Former Willowdaler gets Walk of Fame nod

Musician David Clayton-Thomas to be inducted next month

David Clayton-Thomas, the former Willowdale resident best known as the frontman of Blood Sweat and Tears, will be inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame on Oct. 16.

“It’s quite an honour,” said Clayton-Thomas. “It’s a big thing because it covers a lot of different fields, it’s not just a music event.”

Peter Soumalias, president of Canada’s Walk of Fame, described Clayton-Thomas as a musical icon, with millions of records sold, who exceeded the criteria for inductees.

“Their musical impact was felt around the world, and the music is still listened to today by teenagers as well as people that are 40 years older,” Soumalias said of Blood Sweat and Tears, the band behind such hits as “Spinning Wheel” that won a Grammy Award in 1969.

Clayton-Thomas continues to perform with a 10-piece band. He also has an autobiography coming out this month, and a new album featuring songs he used to sing on the Yonge Street strip coming out next month.

“It’s songs by Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Gladys Knight — artists that I have admired my whole life and songs that I’ve wanted to sing my whole life,” he said.

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