(b. 1955, Brooks, Alberta)
Cam Hayden’s early interest in music began in the city of Calgary, where he founded his high-school radio station and was both DJ and program producer. He continued at CJSW, the University of Calgary station, where his skills expanded to radio host. With a keen ambition and a deep voice so well-suited for radio it did not take much time before he found his way, in 1978, to CKUA in Edmonton, one of the premier not-for-profit stations in Canada. Cam quickly developed as a radio personality hosting and producing everything from classical music programs to the Alberta Morning show, which gave him exposure throughout the Province. He began his signature program, the Friday Night Blues Party in 1990 which can now be heard worldwide. Cam then got involved in booking major blues acts in the old City Media Club, which filled a tremendous gap for Edmonton blues fans when the Ambassador Hotel closed. Cam brought noted musicians to Edmonton which included: John Hammond, Cash McCall, Luther Guitar Junior Johnson, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Lucky Peterson, Zora Young, Phil Guy, Eddie the Chief Clearwater, as well as past and current inductees of the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame Clarence Big Miller, Eddie Shaw, Sonny Rhodes and Maurice John Vaughn.
Cam’s next significant achievement was co-founding the Edmonton Blues Festival in 1999. Now in its 17th year, the festival has showcased well-known acts, and new discoveries based on Cam’s keen ear for new talent. A number of Hall of Fame inductees have also performed under the big tent in Hawrelak Park including Hans Stamer, Hot Cottage, Lionel Rault and Ron Rault, Maurice John Vaughn, and Eddie Shaw who was unable to perform at the last minute due to health issues — but was admirably replaced by Vaan Shaw and a stellar group of local musicians. In 2008, the Edmonton Blues Festival received the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive award from the Blues Foundation in Memphis. Cam was also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Calgary Blues Music Association in 2013.Cam can be spotted at festivals across the continent “Just checkin’ out the scene” and looking for the next great, undiscovered talent to bring to Edmonton. For this, and all that he has done to bring great blues music to Edmonton, we are delighted to induct Cam into the Blues Hall of Fame in the Builder category.