Nancy Nash
(b. 1957, North Battleford, Saskatchewan)
Nancy Nash is considered by Edmonton blues aficionados as the first important female blues singer to emerge from the Edmonton blues scene in the early 1970s. Nancy Nash made her mark as the vocalist on the pivotal 1972 album Big Walter Horton and Hot Cottage produced by Holger Petersen (2014 Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame inductee). Nancy sang two songs on that album, Hound Dog and Worried Worried. She has stated that she is extremely proud of the fact that Big Walter Horton, who was considered one of the world’s foremost harmonica players, had the time and the patience to teach her some of the basics of harmonica playing. To be a sixteen-year-old kid mentored by an elder blues statesman from Chicago was to leave an enduring impression on Nancy throughout her career.
Another of Nancy’s first blues mentors was African American Isabel Mayes. As a little girl, Nancy would listen and mimic the way in which this soul/blues singer poured out her heart and soul. In 1978, Nancy moved to B.C. to continue her career performing in different styles. She achieved acclaim as both a lead singer and a session backup, sharing the stage with icons such as B.B. King , Ray Charles, John Mayall, Long John Baldry, Buddy Guy, Jim Byrnes, Tommy Banks and David Foster to name a few. On one memorable occasion on stage, Albert King urged Nancy to sing As the Years Go Passing By. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Nancy returned to Edmonton in 1998 for the big Hovel Reunion organized by Andy Laskiwsky held at the Arts Barns. This reunion is important as it was the first time that the early Edmonton blues scene was truly acknowledged in our community. Nancy reunited with her old band mates from Hot Cottage to sing and perform for this very significant event.
Nancy now makes her home in British Columbia and her latest project is a new CD release titled Nash -MacInnes Long Live the Blues. This collaboration was recorded live with a few overdubs. Cam MacInnes was a member of Hot Cottage in the early 1970s and is a highly regarded musician — a slide virtuoso and fine finger-picker. The Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame Foundation is honoured and delighted to welcome Nancy Nash into the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame for 2015.