Danny Marks Returns With 'Back to the Blues,' a Landmark Album From One of Canada's Most Beloved Blues Masters

The Canadian Legend Delivers 13 Tracks of Soul, Story, and Hard-Won Wisdom on His Most Personal Record Yet

Toronto, Ontario — Danny Marks, one of Canada’s most enduring and deeply revered figures in blues and roots music, releases his new album 'Back to the Blues' on all major platforms. Spanning 13 tracks and drawing on more than five decades of living, listening, and playing, the record is both a homecoming and a declaration: a master musician at the height of his craft, returning to the music that has always told the truest story. In Marks’ own words, “The inspiration for 'Back to the Blues' is both a homecoming and a way forward, set to music. This is for you. My heart is on the line.”

'Back to the Blues' is an album that breathes with the full weight of a life spent honouring the form. From the jubilant, stomping invitation of “Blues Party Tonight” to the aching reverence of “Blues for Lonnie Johnson,” Marks moves through the tradition with the ease and authority of someone who didn’t just study it but lived inside it. The title track sets the tone with the kind of plainspoken poetry the blues does best: “I’ve travelled around this dusty old town / I’ve worn out deep holes in my shoes / I’ve been here and there, just about everywhere / But something keeps calling me back to the blues.” It is a sentiment that could only come from an artist whose relationship with the music runs bone-deep, and whose voice carries it with complete conviction.

The album’s emotional core is unmistakable. “Please Mister Conductor,” one of the record’s most quietly devastating songs, finds Marks drawing on deeply personal experience to craft a blues narrative of perseverance and grace: “I’ll gladly pay my ticket, when we reach the other side.” Elsewhere, “Beltline Blues” conjures the Toronto of Marks’ youth with cinematic clarity, tracing the railway tracks and the mother’s tears and the front door left behind at seventeen. And “Uncle John” pays tender tribute to the blues lineage itself, honouring the legacy of John Hurt with a song that is equal parts elegy and celebration. Throughout 'Back to the Blues,' Marks holds to the truth he has carried since his first notes as a musician: “Blues is truth and truth rings out authentically for each of us in our own way.”

Produced by Alec Fraser Jr. and Marks himself, 'Back to the Blues' is a record made by musicians who know one another completely. Fraser serves double duty on bass and background vocals, anchoring the record with warmth and authority, while the drum chair rotates among four of Toronto’s most seasoned players: Al Cross, Bucky Berger, Chuck Keeping, and Barry Keane. The keyboards of Jonathan Goldsmith and the piano of Julian Fauth add colour and depth across the record, while harmonica masters David Rotundo and Chris Whiteley bring heat and texture to key tracks. Robert Piltch contributes second guitar, saxophonists Wayne Mills and Gene Hardy add brass firepower, and the vocal harmonies of Sherrie Marshall and Wendy Irvine round out a record whose ensemble fe el is the sound of a community gathered around something they all believe in. The album was recorded across multiple storied Toronto studios and remastered by L Stu Young at Loud Mouse.

For those newly arriving at the name Danny Marks, the biography demands a moment. Co-founder of Edward Bear, the celebrated Canadian band whose hits filled radio across the country in the early 1970s, Marks went on to work as a sideman alongside Rick James, Bo Diddley, and Ronnie Hawkins, and shared stages with Paul Butterfield, Led Zeppelin, and Humble Pie. He brought the blues to generations of Toronto listeners as host of BLUZ FM on JAZZ FM91 and through his television series Cities in Blue on HIFI TV. In 2006, he received the Blues with a Feeling Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition that speaks not only to the breadth of his contribution but to the singular depth of his commitment. With 'Back to the Blues,' that commitment finds its fullest and most personal expression to date.

What makes 'Back to the Blues' remarkable is not simply that it is a fine blues record, though it unquestionably is. It is that it arrives as the statement of an artist who has earned every note. “Blues of the Future” pushes the music forward with a clear-eyed look at the human condition, while “Land Where Blues Began” anchors the album in a sense of place and origin that only a true student of the form can conjure. “Blues Came to Chicago” honours the electric transformation that changed music forever, name-checking the giants who made it happen. Taken together, these 13 songs do what the greatest blues albums have always done: they make you feel less alone in the world and remind you that the music was built for exactly that purpose. “Since my first beginnings as a musician until today, good things have happened when I honoured the music, the people, and the stories of our lives,” Marks reflects. “Creating ar t from adversity is a universal act.”

