Sue Foley (born March 29, 1968) is a Canadian

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

guitarist and singer. She has released 15 albums since her debut with ''Young Girl Blues'' (1992). In May 2020, Foley won her first

Blues Music Award The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W. C. Handy Awards (or "The Handys"), are awards presented by the Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to foster blues heritage. The awards were originally named in honor of W. C. Handy, " ...

, in the 'Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female)' category.

Early life

Foley was born in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, and spent her early childhood in Canada. She learned to play guitar at age 13, became interested in blues music from listening to

the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

, and played her first gig at age 16. After high school graduation, she relocated to

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

where she formed The Sue Foley Band and toured Canada. In 1988–1989, the Sue Foley Band teamed with

Mark Hummel Mark Hummel (born December 15, 1955) is an American blues harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter, and long-time bandleader of the Blues Survivors. Since 1991, Hummel has produced the Blues Harmonica Blowout tour, of which he is also a featured p ...

to tour across the United States, Canada and Europe as well as recording an album. The collaboration lasted a little over a year with 300 dates on the road in 1989.

Clifford Antone Clifford Antone (October 27, 1949 – May 22, 2006) was the founder of the eponymous Austin blues club Antone's and independent record label Antone's Records and Tapes, as well as a mentor to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson, G ...

saw Foley sitting in with

Duke Robillard Michael John "Duke" Robillard (born October 4, 1948) is an American guitarist and singer. He founded the band Roomful of Blues and was a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Although Robillard is known as a rock and blues guitarist, he also pla ...

while the band was in Memphis for the W.C. Handy Awards that year.

Career

By age twenty-one, Foley was living in

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...

, United States, and recording for Antone's, the blues label and historic nightclub. Her first release was ''Young Girl Blues''. Foley has toured steadily with her band, toting her signature pink paisley Fender Telecaster. In 2001, she won the

Juno Award The Juno Awards, more popularly known as the JUNOS, are awards presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of ...

for her CD, ''Love Coming Down''. Foley has also earned seventeen

Maple Blues Awards The Maple Blues Awards are Canada’s blues awards, "honouring the finest in Canadian blues". They are the only comprehensive national best in blues awards program. The program's goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize out ...

and three Trophees de Blues de France. She has also garnered several nominations at the

s in Memphis, Tennessee. 2018 marked Foley's return as a solo artist with her album, ''The Ice Queen'', which featured guest appearances by

Billy Gibbons William Frederick Gibbons (born December 16, 1949) is an American musician who is the guitarist and lead singer of the rock band ZZ Top. He began his career in the band the Moving Sidewalks, which recorded a full-length album entitled, ''Flas ...

ZZ Top ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. For 51 years, they comprised vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and vocalist-bassist Dusty Hill, until Hill's death in 2021. ZZ Top developed a signature sound ...

and

Jimmie Vaughan Jimmie Vaughan (born March 20, 1951) is an American blues rock guitarist and singer based in Austin, Texas. He is the older brother of the late Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Several notable blues guitarists have had a significant ...

. In May 2020, Foley won a Blues Music Award in the 'Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female)' category. Sue Foley 2007-1 Ron Baker

Discography

As leader/co-leader

*1992: ''Young Girl Blues'' ( Antone's) *1993: ''Without a Warning'' (Antone's) *1995: ''Big City Blues'' (Antone's) *1996: ''Walk in the Sun'' (Antone's) *1998: ''Ten Days in November'' ( Shanachie) *2000: ''Love Comin' Down'' (Shanachie) *2000: ''Back to the Blues'' lso released as ''Secret Weapon''(Antone's) *2002: ''Where the Action Is...'' (Shanachie) *2004: ''Change'' ( Ruf) *2006: ''New Used Car'' (Ruf) *2007: ''Time Bomb'' (with

Deborah Coleman Deborah Coleman (October 3, 1956 – April 12, 2018) was an American blues musician. Coleman won the Orville Gibson Award for "Best Blues Guitarist, Female" in 2001, and was nominated for a W.C. Handy Blues Music Award nine times. Biography ...

