The "Prime Minister of the Blues" - appointed to office by B.B. King - ranks with the true spiritual godparents of hard working rythym and blues performers.

King, James Cotton, Big Mamma Thorton, John Lee Hooker, Lightning Hopkins - just a few names from the list of blues greats with whom Dutch has performed.

Packed houses for the past twenty years - standing ovations, and standing room only - this artist has been rated as a number one draw across Canada.

Dutch Mason is the only touring act to hold down back-to-back weekly engagements at Toronto's Alberts Hall, a regular stop for the past 15 years.

Peter Goddard, music critic at the Toronto Star once wrote "Dutch Mason Blues Band is the best bar band I have ever seen".

Dutch's band from those Alberts Hall days was made up of some of Canada's "Blues Elite".

Pat Rush on guitar, Papa John King on guitar, Pat Kilbride on bass, Tortoise Blue on Hammond B3 organ and harp, and the Bruce Brooker on drums.

Every night they played you could bet you'd see a parade of great players come in to "jam".

Donnie Walsh, Colin James, Holly Cole, Jeff Healy, Tony D...they'd all come in and pay their respects, perhaps get up and play a tune or two.

Overcoming arthritis, and more recently a diagnosis of diabetes, Dutch is still able to knock out audiences across the country.

The release of his tenth and latest CD Appearing Nightly ... Live at the Boom Boom Lounge, marks the return of something very special: Dutch playing guitar.

While inspecting damage to his home from flooding, Dutch found tapes of previously unreleased live material from the late 70's and the early 80's.

The tapes were restored and, with this release, the world can hear Dutch's incredible live guitar sound - unheard in almost fifteen years!

Dutch has made numerous television appearances on CTV, CBC, A&E and Much Music. A Blues Documentary, a 76 minute live performance taped at Pub Flamingo in Halifax; the manuscript, Testament: Conversation with a Canadian Blues Legend; a Juno Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award have all helped keep Dutch's music in the forefront of the Canadian blues scene.

A new book entitled, Rock, Rhythm and Reels - Canada's East Coast Musicians on Stage, will be published shortly and features many talented East Coast Artists, including the requisite chapter devoted to the Right Honourable Dutch Mason - Prime Minister of the Blues.

When asked how long the 58 year old performer will continue to tour and make music, his response is always the same, "I'll play til' I die."

Dutch Mason is and always will be, The Prime Minister of the Blues!

And most recently, congratulations to Dutch on his induction into the Order of Canada!!!