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Bill Stevenson (3)

Pianist / Organist / Vocalist - (born 1947 in Ottawa, Ontario) is an award-winning Canadian blues and jazz pianist, vocalist and songwriter, originally associated with the band Earth Opera, whose career in music has spanned over forty years Stevenson commenced his music career in Ottawa, Ontario, where he spend his childhood and adolescence. While still in his teens, he joined the band Earth Opera, originally based in Boston. Stevenson left the band in 1968, after the release of their first album. During Stevenson's time with Earth Opera, the band frequently opened for The Doors, being fellow recording artists on Elektra Records, as well as having Jac Holzman as producer. After leaving Earth Opera, Stevenson returned to Ottawa, where he continued to play locally for a number of years. One of his associations was as an early member of Heaven's Radio, considered to be one of the best bands to come out of Ottawa in the 1970s. As of the mid-1970s, Stevenson relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, from which his career has been based since. During his career, Stevenson has worked with many notable artists, including John Lee Hooker, Amos Garrett and Tom Rush. Stevenson is the 2008 winner of the East Coast Music Award for Jazz Album of The Year. With Tom Easley and Geoff Arsenault, he is also a 2009 East Coast Music Award nominee for Blues Album of The Year. From his web site: In over forty years as a musician Bill has recorded for Elektra records while still in his teens, opened for the Doors, backed up John Lee Hooker, put performing and recording bands behind some of Canada’s best loved musicians including Amos Garrett, Colleen Peterson and Linda Carvery. He has hosted his own National radio series for CBC. He has been a contributing side man to multi award winning albums by Garrett Mason, Thom Swift ,Hot Toddy ,and now includes his own win with a 2008 ECMA for best Jazz Album. His participation in the Jazz/Blues idiom has earned him a respected place in the national music spectrum.