David Vest

David Vest
Born November 2, 1943
Huntsville, Alabama
Origin Birmingham, Alabama
Genres Blues
Occupation(s) musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Piano
Years active 1957–present
Labels Cordova Bay Records
Associated acts Paul deLay Blues Band
Website www.davidvest.ca
Notable instruments
piano

David Vest (born November 2, 1943) is a blues piano player and songwriter from Huntsville, Alabama. Vest is currently signed to the Canadian Independent label, Cordova Bay Records, and lives in Victoria, Canada.[1]

History

Vest was born in 1943, and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He learned to a play on a used piano his grandmother had delivered to their house in West End, a few blocks away from Ensley's Tuxedo Junction.

He played his first paying gig at the age of 14.[2] He has worked professionally as a pianist from the age of 15, in 1957.[3] In the 1960s Vest played seven nights a week at Pappy's Club with Jerry Woodard and The Esquires. On New Year's Day 1962 he opened for Roy Orbison.[4] He backed Big Joe Turner in the 1960s and later toured with Jimmy T99 Nelson, Floyd Dixon, and Lavelle White, as well as the rockabilly group Bill Black's Combo. David Vest was also the co-leader of the Paul deLay Band.[5]

He currently lives in Victoria, Canada, with his wife.[6]

Awards and achievements

David Vest was voted 2012 Maple Blues Keyboard/Piano Player of the Year by The Toronto Blues Society.[7] His 2012 album East Meets Vest, was also nominated for Maple Blues Recording Of The Year.[8]

David Vest has received five Muddy Awards from the Cascade Blues Association, including the Best Keyboard Player. He has also played piano on Bill Johnson's JUNO-nominated album Still Blue and on David Gogo's 2014 JUNO-nominated record Come On Down.[9]

His 2014 album Roadhouse Revelation charted on the !earshot (NCRA) national Top 50 at #24 on the week of June 10, 2014.[10] The release also charted at No. 1 on the Roots Music Report Chart.[11]

Discography

Solo

[12]

References

  1. Talmey, Brian. "David Vest revives a blues era on new album". www.martyrmagazine.ca. Martyr Magazine. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  2. Conner, Shawn. "Q&A: Roots musician David Vest". www.vancouversun.com. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. "David Vest CD Release Party at Hermann's Jazz Club". www.harbourliving.ca. Harbour Living. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  4. Conner, Shawn. "Q&A: Roots musician David Vest". www.vancouversun.com. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  5. http://www.hornby-blues.bc.ca/instructors/davidvest/
  6. Chamberlain, Adrian. "David Vest has seen it all, including knife fights and shootings". www.timescolonist.com. Times Colonist. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  7. "Keyboard Legend David Vest is Coming to the Dominion Hotel". www.madeinhaliburton.ca. Made In Haliburton. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. www.westcoastblues.ca. West Coast Blues http://www.westcoastblues.ca/Maple_Blues_Awards.html. Retrieved 22 October 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. Adams, Pilar. "Pilar's Picks: David Vest". www.ottawalife.com. Ottawa Life. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  10. www.earshot-online.com. Earshot Online http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=101&dWeekOfID=2014-06-10. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. Brown, Chris. "David Vest rolling back to Bow Island". www.medicinehatenews.com. Medicine Hat News. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  12. David Vest's official web site. http://www.davidvest.ca