Special to the Eagle
lin.anne.wilson@gmail.com

Most families get together over the holidays, situated around the dining room table with a turkey as the centerpiece.

This is true of Hills’ family, with one addition:  the family gets together and everyone harmonizes their way through a host of favorite songs. Scotty Hills grew up in a world of music, and is bringing his sound to the Blue Dog Cafe Dec. 18-19.

Scotty Hills is coming to Cochrane Dec. 18-19 at the Blue Dog Cafe. Photo courtesy of Hills

Originally from Saskatoon, Sask., his mother, Sharon Matheson (female vocalist and percussionist for Calgary’s well-known gigging group the Al Barrett Band) was the local jingle singer in town, and had her son singing from a very early age.  Hills’ father was also a singer/songwriter.

So, the transition into adulthood as a full-time musician was a natural progression for Hills.

With his recent move to Calgary, after spending the last six years living and playing in Winnipeg, Hills took the money he won in a radio competition to fund his first full-length CD, Wonderland Urgency, and is now running with it.

Hills’ original tracks cross genre barriers and compile influences that run deeply.

“The album is so diverse — it’s really mixing everything together — but I’m a blues man at heart,” explains Hills, who has elements of blues, jazz, soul, R&B, Motown, country, folk and even African sounds blended into his original music.

“It goes to show you how interchangeable music really is,” says Hills, who refuses to be bound by one genre.

Hills influences include: 1950s Chicago blues, Memphis country-soul, jazz, R&B, doo-op harmonies, organ jazz, old honky tonk, Motown and reggae rock.  Some of the individual artists that have impacted Hills are Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.

Hills is finding a comfort zone in doing his own thing — guitar in hand — these days. Although, he has spent the last ten years playing and touring (even overseas) with other musicians, backing them up as a drummer.

Last year, Hills toured Europe with Big Dave McLean and the Perpetrators.

The Perpetrators, with Scotty Hills, received a Juno nomination in 2006 for best blues album of the year, and Big Dave McLean is a highly-regarded blues guitarist, harpist and vocalist.

Hills also made CKUA Radio’s top 95 in 2008, and has received an extensive musical education through his experiences on the road.

And he carries this education with him in his solo quest, connecting with his audience on stage through the songs he writes, influenced by the sounds of his childhood and the musicians he has played with along the way.

Scotty Hills will be performing at the Blue Dog Cafe with Cuban-style percussionist Bernice Stubbs. There will also be a wine tasting. For tickets or reservations, call the Blue Dog at 403-932-4282. The Dec. 19 show is sold out.

To learn more about Scotty Hills, or to sample his music, his website can be viewed at www.scottyhills.ca.

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