About
Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon finds his inspiration from his perch behind the wheel of a Chicago Transit Authority bus four days a week. He sees all the problems and potential of the poor neighborhoods on the city's South and West Sides, and he turns those scenes into the songs he takes to the local blues bars and clubs-and to gigs worldwide. He has become one of Chicago's most recognized and popular bluesmen, building his audience one roof-raising show at a time.
When Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf brought the Mississippi Delta blues to Chicago in the 1950s and added electric guitars and a rocking rhythm section, they transformed a rural sound into an urban one without losing the music's roots in southern black life, or its themes of survival, determination, and humor in the face of it all. They also ignited a competitive local club scene where only the best rise to the top, including iconic blues musicians like Koko Taylor and Luther Allison. All pay their dues in Chicago's blues bars, and Cannon is no exception.
Like the greats before him, blues is his calling. Cannon grew up in the shadows of Robert Taylor Homes, the notoriously tough housing project on Chicago's South Side. Theresa's Lounge, one of the city's most famous blues clubs, was nearby. When he was young, he would stand on the sidewalk outside the door, soaking up the live blues pouring out while trying to sneak a glance inside at larger-than-life bluesmen like Junior Wells and Buddy Guy. While Theresa's Lounge closed in the early '80s, before Cannon picked up a guitar, the lessons he learned in those early days shaped his sound.
Cannon has been nominated for several 2017 Blues Music Awards, including best album and best song. With blistering guitar and soul-baring vocals, his songs tell timeless stories of common experiences in uncommon ways.