Jimmy Lee
Walkin or Ridin
Harrison Kennedy is a Canadian electric blues R&B/Soul blues singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for being the lead vocalist of the group Chairmen of the Board, but has had a varied solo career since the mid-1970s. He was awarded the 2016 “Blues Album of the Year” Juno Award for his release, This Is From Here. It was Kennedy’s sixth nomination for that Award. He is also a Blues Music Award and multiple Maple Blues Award nominee.
Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, His family had roots in New Orleans and Tennessee, and his uncle was the noted Canadian blues musician, Jackie Washington. Harrison grew up in a house filled with music and famous visitors such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Lonnie Johnson.
In 1968 Harrison joined the Detroit POP GROUP “The Chairmen of the Board” with whom he toured the world and played all the top venues including JOHNNY CARSON’S TONIGHT SHOW, SOUL TRAIN, AMERICAN BANDSTAND and ENGLAND’S “TOP-OF-THE-POPS’. Their most famous hit was “Gimme Me Just A Little More Time.” Chariman of the Board had performances with B.B. KING, JAMES BROWN, SMOKEY ROBINSON, STEVIE WONDER, FUNKADELICS and many more. They also performed many times at New York’s Famous HARLEM’S APOLLO THEATRE.
Harrison is nominated along with Keb Mo and others at the 2021 – 42nd Blues Music Awards in Memphis in the Acoustic Blues category.
