Joey Kitson

Joey Kitson
Birth nameLloyd Joseph Kitson
Also known asBig City
Born (1969-11-23) November 23, 1969 (age 55)
OriginCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
GenresBlues
Folk
Roots
Rock
OccupationSinger
Years active1987–present
LabelsWarner Music
Websitewww.joeykitson.com

Joey Kitson (born (1969-11-23)November 23, 1969[citation needed]) is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead singer of the Celtic rock band Rawlins Cross. Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Kitson is also a stage performer, with notable performances in the Charlottetown Festival productions of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical and Canada Rocks![1]

Kitson first performed in a high school production of Bye Bye Birdie on the Charlottetown Festival stage. Soon after, he and friends formed the Rock Island Blues Band, a popular band touring Prince Edward Island in the 1980s.[2] Through touring and a stint with a regional tourism promotion, he met other members of Rawlins Cross and officially joined the band as their new lead singer in 1993.[1][3]

In 2006, Kitson starred alongside Matt Minglewood & Terry Hatty in the Charlottetown Festival's 2-year run of Canada Rocks at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. In 2007, he also starred in British Invasion at the Confederation Centre. In 2009 he starred in Stan Rogers – A Matter of Heart, a musical review of legendary Maritime folk musician Stan Rogers at the Mackenzie Theatre in Charlottetown. In support of the review, Kitson released STAN, an eclectic reinterpretation of songs written by Rogers on Warner Music's Ground Swell imprint.[4]

In 2015, Kitson ran as the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island candidate in the provincial riding of Charlottetown-Victoria Park. He was defeated by Liberal incumbent Richard Brown.[5][6]

Joey's son, Julien, is also a musician, releasing his debut album Thirteen at the age of 13. The album earned a Music P.E.I. nomination for Acadian/Francophone Artist of the Year. Julien also performed in productions of Stan Rogers – A Matter of Heart in 2016 at The Guild in Charlottetown, and in 2017 at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Ledwell, Jane. "Kitson, Joey". The Buzz. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  2. ^ "Rock Island Blues Band revitalized for 25th anniversary shows". The Guardian. August 10, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "Joey Kitson Biography". joeykitson.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  4. ^ "Joey Kitson bringing tribute to Stan Rogers to Truro". Truro Daily News. March 11, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  5. ^ "Joey Kitson seeks PC nomination in Charlottetown-Victoria Park". The Guardian. February 11, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  6. ^ Elections Prince Edward Island (May 4, 2015). "Provincial General Election – Unofficial Results 4 May 2015". Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  7. ^ Richardson, Noah (July 6, 2017). "Like father, like son: Julien Kitson appearing in musical father Joey starred in 8 years ago". CBC News. Retrieved October 24, 2017.