Dave Harris
"Slim"

Dave Harris - born Columbus Ohio - August 12/1956. Grew up in Toronto (early aborted piano and later violin lessons), moved to Victoria in 1976. Started busking in 1977. Early band Treebeard with Dave - vocals/guitar/bass, Ben Henry - drums, Pete Irving guitar/bass and Jeremy Rogers - keyboards. Played weekends at the Churchill/Bastion Inn from 1979-80 for $15 each a night. Played 1980-81 with Juke (blues band) w Chris Blue - vocals/harp, Tony Wilkinson - piano, Jim Killeen - bass and Steve Peabody - drums. Busking the whole time too, adding fiddle to guitar/harp, later mandolin also. Blue Sky Band formed 1981 with Rhonda Broadfoot - vocals/ acoustic guitar & Allen Keirstead - mandolin/clarinet/guitar, adding Joe Figliola - bass/guitar & Ken Koshman - drums. Played dances/bars - country/folk/rock. After Rhonda left the band became rock band with Jeremy Rogers, Pat Darcus - bass & Roger L'Huillier - drums. Lots of Doors/Creedence/Hendrix/originals/R&B. Various other members over the years (82-88) included Jim Sinclair - bass, Mike Kraft - guitar/banjo, Brian Sheedy - drums, Hal Todd - drums, Rob Thompson - bass and more. Special Delivery was Dave's busking band through 80s with Jim Sinclair, Mike Kraft, Jeremy Rogers and other occasional players (Clark Brendon, Joe Figliola etc). Also called The Shmoes for silly antics, funny hats and general zaniness. From 1988-90 Dave & Mike Kraft played as a duo, working full time around the island and Gulf Islands. Started playing with drummer Gary Thompson in 1989, in various short lived blues bands. Toured with Ken McCoy from 1992-early 95 - modern country. Formed The Hotheads with Gary Thompson, Bob Miron - bass, and Newman Corey - guitar/vocals out the ashes of Harris (Gilmore) & The Hotheads. After Newman left became Slim & The Dusters from 1995-2007. Played with Slim & The Deuces with John Hunter - drums, George Fenn - bass & Gary Preston - keys/vocal/2nd harp until late 2012. Also played with Davelectro & The G-Men with Gary Thompson & George Fenn. Started one man band act in 1995 and gradually built that up to include steel body guitars, harp, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, foot operated drums and fotdella (foot operated bass). Recorded many one man band CDs (also some with various bands). Recently released a book - Head, Hands & Feet - A Book of One Man Bands (2012), the first major study of the burgeoning one man band scene. Formed the Hip Shake Collective in 2019 with Jack Lavin (bass, harp, guitar), Sharon Wadsworth (washboard, bass), Dave Gray (drums), Brad Fisher (sax), Rod Dechaine (conga), Peter Janz (guitar), Bob Dalziel (guitar), Ian Bennetts (vocals), everybody sings. Playing every Friday at Cup of Joe Cafe in James Bay for over a year. Also in a duo with Peter Janz (AKA Johnny Bomblast) and working on a duo with Jack Lavin.