Sonny cut his first solo CD, 40 Years of Rock & Roll and all I got's the Blues.
Voted Canada's Best Blues Sax Player in 1997 and 2003 by Real Blues Magazine, and with three solo CDs under his belt and a fourth on the way, the powerhouse vocalist / saxman continues to produce and impress.
And now, he has garnered the 2005 Hamilton Music Award of Special Instrumentalist of the Year for his work on 2 Hound Blues (see below). Congratulations, Sonny!
His new solo album, Blow Your Horn Man!, is now completed and is ready for early 2011 release. Sonny can also be heard on The Terra Nye Experiment.
We invite you to visit Sonny's website, .
Crazy Street
Sonny's Rock (page track)
title:Blow Your Horn Man!
"Blow Your Horn Man!" could also be called, "The Best of Sonny Del-Rio" because that's exactly what it is - a brilliant collection of the songs that made the legendary saxman one of Canada's foremost musicians. Once again, Sonny delivers another great listen. See the various Sonny Del-Rio CDs below to access recording and track credits.
title:Merry Christmas To You
This Christmas offering is a song that brings together some of Hamilton, Canada's most important and influential singeres and musicians to perform on the Johnston, Grasley, Prokop song, "Merry Christmas To You." - a great gift for Christmas morn.
Merry Christmas To You
recorded at
A Cellar Full of Noise
by Georgie Fab
produced by
Georgie Fab
mixed & mastered at
The Metal Works
by L. Stu Young
Vocals
Musicians
Tom Wilson
Smilin' Joe Allain
Dave Rave
Skip Prokop
Jude Johnson
Ray Materick
Sonny Del-Rio
Harrison Kennedy
Byng Bell
Skip Prokop
Neil Nickafor
Byng Bell
Jesse O'brien
Jono
Big Z
drums
bass
guitar
piano
keys
percussion
title:Welcome to Saxland
The legendary saxman's second solo release is a Big Band / Jump Blues effort sure to keep ya Boppin' and Jivin'! A nice mix of up-tempo, early Rock & Roll and timeless slow blues.
Are You Ready To Rock
recorded at
A Cellar Full of Noise
by Georgie Fab
produced by
Georgie Fab
mixed at
A Cellar Full of Noise
by L. Stu Young
mastered at
The Metal Works
by Nick Blagona
vocals, saxes
Sonny Del-Rio
guitar, backup vocals
Mark Severn
drums
Jack Pedler
bass
Neil Nickafor
keyboards
Jesse O'Brien
trumpet
Carlo DiBattista
accordian
Christabel Pinto-Johnson
title:40 Years of Rock & Roll
and all I got's the Blues
A combination of various styles of music from Sonny, covering all the bases - Rock, Blues, Ballads.
Recorded in 1999 to rave reviews, this CD is a fine listen, touching on all of Del-Rio's influences.
40 Years of Rock & Roll
recorded at
Cross Eyed Bear Studio by
Chris Scroope
Chris Bromwich
Georgie Fab
Catharine Street Studio by
Chris Scroope
Georgie Fab
Grant Avenue Studio by
Bob Doidge
Adrian Nasager
Chatham Gardens by
Mike Birthelmer
produced by
Georgie Fab
mixed at
The Metal Works
by L. Stu Young
(Juno Award, 2004, Best Engineer)
mastered at
The Metal Works
by Nick Blagona
vocals, saxes
Sonny Del-Rio
harmonica
Richard Newell
drums
Jack Pedler
Bobby Hayden
Randy Scott
bass
Johnny Stone
Ronnie Lodge
guitar
Byng Bell
Ron Canning
Jono
piano
Jesse O'Brien
keyboards
Jono
title:Two Hound Blues
A combination of six lost tracks from the 1981 King Biscuit Boy album, Blues Bisquits and the 1999 Sonny Del-Rio effort, 40 Years of Rock & Roll and all I got's the Blues, recorded in 2002.
For 2005, this work received the Hamilton Music Awards nomination for Best Blues Album.
Two Hound Blues
recorded at
42nd Street Studio
by Richard Lightheart
Cross Eyed Bear Studio
by Chris Scroope
Grant Avenue Studio
by Bob Doidge
A Cellar Full of Noise
by Georgie Fab
produced by
Georgie Fab / Darcy Hepner
mixed at
Sounds Interchange
by John Stewart
Grant Avenue Studio
by Bob Doidge
The Metal Works
by L. Stu Young
(Juno Award, 2004, Best Engineer)
mastered at
The Metal Works
by Nick Blagona
horn arrangements
Darcy Hepner
vocals, harmonica
Richard Newell
("King Biscuit Boy")
vocals, saxes
Sonny Del-Rio
saxes, clarinet, organ
Darcy Hepner
drums
Claude DeJardines
Jack Pedler
Bobby Hayden
Randy Scott
bass
Roberto Occhipinti
Neil Nickafor
Johnny Stone
Ronnie Lodge
