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You are guaranteed a good time with The Johnny Max Band. A hard Working Rockin’ Boogie band that has been a fixture of the Southern Ontario Festival, Blues & R&B scene for over 12 years. With "The One & Only" Ted Leonard (guitar), Nashville veteran Martin Alex Aucoin (piano) and a rhythm section that includes, Bruce Longman & Duncan McBain.  There is no better place to be, than  at a Johnny Max Band Show. Having just completed their 4th CD, "A Lesson I've Learned" they are showcasing their new line up all over Southern Ontario.

With their mixture of Muscle Shoals/Stax Soul, traditional Chicago style Blues a bit of old fashioned country and, as always, a dopple of R’n’B,they are a crowd pleasing, hand clapping, get yer feet movin’, get up outta yer chair, kind of band, no matter what or where they are playing. They are the sound that makes them The Hardest Working Band Around"

They are now  playing at the many Festivals around Southern Ontario & Western New York. You gotta come out and see why they have shared the stage with the likes of Downchild, Morgan Davis, Mel Brown, Jack DeKeyzer, Fathead, Jeff Healey and David Rotundo, and the list grows.  From Niagara to The Gaspe, there's only one thing to say, You are guaranteed a good time when The Johnny Max Band is here to play!!!!

JOHNNY MAX

Johnny is a soulful singer whose respect, and passion for all types of music is evident. He is also a brilliant entertainer who has audiences thoroughly enjoying each show. Johnny Max has built up a solid reputation as one of those guys who gives 110% and is one of the most action-packed and satisfying entertainers around. Johnny takes to performing like a fish to water, a perpetual motion machine, galvanizing his spicy blend of Stax/Volt, Atlantic, Funk, and Blues into frenzied heights, often propelling himself into the audience’s eager arms.

DUNCAN MCBAIN

Duncan started off playing with the Good Bros. and Canadian Zephyr. He then formed a band with Garth Bourne from Canadian Zephyr. In 1984 Dunc was introduced to Morgan Davis by a mutual friend. His straight ahead style and impeccable timing grew into two years of playing with Morgan, which led to playing with Michael Pickett, Dutch Mason, Hock Walsh, and various members of the Downchild Blues Band. While playing in the late 80s with The Headhunters, Dunc met Tom Barlow and played with Tom for the next 14 years. Dunc is currently the drummer for Stratochief, The Johnny Max Band, The Grant Lyle Band, and The Vaughn Passmore Trio. Duncan’s claim to fame (and he’ll make sure to tell you) is that the McBean tartan flag on the moon was delivered by Allan Bean from the Apollo 12 mission.

TEDDY LEONARD

Teddy Leonard has been a guitarist in the Canadian roots scene for more than 25 years.  As a member of the seminal roots collective "Fathead" he has recorded 5 CD's and garnered two Juno nominations {taking home the prize in 1999 for "Best Blues Recording"}.  The next year he was honored as "Guitarist of the Year" at the Maple Blues Awards.  As support for Handy and Juno nominee Paul Reddick he has toured Europe and Canada in recent years. Stints with Colin Linden, Morgan Davis and Pork Belly Futures have taken Teddy to New York City, Memphis, Austin and Washington D C.  While recording and playing have been his mainstays composing has landed him on many other artist's discs and soundtracks. Having shared the stage with BB King, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko of The Band Teddy continues to be in demand as a performer.

MARTIN AUCOIN

“Man, he can, outright, play” is what you hear about Martin Aucoin. He doesn’t just play, He lets you hear what he’s saying. Martin has played keyboards in numerous country and R&B bands around Toronto, including Morgan Davis, and Jack DeKeyzer, before moving to Nashville in 1990. He then toured with BJ Thomas for a year and a half. He also played on recording sessions for George Strait, Garth Brooks, Confederate Railroad, and John Michael Montgomery. He has played live with Larry Carlton, Tony Joe White, Bo Diddley, Ricky Van Shelton, Alan Jackson, Alex Harvey, the Drifters, Mark O'Connor, as well as having a 4 year gig at the Grand Ole Opry with Jimmy C. Newman, the great Cajun singer.