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DANNY MARKS RELEASES TWO-SIDED ANTHEM 'ONE WAY TICKET HOME' AND 'PLEASE MISTER CONDUCTOR'

Toronto-born musician, broadcaster, and storyteller Danny Marks releases his new double-sided single 'One Way Ticket Home' b/w 'Please Mister Conductor', out now through Cabbagetunes Records. The release unites Marks’ authentic voice and masterful guitar work in a celebration of homecoming, resilience, and the spirit of the Blues. 

A lifelong pillar of Canadian music, Marks began playing guitar at age 11, later co-founding Edward Bear, who opened for Paul Butterfield, Led Zeppelin, The Byrds, Badfinger and Humble Pie. His collaborations include Bo Diddley, Rita Coolidge, and Rick James, and his award-winning solo career spans acclaimed albums like 'Guitarchaeology' and 'Cities in Blue'. Since 1997, Danny has hosted BLUZ FM on JAZZ FM91, cementing his reputation as a trusted voice of Blues culture. 

Winner of the 'Blues with a Feeling' Lifetime Achievement Award, Marks’ career continues to bridge the gap between legacy and innovation. His recent singles 'Man on the Radio' and 'I'm Ready' reflect his growth as a songwriter and guitarist with an unmistakable sense of storytelling and tone. 
The A-side, 'One Way Ticket Home', was born from a personal chapter of resilience following a devastating house fire. In its soaring chorus, Marks sings 'Home is where the heart is' capturing a universal truth about belonging, recovery, and the pull of familiar ground. It’s a pledge of hope set to a driving Americana rhythm, shaped by a twelve-string Rickenbacker that channels the classic spirit of the Traveling Wilburys. 

The B-side, 'Please Mister Conductor', turns up the heat with raw, unfiltered Blues energy. Based on a true story of jumping aboard a train to Hamilton to sing with Lori Yates, Marks transforms the tale into a soulful plea – 'Please Mister Conductor, won't you let me ride your train.' The song carries humor, humility, and redemption all in one groove. 

Reflecting on the songs, Marks says, 'I got down to the station a little bit late and jumped on board without proper fare. Blues is truth. Every song is a story, and these two are pages from my life.' Truth-telling is the heart of Marks’ songwriting: real experiences turned into musical allegories that anyone can feel. 
Marks adds, 'One Way Ticket Home is more of a pledge than a plea. It’s about gratitude, about returning to what matters. Music has always been my home.' With his trademark warmth, Marks delivers performances that feel both intimate and timeless. 

Both tracks feature an all-star lineup: Alec Fraser Jr. on bass, Jonathan Goldsmith on piano, Robert Piltch on guitar, Barry Keane and Chuck D Keeping on drums, and Gene Hardy on saxophone. The songs were produced by Marks and Fraser Jr., mixed and mastered by Jeff Wolpert, with the memory of Peter J. Moore honored throughout the project. 

The recording brings together Country Rock and Blues in a modern yet classic fusion. From the twang of the A-side to the grit of the B-side, Marks’ guitar tone anchors the emotional journey. Each side stands strong on its own, but together they form a portrait of an artist deeply in tune with his craft and community. 

‘One Way Ticket Home’ and ‘Please Mister Conductor’ mark a new chapter for a Canadian icon whose storytelling continues to define authenticity in music. As radio DJs and fans prepare to 'flip the record', both sides promise connection, comfort, and the kind of musical honesty only Danny Marks can deliver.

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I'm Ready - Single

Danny Marks Returns With Soul-Stirring New Single ‘I’m Ready’. A Classic Soul Ballad with a Slow Burn and Deep Reflection on Life - Eric Alper

Few names carry the weight of Danny Marks in the Canadian blues and roots scene. From his early days as a founding member of Edward Bear, opening for the likes of Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie, to his decades as a torchbearer of the blues with BLUZ FM and beyond, Marks has remained a perennial force—a man whose time comes, again and again. Now, with the release of his latest single "I'm Ready," Marks steps forward with a classic soul ballad—one that simmers with slow-burning intensity and speaks to the restless waiting, the longing, and ultimately, the readiness to seize the moment.

"It’s been a long time, and I want you to know that I’m ready..."

The opening line of I'm Ready” says it all. Marks delivers this song with the wisdom of a road-worn storyteller, channeling a lifetime of experiences into a track that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. The song’s lyrics capture the passage of time, the frustration of waiting, and the unwavering belief that no matter how long it takes, your moment will come—as long as you’re ready to take it.

"Then you’re ready, you can come go with me / We can make it, oh yes we can..."

The slow groove and soulful delivery recall the greats—Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Bobby "Blue" Bland—while Marks’ signature guitar work glows like embers in a midnight fire, warm, rich, and full of lived-in soul.

