Songs For The Revolution
Tuesday July 23rd, 2024 with Christophe Elie
Maria Hawkins - Ottawa's Queen of the Blues

The incomparable Maria Hawkins will be joining me on today's show. She's been called Ottawa's Queen of Blues, and I concur. She has been a mainstay as part of Ottawa's music scene for decades now. Maria began early with singing lessons at just 5 years old, she has been known to say "I was born a singer and I will die a singer". Maria along with having her own Blues bands through the years, including a lot of her work with Greg Szepietowski, Maria has always been a facilitator, providing opportunities for others, as well she had a focus on introducing children to music that includes, Blues 4 Kids to Blues in the Schools, a program that was granted the WC Handy Award and that persists today. Her name is literally on the wall at City Hall, I guess you didn't know Maria was also a graffiti artist.. kidding aside, along with the City's acknowledgement of her as a Community Builder, she was acknowledged by the National Arts Centre of Canada for Artistic Excellence. Maria is a proud Mother and Grandmother and despite being on the Ottawa scene for over 40 years, she ain't no where near done, she's got an album in the works and is co-host of Monday Special Blend here at CKCU. I'm honoured to have Maria on the show this morning.