Michael Pickett

Over more than three decades Michael Pickett has sustained a distinguished career as an award-winning recording artist devoted to the blues. Serving as lead vocalist and harmonica player for the pioneering groups Whiskey Howl and Wooden Teeth throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he expanded the reach of blues-rooted music throughout the Toronto region. In 1981 he assembled the Michael Pickett Band, drawing on a rotating lineup of the city’s leading blues players. Under his leadership the ensemble earned recognition for its energetic, soulful interpretations of both original songs and blues standards. The band’s first tour of Germany and Austria in 2001 proved highly successful.

In 1998 Pickett issued his debut album, the all-original Blues Money, which earned a Juno nomination along with Blues Album of the Year honors from both Jazz Report and Real Blues. He also received the Maple Blues: Blues With a Feeling Award for his dedication to the genre. Conversation With the Blues, released two years later, brought another Juno nomination and a Canadian Indie Music award for Blues Album of the Year; the set blended ten original pieces across varied styles. His extensive credits encompass recordings, film, radio, and television work. He has shared stages with John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, John Hammond, and Sunnyland Slim, and has opened for James Cotton, Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters, and Son Seals at venues from Massey Hall to New York’s Village Gate. Continuing to appear in clubs and on jazz and blues festival stages throughout the United States, Pickett captivates listeners with his singing, harmonica playing, and distinctive musical artistry.