Georgette Fry

Georgette Fry was born into a Canadian Armed Forces family in St. Jerome, Quebec and spent the first 20 years of her life regularly moving around to such places as Metz France), Lahr (Germany) and Ottawa, Ontario. Having arrived in Kingston, Ontario in 1975 from Ottawa, Georgette joined her first band a year later and, except for a seven-year stint in London, Ontario (1987-1994), she insists on calling Kingston 'home'.

Georgette began writing songs while living in London and arrived back in Kingston in November of 1994, bringing with her a recording grant from the Ontario Arts Council. This brought about the release of her Juno-nominated, debut album "Rites of Passage" in 1995. Her second release, recorded by CBC for "Saturday Night Blues", "Georgette - Live" earned her: the Jazz Report Award for Blues Musician of the Year and two Real Blues Magazine Awards for Best Canadian Blues Vocalist (1997, 1998).

Georgette is also a talented songwriter and was awarded another grant from the Ontario Arts Council in 1998, this time in recognition of her songwriting abilities. Seven of the 12 tracks on her third release, "Let Me Drive", are Fry originals. "I was starting to run out of tunes by other people that appealed to me" Georgette said in an interview. "I don't do victim tunes and I like songs that have attitude." This attitude is exemplified in the title song of the CD and has become a favourite amongst fans.

Fry's latest album, "back in a moment" was released in June 2007 to critical acclaim. On CBC's "Fresh Air" it was one of Mark Rheaume's picks of the month. It has received airplay on CBC and fm radio stations from JazzFm, Toronto to CFBX, Kamloops. Writes Liz Sykes from the Ottawa Blues Society; "she has a voice that can do just about anything - from gritty blues to roof-raising gospel to sultry and soulful blues to this collection of familiar jazz standards." (Review of "back in a moment")

She has received multiple nominations from Maple Blues Awards for "Female Vocalist of the Year". In January 2004 she received Real Blues Awards for "Best Blues Songwriter", "Best Blues Release - Female Artist" (Let Me Drive) and Best Canadian Blues Vocalist (Female). In 2006 CBC's "Saturday Night Blues" awarded her the "Great Canadian Blues Award". The October "Real Blues Top 100 Blues, Soul, Gospel, Zydeco" Chart has her new album at number 12. She has been honoured to have been included on the Toronto Blues Society's album "Women's Blues Revue LIVE" and on CBC's Saturday Night Blues "20 Year Compilation CD".

Georgette's has a love of good music, be it jazz, blues or beyond. Sandy MacDonald, Halifax Daily News writes, "With her luscious singing voice, she explores the soulful grey area between blues and jazz, where artists like Etta James and Ray Charles and Bonnie Raitt have staked their careers."

"Georgette and her band put on a long, entertaining show, full of great music…. Don't miss an opportunity to see her live." Warren Dallin, Live Review, CanadianBlues.ca

In 2017, Georgette Fry was honoured by the City of Kingston with the First Capital Honourable Achievment Award. This award recognizes Kingstonians that consistently contribute to the overall quality of life in our community.