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Chris Whiteley was born in 1948 in Manhattan, Kansas. Brother Ken was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania in 1951. They’ve lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada since 1956.
Chris and Ken began performing professionally in 1965.
They play over 20 different instruments, prominently featuring Chris on trumpet, harmonica, guitar and vocals and Ken on 6 & 12 string guitars, mandolin, piano and vocals.
They have appeared on well over 150 recordings including work with John Hammond, Blind John Davis, Leon Redbone, Curly Bridges, folk artists like Tom Paxton, Sylvia Tyson, Stan Rogers, Cathy Fink and most of North America’s finest children’s artists. A complete discography is available.
Live appearances have included over 100 folk festival appearances, club and concert performances across Canada and in the United States. They are frequently featured on CBC Radio and have been on a number of TV shows including Saturday Night Live. Their invitation to the 1993 Chicago Blues Festival marks a first for any Canadian group.
“Bluesology” received the Best Blues Album of the Year Award from the Jazz Report Canadian Jazz Awards. They’ve received 8 Juno nominations including for “Sixteen Shades of Blue”, Chris’ “Blues Party”, and... Read More ... Ken’s work with Scarlett, Washington & Whiteley.
“Taking Our Time” features the Whiteley brothers in an outing of all original songs. In it they play all the instruments themselves (21 in total). Maple Blues has said of it, “some of the best new songs I have heard anywhere”.
In 2009, they received 4 nominations at the Maple Blues Awards. Chris received the prestigious Blues With A Feeling Award (lifetime achievement) and Horn Player of the Year. In addition, Chris and Diana Braithwaite received the Songwriter of the Year and Ken was nominated for the Blues With A Feeling Award too. The Brothers have received a total of 13 nominations, including Chris’ 4 wins.
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