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Biography
orphan|date=August 2010BLP sources|date=February 2009Infobox musical artist| name = Marshall Lawrence| image =| alt =| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name =| alias =| birth_date = 1956| birth_place =| death_date =| death_place =| origin = Windsor, Ontario|Windsor , Ontario , Canada | instrument = Harmonica Steel-string acoustic guitar | genre = Blues , rock music|rock | occupation =| years_active = | label =| associated_acts =| website = URL|www.doctorblues.com/| notable_instruments = Marshall Lawrence (born 1956) is a Canadian acid blues musician. Lawrence is often referred to as the "Doctor of the Blues."cite web|url= http://www.ejazznews.com/modules.php? op=modload& name=News& file=article& sid=3017& mode=thread& order=0& thold=0|title=Marshall Lawrence Band - ''Where's the Party? |last=Brake|first=Eddie|date=2004-04-18|publisher=eJazzNews|accessdate=2009-02-27
Biography
Maple Blues Award Nominee and Canadian Independent Music Award Nominee, Marshall Lawrence "Doctor of the Blues" is a true “Prairie Bluesman”. Marshall has been inducted into the Blues of Hall of Fame® as a Great Blues Artist from Canada. Marshall performs acoustic slide & finger-style blues and roots with a true and genuine blues feel. He performs as a solo act, just Marshall and his National guitars creating an intimate acoustic experience. His music is described as Neo-Delta Blues & Roots - delta-style blues and roots with a raw edge & an acid twist.
Marshall has co-produced and released 3 CDs “Where’s the Party” (2003), “The Morning After” (2008), and “Blues Intervention” (2010) to wide critical acclaim. “The Morning After” and “Blues Intervention” have charted in the Top 10 on Canada's Roots Music Report - for radio play and in the Top 10 on Roots Music Report - Roots Blues – Top 50 Blues (International) - for radio play. Marshall is currently recording his 4th acoustic blues & roots CD.
Of course nothing can take the place of one of Marshall’s amazing live shows, each one a shot of rough-edged, high-energy, Delta-style sounds with an acid twist sure to delight long-time traditionalists as well as newer, perhaps less-reverent converts. As festival, theatre, and club audiences have been finding out, the best place to get a dose of Marshall’s medicine is right in front of the stage. Thanks to his jaw-dropping technique, moving delivery, and engaging persona, crowds of all walks and ages have been blown away.
Early years
Lawrence became interested in rock and roll at age 10 and asked his father for a Steel-string acoustic guitar|guitar . Lawrence enjoyed his Echo semi-acoustic guitar and was determined to learn how to play it, inspired by Jimi Hendrix .
Lawrence played his first gig in 1969 at Windsor, Ontario , under a band named The Peanut Gallery, playing a 1969 Gibson SG through a Fender Showman|Fender Dual Showman blew an amp on " Johnny B. Goode ." As a teen , he spent most of 1970s and 1980s exploring guitar rock styles, while he was employed at a car factory in Windsor. Later on in his life, Lawrence moved east to Kingston, Ontario|Kingston to pursue a Ph.D in psychology .
Start and growth
Lawrence followed the techniques of his famous idols then through buying albums from Chuck Berry , Johnny Winter , the 1970s all-star power guitarists, and found himself coming home to the blues of B.B. King . Next, Lawrence discovered Eddie Hazel from Funkadelic , a Jimi-inspired guitarist who blended funky James Brown . His style at that timed was considered popular. Lawrence began to play 1970s funk , Groove (music)|groove and reggae with the groups Masala and Shock Walter . Simultaneously, Lawrence began experimenting with MIDI technology, by playing Tower of Power -style horn lines, a solo flute and digital FX on his Roland-equipped Strat.
Life without music
By 1996, Lawrence started to feel he matured well enough in blues music. He returned to singing blues with the Marshall Lawrence Band. His work brought him to Northern California where he could not find any blues scenes to play at, because of not being familiar with the area. Without music there for him, he purchased and learned how to play a mandolin . Then he played for a local bluegrass music|bluegrass band by the name of the Tubtones. According to Lawrence, this taught him a great deal about rhythm and contributes to his current sound.
Return to Canada
In the latter year, Lawrence turned back to Canada, where in north Edmonton news was arousing about an active and talented blues community. In less two weeks of relocating, he formed the R& B group named Rhythm Chil'un, and securing a house gig at Brandy's Blues Bar. As a blues-like tone of music formed in the place, the Marshall Lawrence Band was born again. The music can be described as a high-soaring, classic, and original sound of blues filled with passionate and serious approach.Citation needed|date=February 2009 His album ''Where's the Party pays tribute to great veterans of blues music.
Technique
Lawrence mixes many styles of blues to his music. Henceforth, he is given the nickname "The Doctor of Blues." His music can be described as a fierce, energetic blend of blues , rock music|rock , soul music|soul , and funk . Together he calls it "acid blues." Another way to describe his technique is a tribute to traditional blues, but mixed with an energetic style.
Press Highlights
“…. Few artists can match Marshall Lawrence’s solo acoustic presentation. A gifted translation of Delta blues expression… Blues Intervention should cement Lawrence’s reputation as a neo-Delta visionary…. “ Living Blues
“... Marshall belongs to the group of artists such as Taj Mahal, Roy Bookbinder and Corey Harris who just like Marshall knows how to put new life into the old traditional Delta Blues style with an injection of raw energy and boundless enthusiasm ..." Rootstime
“… When it comes to building a solid foundation of Blues Music in Canada, there is a new cornerstone being laid and standing firmly on top of that stone is one of our truest Ambassador's of the Blues, Marshall Lawrence. For those that know Marshall, they know that he eats, breathes, lives, and loves the blues, and now with his newest release, "Blues Intervention", everyone else will be well aware of that too…” Blues Underground Network
“… Blues Intervention, from start to finish, is 13 tracks of pure delight….. well-crafted songs and exquisite resophonic guitar… Blues Intervention is a brilliant mix of storytelling and traditional blues…” … Penguin Eggs – the folk, roots, and world magazine – Tenth Anniversary Issue, Summer 2010
"... It's still delta-style country blues, but new. In fact, I think Lawrence is following in the footsteps of some very important artists like Bernie Pearl and Corey Harris and Taj Mahal in the way that he is at once historical musicologist and contemporary interpreter...." The Sunday Night Blues Project
"... The sometimes very fast finger style of Marshall makes me sometimes think about the acoustic earlier work of Johnny Winter... " Rootstime magazine
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.doctorblues.com/index.php? page_id=3 Marshall Lawrence website
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marshalll CD: ''Where's the Party?
Persondata | NAME =Lawrence, Marshall | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Doctor of the blues | SHORT DESCRIPTION = Maple Blues Award Nominee & Canadian Independent Music Award Nominee Marshall Lawrence "Doctor of the Blues" performs acoustic slide & finger-style acid blues & roots with a raw edge and an acid twist. Marshall is inducted into the Blues of Hall of Fame® as a Great Blues Artist from Canada. | DATE OF BIRTH = 1956 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Marshall Category:1956 births Category:Date of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Canadian blues singers Category:Canadian blues guitarists
