Keyboardist Michael Fonfara performs with Downchild Blues Band at the National Arts Centre for their 50th Anniversary on Nov. 29, 2019.At a Downchild Blues Band rehearsal session in 2017, keyboardist Michael Fonfara showed up late and a little out of it. Taking position behind his instrument, he barely played as the veteran Canadian band worked to pull a new song together. “He was falling asleep behind the keyboard,” bassist Gary Kendall recalled.
Session work was steady for the classically trained musician. What his fingers could do is in evidence on recordings by the Everly Brothers, John Sebastian, Rough Trade and Foreigner. “During a slow dance with a girl, a priest told them they were too close, and that they needed to leave room for the Holy Ghost,” his wife, Avril Fonfara, said.
Teen idol Mr. Curtola attempted to grab Mr. Fonfara’s hands in order to prevent him from playing. The mayor did the same to the drummer, but was rapped across his knuckles with a drum stick for his trouble. The show went on. After three albums, Rhinoceros was done. A number of the musicians decamped from Hollywood to Toronto, where they quickly reinvented themselves as Blackstone. The experiment in tripped-out blues-rock failed to take.
Great job Brad! You did him justice!
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