Diana Braithwaite
and Chris Whiteley have created an album that embraces its
influences and still retains its own originality. All acoustic and
all their own compositions, “Morning Sun” is guaranteed to take you
on a satisfying and enjoyable musical journey.
Morning Sun is a
collaboration by renowned Blues artists Diana Braithwaite and Chris
Whiteley. A tribute to the classic blues sounds of the 30’s and
40’s, “Morning Sun” is a collection of original acoustic
compositions that are both contemporary and traditional. “We were
inspired by such greats as Memphis Minnie, Tampa Red, Lonnie
Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy and the famous “Bluebird”
record sound”, singer/songwriters Braithwaite and Whiteley relate.
“We wanted to produce an album that embraces a time honoured sound
while retaining it’s own originality”.
Diana
Braithwaite is an award winning songwriter and gifted
performer, she captivates and “floors the audience” singing lively
delta blues standards and deep, spiritual blues with equal finesse.
A recipient of the African – American Women in the Arts Award in
Chicago, Diana participated in the Lilith Fair Tour in 1999, and
frequently tours Europe and the United Kingdom.
Dubbed as “Canada’s National
Treasure” by Blues FM Radio Show Host Danny Marks, Diana Braithwaite
is unquestionably one of the most authentic blues singers of today.
Born into a musical family in Canada, Diana's descendants on her
mother’s side arrived in the country from the southern United States
via the Underground Railroad where they were given an acreage of
rocky land to farm in the Glenallen area. “My father was born in
Montreal. Back then, there was a lot of discrimination for Blacks in
this country and when my father found it difficult to get the kind
of jobs he wanted, he got on a bike and started collecting scrap
metal to raise us six kids.”
As a young singer, Diana grew up listening to Delta blues and
country and western records and started singing at concerts and
events with her brother’s Victor, Cecil and sister Charlane.
“Growing up, I was a sweet kid with a great big smile. Singing was
in my blood. Today, I’ve been called the Sweetheart of the Blues. I
guess It’s the colourful shows, emotional songs and the way that I
live my life on or off stage. Every song that I sing comes straight
from the heart.”
Diana’s career as a solo singer-songwriter emerged as a teenager,
but it was the opening show for John Lee Hooker at the Brunswick
House in Toronto with the Chaser Blues Band, that acclaimed her
talent as a blues singer. Later on that same year, Albert Collins
invited Braithwaite on the road to open the show for his band.
Chris Whiteley brings a
wealth of experience to the project as a multi-instrumentalist, who
has performed on over 150 recordings by such diverse artists as Leon
Redbone, John Hammond and Blind John Davis. In the late 1960’s he
performed with Lonnie Johnson in Toronto Coffeehouses. Chris along
with brother Ken, were the first Canadian act to be featured at the
Chicago Blues Festival.
On “Morning Sun” both artists
agree that going acoustic for the whole album was the right choice.
“Everything is intentional on the album. We brought who we are to
the table and molded the stories about real life situations that
made us laugh, cry or wonder what’s going on, into songs. We added
our individual styles and influences” Diana recounts, “then sat down
in the Morning Sun to sing all about it. We ended up with what we
feel is a beautiful recording”.
For more info on the artists
please visit:
www.dianabraithwaite.com and
www.chriswhiteley.com
