Alan Cromwell (1938 – 28 September 1995) was a Canadian blues and folk musician who was active on the folk scene in Toronto, during the 1960s and 1970s, where he performed at Steele's Tavern,[1] the Horseshoe Tavern, The Purple Onion and various venues in Kensington Market and Yorkville, Toronto.[2][better source needed][3] From Phinneys Cove, Nova Scotia, he learned spirituals, blues, and folk songs from his father, Norman Cromwell.[4][2][better source needed]
Al Cromwell | |
|---|---|
 Cromwell, c. 1963 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1938 |
| Died | September 28, 1995 (aged 56–57) |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, instrumentalist |
| Years active | 1963–1995 |
Cromwell performed during the early years of the Mariposa Folk Festival, notably in 1963.[4][5]
In the 1980s, Cromwell became better known as a blues player, playing with Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Josh White.[6][failed verification] He continued to be a regular live performer in Toronto throughout the 1980s and 1990s in jazz and folk clubs. He is included on the live album Grossman's Live issued in 1987.[7][better source needed][8][better source needed]
Cromwell died in Toronto on September 28, 1995.[9][10] He was posthumously inducted as a memorial member of the Porcupine Awards Hall of Fame.[11] An award was established in his name in the Folk/Blues category in the same year.
References
edit- ^ Plummer, Kevin (10 January 2015). "Historicist: Steele's Tavern and the Rise of Gordon Lightfoot". Torontoist. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Al Cromwell". YouTube. 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
- ^ Barker, Gerry (26 October 1963). "In Town and Out". Toronto Daily Star. p. 28.
- ^ a b 3rd Annual Mariposa Folk Festival : August 9th, 10th & 11th Orillia Ontario Canada. Toronto. 1963. p. 3.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Sydney Banks (producer), George Dick (director), Ed MacNamara (host) (1963). Mariposa Folk Festival concert film, 1963 (16 mm). Screen-Bank Productions.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Bowman, Durrell. "Blues". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
- ^ "Various - Grossman's Live". Discogs. 1987. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
- ^ Blair Cromwell (2013-01-21), Al's Blues - Al Cromwell, retrieved 2018-06-30
- ^ "Bluesman Al Cromwell Dies". Toronto Star. 2 October 1995. p. E4.
- ^ "Al Cromwell 1938-1995". Toronto Blues Society Newsletter. 2 : 9: 3. October 1995.
- ^ Fruitman, Steve (2012). "1995 Porcupine Awards". Retrieved 2018-06-30.