BRUCE LONGMAN

Bruce Longman is best described as "so far in the pocket, it doesn't get any deeper". He has been a working musician for 27 years in Canada with stints in the U.S. and as far away as Japan. After playing for many years
in the northern Ontario circuit , Bruce joined the delta/roots band Slowpoke with Eddie Baltimore where he moved from guitar to bass and stayed for 10 years. He is also a part of the Desperate Sidemen with Bill Candy and Gary Taylor.  He has shared the stage with many of Toronto's finest performers including Eddie Baltimore, Chuck Jackson, Vigil Scott, Michael Fonfara, Steve Grisbrook, Rod Phillips, Bill Candy, Jimmy Bowskill, Kevin Higgins, Tony Springer, Penny Skolski, Wickens/Night and many, many others to mention.  He sings like a bird, too!!!

 

Check out Johnny's myspace site

 

 

 

Johnny Max Band Alumni

 

KEVIN "LIGHTNIN" HIGGINS

Kevin started the band along with Johnny. Phenomenal guitarist and a great teacher.  Kevin left the band in 2006 wanting to spend more time with his family.  He is on the first 3 CD's

 

BILL KEELEY

Bill was the first Bass player with the band and played on the first two CDs.  He also played with Morgan Davis & David Wilcox.  Bill passed away in 2005.

 

ULI BOHNET

Bass Player from 2005-2007.  Uli played on "Ride and Roll".  One of the stalwarts in The JMB.  Another one of the first call Bass players in the city and always a member of The JMB.

 

BOB VESPAZIANI

One of the finest Roots drummers (and I do mean Roots!!!) in the city.  Played in the band form 2000-2003 and plays on the "In The Doghouse...Again" CD.  Plays with Julian Fauth, Mark "Bird" Stafford among others.

 

GARTH VOGAN

The composite Bass player and a good friend.  Always a first call player.  Played with our good friend Joe Ingrao and with Chuck Jackson & The All Stars among others.  Plays on "A Lesson I've Learned".

 

EDDIE DAILIDE

The JMB's first drummer and probably the loudest snap on a snare you have ever heard.  A consummate groove machine.  Played on The first CD "Long Gone Train".  Now plays down in the States with a  number of bands.

 

JIM CASSON

One of the most trusted drummers Johnny knows.  Plays in Johnny's Soul Reason Revue, The Regal Blues Band, The JMB, and many other permutations.  Jim also designed the CD packages for the last 3 CD's and is our webmaster.

 

STEVE GRISBROOK

A fantastic guitarist & showman and one of Johnny's best friends and sometime partner in a number of duo/trio permutations.  Played and led Midnite Walk (with Rod Phillips & Garth Vogan), also played with Chicago Pete and Chuck Jackson & The All-Stars.  Has a brand new CD out www.stevegrisbrook.com 

 

DYLAN WICKENS

Wickens is a two time winner of the Toronto Blues Society's New Talent Search with his former band "The Dylan Wickens Band" and also with "Soulstack".  He was also a nominee at the Maple Blues Awards in the "Best New Artist" categorey with Soulstack.  Presently he writes, records, and performs with Soustack, The 9s, and plays guitar with Johnny Max and the Heart Attacks.
WAYNE "SHAKEY" DAGENAIS

Wayne began playing piano by ear at age 11.  Has performed in rock, country, blues, R 'n B, and theatre ensembles since his early 20's including performing all over Florida with jump/blues band The Regulators, & Clarksdale, Mississippi based artist/musician Stan Street and the Streetwalkers, rock/blues outfit Dave Shelley and Bluestone, and Gabriel Butterfield (son of blues legend Paul Butterfield.), and Electric Flag singer/saxophonist  Maurice Jacox (vocal coach to Johnny Lang).  Most recently a full-time member The Gary Kendall  Band.  He has backed up Carl Weathersby, Phil Guy, Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whitely in concert.