Toronzo Cannon

Description

“Deep, contemporary Chicago blues... razor-sharp guitar and compelling, forceful singing.” — Chicago Tribune
“Listen to a master bluesman at work... This is modern blues at its creative best.” — Blues & Rhythm (UK)
 
Toronzo Cannon is one of Chicago blues’ leading contemporary figures. He began performing in the late ’90s as a sideman before forming his own band, The Cannonball Express, in 2001. His early albums, My Woman (2007) and Leaving Mood (2011), charted his rise, and John The Conquer Root (2013) earned him a Blues Music Award nomination in the Rock Blues Album category.
 
With his signing to Alligator Records, Cannon’s career took a leap forward. His breakthrough album The Chicago Way (2016) was named the #1 Blues Album of the Year by MOJO magazine, and his follow-up, The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp (2019), was ranked MOJO’s #2 Blues Album of the Year.
 
Cannon’s impact goes beyond recordings. He has performed internationally in Canada, Europe, and Japan, headlined major festivals, and played the Chicago Blues Festival more than ten times. His story and music have attracted major media attention, including a CNN feature on his Chicago club tour, a WGN TV segment that won an Emmy, widespread acclaim from UK and U.S. blues press, and respect from peers and fans across the globe.