Toronzo Cannon, Chicago’s bluesman, defies all expectations. He is a fiery guitarist, soulful singer, singular songwriter, and city bus driver. His rock-inspired, blues-influenced blues guitar playing blends with his original, slice-of-life lyrics, which he uses to blaze his own blues path. Cannon, who released his debut album, The Chicago Way on Alligator Records in 2016, became one of the most exciting Chicago bluesmen in decades. Cannon’s live performances have won him a lot of praise from critics and enthusiastic fans. Cannon has performed in major cities across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Cannon performed in Japan for the first-time, wowing audiences with one after another. Cannon continues to build on the foundation that he has laid and creates his vision of modern blues with The Preacher. The Politician Or The Pimp is now out. The Preacher. The Politician. Or The Pimp contains twelve original Cannon songs. They range from the heartbreaking social commentary of The Title Track to the up-to-the minute, wryly-told truths of Insurance, to the Cannon-style humor of Ordinary Woman and Stop Me When I’m Lying. The haunting The First 24 and the Martin Luther King-inspired The Silence Of My Friends are his most serious tracks. The moving I’m not Scared is his final track. Cannon’s powerful guitar and soul-baring vocals stand out. Cannon’s Chicago roots, his grandmother’s wisdom and years of observation of the public as a bus driver are the inspirations for his songwriting. His songs are timeless stories that tell of common experiences told in unusual ways. Cannon said, “It is not about the solos. It’s about songs.” It’s easy for people to get too used to their daily lives, and so it is easy to forget the important things. These are the things I write about. Because we are always the scapegoat, I am well aware of the difficulties in Chicago. Because of the Chicago blues legends who came from down south, I chose to love and respect this city. I am proud to stand on the shoulders and contributions of all great Chicago blues musicians. Toronzo Cannon was born February 14, 1968 in Chicago. He grew up under the strict Robert Taylor Homes. Theresa’s Lounge was a well-known South Side blues club. Cannon used to stand outside the door of Theresa’s Lounge as a child and soak up the blues while trying to get a glimpse inside the larger-than-life bluesmen Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Cannon listened to soul and R while growing up at his grandfather’s house.