Danny Marks is no stranger to reinvention. Signed to Capitol Records at just 18 with Edward Bear, he quickly made his mark before stepping into a career that saw him work with legends like Bo Diddley, Rita Coolidge, and The Drifters. He built his reputation on the Toronto club scene, became a familiar voice on CBC Radio, and spent the past 25 years hosting BLUZ FM on JAZZ FM91—educating, entertaining, and keeping the blues flame alive.

Marks has seen the music industry change, but the soul of the blues remains the same. In “I'm Ready,” he adds another timeless entry to his catalog—one that nods to the past but walks boldly into the future.

With “I'm Ready,” Danny Marks extends an invitation. It’s not just about his own journey—it’s about all of us. Whether you’ve been waiting on a dream, a breakthrough, or just a sign that it’s time to move forward, Marks offers a musical hand to hold.

"Are you with me now? Do you feel like I do? Then you’re ready… you’re ready too."

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Man On The Radio - Single

Musician & Broadcaster DANNY MARKS Spotlights Radio’s Enduring Power to Connect With "Man on the Radio" Single - Eric Alper

Toronto-Based Artist Honours the Medium that Shaped His Life with Advance Single from Upcoming Album, Lifeline

Whether we’re alone or in a crowd, listening to the radio has always felt like a one-on-one experience. It seems like the DJ is talking directly to us. It’s where many of us have formed unique, personal connections with the songs we’ve heard as if they’re our own personal playlist. As a broadcaster himself, Danny Marks knows the power of radio very well. And as a lifelong musician and singer-songwriter, he’s celebrating radio’s enduring influence with his new single, “Man on the Radio” — available now.

“Radio has come up big to reach people at home and heart in trying times, an intimate connection that reaches around the globe,” says Marks. “‘’Man On The Radio’ comes from this place.”

Soulful, smooth, country-tinged blues with a heartfelt, nostalgic tone, “Man on the Radio” is Danny Marks’ story about his love and reverence for a music medium that has been a cherished part of his life from childhood to today. The single advances a new album by Marks called Lifeline, due out this summer.

Take my hand, understand I’m the man on the radio.
You’re just in time for the show and I wouldn’t start without you.  
One by one, that’s how it’s done. We’ll have fun together.
You and me – the sweet frequency.
Good company, whatever the weather.  
I’m the man on the radio.

For over 100 years, radio has been our good company through trying times and good times alike. For Marks, the Toronto-born and raised music maker and connoisseur, radio is an inter-generational phenomenon; radio is truly in his blood.

“Radio reached my Dad in the 1920's from the Cotton Club, Grand Ole Opry, and beyond,” recalls Marks. “Dad would get a crystal set, in the 1920s, and listen to the Cotton Club with Cab Calloway. He passed along that love to us, with a shortwave radio and the art of radio.” 

As a kid, Marks would fantasize about hosting his own radio show when he wasn’t obsessing over his love of the guitar. 

“When I was twelve years old, I was part of a radio play at the national broadcaster, CBC,” he remembers. “They had crinkled up stuff to make it sound like a fire, coconut shells for the horses’ hooves, A little funny door on a platform to open and close. We gathered around the mic and the performers had their arms around each other’s shoulders. I’d been to drama school, but radio – it seemed so intimate. Being on that side of the mic – I always wanted to.” 

The guitar Marks got when he was 11 and the lessons he took afterward were his first steps toward musical success in Canada and the U.S. as a founding member of late ‘60s / early ‘70s pop-rock band Edward Bear, signed to Capitol Records. However, his love for “being on that side of the mic” also led to success on the airwaves in a different way. He became ‘the man on the radio’. 

In 1987, Marks was discovered by CBC radio producer David Malahoff and was put on to a show called “Basic Black” with Arthur Black and Shelagh Rogers. That was Marks’ learning ground throughout the ‘90s before being offered his own show on Toronto’s CJRT FM, which became JAZZFM91. For over 20 years, Marks has hosted the BLUZ.FM show, a Saturday night oasis of “all the colours of the blues” including one hour of “Beyond the Fringe” global music.

For Marks, hosting a radio show is quite parallel with playing a live performance. 

“The idea that you can tell a story through a succession of songs on the radio, is not unlike how I would work a set at my performances,” explains Marks. “It’s so beautiful to hear one song dovetail into another and the mood shift. What you look for in joining music to tell a story.”  

And in this age of digital streaming and playlisting, radio’s story is still a never-ending one for Marks and many others. “In the 21st Century, radio's days are far from gone.”

“Man on the Radio” from the forthcoming album Lifeline is available now.

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Cities In Blue - OUT OF PRINT

A Friend In The Blues - OUT OF PRINT

Review of "A Friend in the Blues" in New Canadian Music