A Lifetime of Good Gigs and Great Friends
Ali and Hank talk about gigs, friends and art spanning a 6-decade career and always Keeping it Live!
About the Guest:
Meet Hank Lionhart an absolute force on and off stage!!
I was born in North Battleford Saskatchewan on April 7, 1947. I grew up in Stettler Alberta where my Dad owned the Drive Inn Movie Theatre. After Graduating High School I went to Seattle Washington to attend the Burnley School of Professional Art. After graduating I moved to Edmonton and secured a Job as a Fashion Illustrator for Woodwards’ Department Store. I moved along to work as an Art Director at Baker Lovick Advertising in Edmonton. I eventually moved to Victoria BC and worked for Palmer Jarvis Advertising for about 5 years then transferred to head office in Vancouver for an additional 10 years. After this, I freelanced and eventually left North Van for Edmonton. I spent about 7 years back in Edmonton where I met my beautiful and talented wife Lil Kim. We relocated to Victoria 9 years ago. We now reside in Sidney and I do a bit of freelance artwork and now do a lot of fine art with my Tribute to Legendary Blues Artists Portrait Series.
Along with this timeline, I did start my music journey with a band called the Clouds during my years at Art School in Seattle. After moving back to Edmonton I joined a group called the Sons of Adam after this band I had a band called Sweet Salt which eventually became Coloured Rain and we toured all over Western Canada playing the Cabaret Circuit. I relocated back to Edmonton and joined a band called Hot Cottage this is where I fell in love with the blues. After 5 years in this band, I moved back to Victoria and started Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band, we had a lot of success for about 4 years getting signed by RCA releasing 3 CD’s and opening for Muddy Waters, Joe Cocker, George Thorogood, James Cotton and many more. I eventually moved back to Vancouver where I formed the R&B Toasters this band was a mainstay on the R&B and Blues Scene during Expo 86 opening for the Neville Brothers, John Mayall, Koko Taylor, and more. We eventually hooked up with Jack Lavin of Powder Blues Fame and became known as the Kingpins we recorded 2 CDs and had a decent amount of success. I then moved back to Edmonton and formed Big Hank and a Fist Full of Blues for 7 years and recorded two CDs. I moved back to Victoria about 9 years ago and resurrected Uncle Wiggly’s and the Kingpins and currently Have my main band the Smoking Hot Toasters and my Trio the Blue Hearts. It has been a crazy trail but I have and still do love every minute of it…
As I always say Keep it Live
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