James Hay is an independent, Western Canadian, electric blues guitarist and singer/songwriter with over thirty years experience working full time as a sideman in blues bands. These days James can be found fronting The James Hay Blues Band and working occasionally as a solo blues act. 
 The James Hay Blues Band is a hard driving, swampy, delta slide, blues, jump, jive, swing and boogie trio based out of Kelowna B.C. comprised of James Hay on guitar and vocals, “Boogie Man” Blue Rooney on bass, and PJ “Like the Pyjamas” Hermann on drums. 
The band brings a blend of original blues material as well as selections of vintage and modern blues standards and favourites. Including artists such as Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Booker White, Billy Boy Arnold, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Rogers, Memphis Slim, T-Bone Walker, Lonnie Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Freddy King, Magic Sam, Bobby Bland, B.B. King, Albert King, Otis Rush, Taj Mahal, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Gary Clarke Jr., North Mississippi All Stars, Marcus King and many more.

Poppa Dawg is one of those ‘one-man-army’ crusaders that Blues (and all indie music) depends on so dearly. The concept of devoting one’s life to music with the Joy Factor being the no. 1 goal is something that the ‘greed-driven’ just can’t grasp. There’s always hope for music and mankind when there are crusaders like Rick in abundance and in some places (outside of North America) people who devote their lives to making and promoting blues are revered and respected. Besides leading his own band and making his own Blues, Poppa Dawg is ‘The Man’ when it comes to Interior, British Columbia. He keeps everything going, connecting clubs with artists, helping touring bands get gigs in Kelowna or Nelson, encourages venues to at least try live music. So, even outside of a recording context he is invaluable and irreplaceable.

Dawg has an easy-on-the-ears, natural blues voice and his guitar work betrays decades of influences from Johnny Watson to Elvin Bishop. Tasty and tasteful. But, it’s his song writing that really surprises. Great lyrics and humorous poetry abound set to catchy riffs designed for the sacroiliac. Several tracks are very memorable and worthy of ‘borrowing’, so let’s hope Dawg gets these to some ‘stars’ for exposure and royalties.

Andy 'Blues Boy' Grigg 

James Hay Music is following