Roxanne Potvin Roxanne Potvin (born March 31, 1982 in Regina, Saskatchewan) is a bilingual French-English Canadian singer, guitarist and songwriter based in Gatineau, Quebec. Potvin has earned a Juno nomination, seven Maple Blues awards nominations, making ...

) (Ruf) *2009: ''Queen Bee: The Antone's Collection'' (Floating World) compilation *2010: ''He Said She Said'' (with

Peter Karp Peter Karp is an American roots-based folk and blues singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. He resides in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, United States. Early life and career Peter Karp was born in Leonia, New Jersey, United States, and lived i ...

) (

Blind Pig A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages, or a retro style bar that replicates aspects of historical speakeasies. Speakeasy bars came into prominence in the United States d ...

) *2012: ''Beyond the Crossroads'' (with Peter Karp) (Blind Pig) *2018: ''The Ice Queen'' ( Stony Plain 1398; Dixiefrog 8803) *2021: ''Pinky's Blues'' (Stony Plain 1430)

As primary artist on other albums

* 1991: Various Artists – ''KLBJ FM's Local Licks Live 1990'' (KLBJ) – track 15, "Walking Home" * 1994: Various Artists – ''Brace Yourself! A Tribute To

Otis Blackwell Otis Blackwell (February 16, 1931 – May 6, 2002) was an American songwriter whose work influenced rock and roll. His compositions include "Fever" (recorded by Little Willie John), "Great Balls of Fire" and " Breathless" (recorded by Jerry Le ...

'' (Shanachie) – track 11, "Great Balls Of Fire" with Joe Ely * 1995: Various Artists – ''Bluesiana Hurricane'' ( Shanachie) featuring R&B Legends:

Rufus Thomas Rufus C. Thomas, Jr. (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was an American rhythm-and-blues, funk, soul and blues singer, songwriter, dancer, DJ and comic entertainer from Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded for several labels, including Chess Rec ...

Bill Doggett William Ballard Doggett (February 16, 1916 – November 13, 1996) was an American pianist and organist. He began his career playing swing music before transitioning into rhythm and blues. Best known for his instrumental compositions "Honky Tonk" ...

, Jazz Legends:

Lester Bowie Lester Bowie (October 11, 1941 – November 8, 1999) was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and co-founded the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Biography Born in t ...

Bobby Watson Robert Michael Watson Jr. (born August 23, 1953), known professionally as Bobby Watson, is an American saxophonist, composer, and educator. Music career Watson was born in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He ...

, Rock Legends:

Chuck Rainey Charles Walter Rainey III (born June 17, 1940) is an American bass guitarist who has performed and recorded with many well-known acts, including Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, and Quincy Jones. Rainey is credited for playing bass on more than 1,00 ...

Will Calhoun William Calhoun (born July 22, 1964) is an American drummer who is a member of the rock band Living Colour. Career Calhoun was born in the Bronx, New York. He moved to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music, where he graduated with a de ...

* 2000: Various Artists – ''Public Domain'' (

Purchase Purchasing is the process a business or organization uses to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between ...

) – track 3, "Going Away Blues" * 2000: Various Artists – ''Dealin' With the Devil: Songs of

Robert Johnson Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generati ...

'' (Cannonball) – track 7, "From Four Until Late" * 2002: ''The Blues: From Yesterday's Masters To Today's Cutting Edge (American Roots Songbook Series)'', (Shanachie, as licensed to St. Clair Entertainment) * 2002: Various Artists – ''Preachin' the Blues: The Music of

Mississippi Fred McDowell Fred McDowell (January 12, 1904 – July 3, 1972), known by his stage name Mississippi Fred McDowell, was an American hill country blues singer and guitar player. Career McDowell was born in Rossville, Tennessee, United States. His parents were f ...

'' (Telarc) – track 8, "Frisco Line" * 2003: Various Artists – ''Blues On Blonde On Blonde'' (

Telarc Telarc International Corporation is an American audiophile independent record label founded in 1977 by two classically trained musicians and former teachers, Jack Renner and Robert Woods. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the label has had a long associ ...

