Blues guitar player Jason Buie, a former White Rock resident and popular figure on the local music scene, has died, according to his sibling.
“It is with our deepest sadness that I announce the passing of my brother Jason Buie at his home early this morning in Esquimalt BC,” wrote Chris Buie in a Facebook post today.
“Out of respect and privacy of our family we will not respond to any Facebook messages until further notice.”
In another Facebook post today, Dave Chesney, a White Rock councillor and longtime music-biz employee and backer, said he is “heartbroken. I just got off the phone with Rod Dranfield of the White Rock Blues Society and he just informed me Jason Buie passed away overnight…. I am in shock. God speed my brother.”
Buie was a musician who performed throughout Canada, Europe and the U.S., and had shared the stage with a number of rock and blues legends, including Buddy Guy, Jeff Healey, Robert Cray, Taj Mahal and others.
• RELATED: Blues musicians unite in Surrey for 10th annual Yuletide concert for food bank, from 2016.
• ALSO: White Rock Blues Society celebrates 10th year with May long-weekend events, from 2017.
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His band frequently entertained at concerts hosted by White Rock Blues Society, which he helped get off the ground a decade ago. On the organization’s website, Buie is listed as artistic director.
In South Surrey every December, Buie was a planner of the yearly Toy Jam concerts that collected toys and money for kids in need.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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