Bobby Cameron Is One Of Canada's Great Guitarists" - Long John Baldry

Bobby Cameron is a riveting live performer in tandem with his powerful, original music. From acoustic to electric, from a whisper to a scream, the guitar in the hands of Bobby Cameron can evoke the full range of human emotions in a listener. He combines breath-taking technical virtuosity with emotional directness and honesty. Bobby stands alone playing and singing his songs with the consuming passion of someone burning to be heard.

Bobby’s playing is anchored in the Celtic soulfulness of his Cape Breton, NS, upbringing and takes full flight into the heartlands of Roots, Folk, and Blues-Rock. The sum of his many influences is music with a unique twist and style.

BMG Canada Inc. awarded Bobby with his platinum sales award for placing "October Skies", written by Bobby, Luke McMaster, and Jenna Gawne, on Ryan Malcolm's Platinum selling " Home " CD.

KALAN PORTER , winner of Canadian Idol 2004, is confirmed to record a song called "I'm Alive", co-written by Bobby Cameron, Stan Meissner and Joey Serlin . Kalan's debut CD will be released in the Fall of 2004.

Bobby recorded his third and latest album, Emotional Drift, in Nashville from October to December of 2002. An inspired collection of original Blues, Roots, and Folk numbers, the album was recorded live off the floor with very little overdubbing. It was produced by the legendary Miles Wilkinson, and mastered by Mark Wilder at Sony Studios in New York City in August of 2003. These Nashville sessions include Coffee Cup, Fighter Who Believes, Emotional Drift, What Are We Here For, No Regrets, Everyday and Night, The One, and Angel, and this collection of eight songs will likely be considered Bobby’s best effort to date.

Bobby recently inked a deal with Carlin America Inc., a publishing company based in NYC, founded by the legendary Freddy Beinstock. Freddy might best be known for his work as the former Chairman of Chapel & Co., where he was responsible for choosing the hit songs which contributed to the success of such notable artists as Elvis Presley. Freddy eventually oversaw the merger of Chapel and Co. with Warner Communications. Carlin America Inc. purchased Golden Phoenix Music Publishing in Toronto from industry legend Jerry Renewych. Aideen O’Brien, who now runs Carlin’s Canadian office, and Steve Scharf, out of Carlin’s New York office, are both enthusiastic about guiding Bobby’s talents out into the mainstream of the music world.

Recently, Bobby had the rare opportunity to tour with the venerated blues icon “Long John” Baldry. He was Baldry’s special guest and guitar slinger for 10 sold-out shows across Eastern Canada, a tour which began in Toronto on July 6th, 2002 and wound up in Halifax, N.S. on July 17th, 2002. One of the high points of that tour was an explosive performance at the renowned Ottawa Blues Festival, to a captivated audience of 10,000 enthusiastic fans. Sharing the bill that day were Steve Earl and J.J. Cale. “Long John” Baldry felt strongly enough about Bobby’s talent to feature him during the set, giving Bobby a chance to expose a large audience to some of his original numbers, as well as to his unique gift as a live performer. The fans loved it, and after the show, J.J. Cale came up to Bobby backstage to let him know how much he enjoyed his set. At the Edmonton Folk Festival, August 10, 2002, Bobby, with Baldry at his side, received a standing ovation from the enthusiastic audience. It was reported that Bruce Guthro caught Bobby’s set at that show and remarked that Bobby was an “amazing” guitar player. Bobby will be touring with “Long John” Baldry again in the near future.

During the North by Northeast Music Festival in Toronto June 6th 2002, Jeff Healy sat in on Bobby’s original showcase. While Bobby played his original songs, Healy added his own unique guitar accompaniment, and the two jammed for several hours to a delighted, sold-out audience. Jeff Healy was introduced to Bobby’s talent years ago as Healy was a judge during the Much Music Guitar Warz Competition in Toronto. After winning that competition, Bobby opened for The Jeff Healy Band on many occasions … more proof that he has earned the respect of well-known musicians from a wide variety and large pool of successful artists. As well, Bobby has appeared and performed onstage with many of North America’s biggest acts, including Chris De Burg, Colin James, Lee Roy Parnell, Burton Cummings, Big Sugar, Loverboy, April Wine, and The Kentucky Headhunters, to name but a few. During one of his sets in an Edmonton club, he was joined onstage for an impromptu accompaniment by keyboardist Chuck Leavell, bassist Darrel Jones, and vocalist Bernard Fowler, just off their “day job” gig performing with The Rolling Stones. For those who know of his music and his inspirational performing skills, Bobby is widely considered a “musician’s musician.”

Other notable Bobby Cameron appearances and accomplishments include:

His performance during the Much Music crowned Bobby as Canada’s National Guitar Wars Winner. Among the 1,000 entries from coast to coast, Bobby was labelled Canada’s Best Unsigned Guitar Player.

The Alberta Recording Industry Association (ARIA) nominated Bobby in seven categories and awarded him the title Best Rock Artist on Record, two years in a row. ARIA also presented him with Socan’s Songwriter of the Year award for his hit single Human Fortress.

In addition to these awards and nominations, Bobby has released, to national radio, four singles off his last two CDs. Two of these tracks made it to the Canadian Adult Contemporary Charts (Human Fortress made it to #46 and If I Wait There for You reached # 62), and his song The Other Side entered the Canadian AC Future Adds at #5. These three tracks were off his first, self-titled Indy release. The other single Release Me, off his second album Drowning on Dry Land, reached #1 on the Canadian AC Future Adds. All these chart numbers were taken from The Record. At one point, Bobby was the only Indy act to appear on the AC chart, and he was receiving more airplay than much more established artists such as Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Billy Joel, and The Wallflowers. CHUM Radio in Toronto has been a big supporter of Bobby’s music, and at one point, they were giving Human Fortress 21 spins per week. RPM Magazine also recognized Bobby’s talent for songwriting, and they placed his single If I Wait There for You in the low 30’s on their Adult Contemporary Chart.

Bobby has released three music videos, for the tracks If I Wait There for You, The Other Side, and Worn Out, which have increased his national and international exposure. All three videos have been featured on CMT Television, some receiving regular rotation, and Much Music has featured these videos frequently during their Rapid Fax segment. Much Music has also covered both of Bobby’s CD launches with full interviews and live footage.

As well as releasing singles, producing videos, recording CDs, co-writing with other talented songwriters, and performing with other famous artists, Bobby continues to tour tirelessly across Canada, expanding the legion of devoted believers in his unusual talent and inspirational energy. His magnetic live act has, time and again, won him the invitation to perform during Canadian Music Week, Music West, The East Coast Music Awards, North by North East, and an ever-growing list of other music festivals and events. He continues to develop his gift for music, and there is no doubt that we will be seeing and hearing more great things from this inspired artist in the near future.

The word is out: Canada’s best kept secret is now ready to take his music to the world.

Bobby Cameron’s Future is Now!