) – track 2, "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine" * 2006: '' Saturday Night Blues: 20 Years'', ( CBC/

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

)

As guest musician on other albums

* 1989:

– ''Up and Jumpin with the Sue Foley Band and guest: Charles Brown, (Rockinitus Records) * 1994: Mark Hummel – ''Feel Like Rockin (

Flying Fish The Exocoetidae are a family of marine fish in the order Beloniformes class Actinopterygii, known colloquially as flying fish or flying cod. About 64 species are grouped in seven to nine genera. While they cannot fly in the same way a bird do ...

Rounder Rounder(s) or The Rounder(s) may refer to: Film and television * ''The Rounders'' (1914 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounder'' (1930 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounders'' (1965 film), a western comedy * ''Rounders'' (film), a 1998 poker f ...

) * 1995:

Wayne Hancock Thomas Wayne Hancock III (born May 1, 1965, in Dallas, Texas) better known as Wayne "The Train" Hancock, is an American singer-songwriter. Hancock is known as "The King of Juke Joint Swing," because his sound is unique, as he incorporates jazz, ...

– '' Thunderstorms and Neon Signs'' (Dejadisc) * 1998:

Lazy Lester Leslie Johnson (June 20, 1933 – August 22, 2018), better known as Lazy Lester, was an American blues musician who sang and played the harmonica and guitar. In a career spanning the 1950s to 2018, he pioneered swamp blues, and also played ha ...

– ''All Over You'' (Antone's) * 2001: Lazy Lester – ''Blues Stop Knockin (Antone's) * 2003:

Big Dave McLean Big Dave McLean (born August 23, 1952) is a Canadian blues guitarist, harmonicist, singer and songwriter. A veteran performer, his work has had an influence on many western Canadian blues musicians, including Colin James and Wide Mouth Mason. Not ...

– ''Blues from the Middle'' ( Stony Plain) * 2004:

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are a Canadian folk rock– alternative country band with blues and country influences. The band was formed in 1996, in Hamilton, Ontario, by Tom Wilson, Stephen Fearing, and Colin Linden. Career Early Period: 19 ...

– ''Bark'' (

True North True north (also called geodetic north or geographic north) is the direction along Earth's surface towards the geographic North Pole or True North Pole. Geodetic north differs from ''magnetic'' north (the direction a compass points toward the ...

) * 2007:

Candye Kane Candice Caleb (November 13, 1961 – May 6, 2016), known professionally as Candye Kane, was an American blues singer, entertainer and adult film star. She loved to sing as a young girl and even appeared on "The Gong Show," as a kid. She dreame ...

– ''Guitar'd and Feathered'' (

Ruf Records Ruf Records is a German independent record label, which was founded in 1994 by Luther Allison’s manager, Thomas Ruf, to promote Allison's career. The motto of the blues label is "Where Blues Crosses Over". The company's office is located in ...

) * 2007: Michael Jerome Browne – ''Double'' (

Borealis Borealis (Latin for ''northern'' or ''of the north'') may refer to: Astronomy * Borealis Basin or North Polar Basin, a basin on the planet Mars * Borealis quadrangle, an area on the planet Mercury ** Borealis Planitia, a basin within the quadran ...

) * 2007: Southside

Steve Marriner Steve Marriner, (born 1984 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and record producer based in Toronto, Ontario. He first garnered attention in the Ottawa blues scene in his early teens as a prodigy blues harp ( ...

– ''Going Up'' (Dog My Cat) * 2013: Lee Holmes – ''Sit Down Blues'' (Itsa Music Co.)

Filmography

*2005: ''Sue Foley - Live in Europe'' ( Ruf) DVD *2010: ''Sue Foley - Guitar Woman'' (Alfred's Artist Series/Instructional) DVD

References

External links

* *
2006 Interview on ''Modern Guitars'' Magazine
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Sue 1968 births Living people Canadian blues singers Canadian blues guitarists Canadian women guitarists Electric blues musicians Juno Award for Blues Album of the Year winners Musicians from Ottawa Contemporary blues musicians Shanachie Records artists New West Records artists Ruf Records artists 20th-century Canadian women singers 21st-century Canadian women singers Blind Pig Records artists