Al Cromwell
Promotional photograph of folk musician Al Cromwell, of Phinneys Cove, Nova Scotia, published in the 1963 program of the Mariposa Folk Festival.
Cromwell, c. 1963
Background information
Born1938
DiedSeptember 28, 1995(1995-09-28) (aged 56–57)
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, instrumentalist
Years active1963–1995

Alan Cromwell (1938 – 28 September 1995) was a Canadian blues and folk musician who was active on the folk scene in Toronto, during the 1960s and 1970s, where he performed at Steele's Tavern,[1] the Horseshoe Tavern, The Purple Onion and various venues in Kensington Market and Yorkville, Toronto.[2][3] From Phinneys Cove, Nova Scotia, he learned spirituals, blues, and folk songs from his father, Norman Cromwell.[4][2]

Cromwell performed during the early years of the Mariposa Folk Festival, notably in 1963.[4][5]

In the 1980s, Cromwell became better known as a blues player, playing with Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Josh White.[6] He continued to be a regular live performer in Toronto throughout the 1980s and 1990s in jazz and folk clubs. He is included on the live album Grossman's Live issued in 1987.[7][8]

Cromwell died in Toronto on September 28, 1995.[9][10] He was posthumously inducted as a memorial member of the Porcupine Awards Hall of Fame.[11] An award was established in his name in the Folk/Blues category in the same year.

References

  1. ↑ Plummer, Kevin (10 January 2015). "Historicist: Steele's Tavern and the Rise of Gordon Lightfoot". Torontoist. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Al Cromwell". YouTube. 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  3. ↑ Barker, Gerry (26 October 1963). "In Town and Out". Toronto Daily Star. p. 28.
  4. 1 2 3rd Annual Mariposa Folk Festival : August 9th, 10th & 11th Orillia Ontario Canada. Toronto. 1963. p. 3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ↑ Sydney Banks (producer), George Dick (director), Ed MacNamara (host) (1963). Mariposa Folk Festival concert film, 1963 (16 mm). Screen-Bank Productions.
  6. ↑ Bowman, Durrell. "Blues". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  7. ↑ "Various - Grossman's Live". Discogs. 1987. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  8. ↑ Blair Cromwell (2013-01-21), Al's Blues - Al Cromwell, retrieved 2018-06-30
  9. ↑ "Bluesman Al Cromwell Dies". Toronto Star. 2 October 1995. p. E4.
  10. ↑ "Al Cromwell 1938-1995". Toronto Blues Society Newsletter. 2 : 9: 3. October 1995.
  11. ↑ Fruitman, Steve (2012). "1995 Porcupine Awards". Retrieved 2018-06-30.
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