Joe Butcher - bass/vocals

As the bass player, back-up singer bandleader and road manager for country star George Canyon, Joe Butcher has earned a reputation as one of the most respected bass players in Canadian country music. A 2006 nominee for Bass Player of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards, Butcher has been playing since age 10. He has also performed with Dave Gunning, Lennie Gallant, Aaron Carter, Rex Goudie, Grand Derangement, Terry Kelly, Mary Jane Lamond, J.P. Cormier, Bruce Guthro and Beverley Mahood, among many others. A mainly self-taught player, he grew up playing blues and soul music before moving onto hard rock and now the country, folk, roots and pop genres where he works most often. Influenced by Mark King, Stanley Clark, Tower of Power and Louis Johnson, Butcher has evolved into a fan of many forms of music, and lately finds inspiration in country, gospel and Christian music. A sought-after touring musician, Butcher has played all over the world, including shows in France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Mexico, Romania, Japan and extensively throughout North America. He is also skilled as a session musician, performing on George Canyon's Somebody Wrote Love (Universal Music Canada) and Dave Gunning's Christmas record. When he is not on tour, Butcher performs weekly at Halifax's Pogue Fado as bass player and co-lead vocalist for Soul Kitchen, an R&B and soul cover band. Gear: Tobias Signature electric bass and an EL Capitan acoustic bass, Eden amplifiers and cabinets. Radial Bassbone. Endorsed by Gibson Guitars, Eden Amplifiers and GHS strings.