Slim Sandy’s plays roots music, swing jazz, jive and rhythm and blues from the 30’s to the 50’s. Slim sings, plays guitar and harmonica, joined by Willa Mae on vocals, and “Big Daddy Bo” on bass. Slim Sandy has been playing music for over 40 years with acts such as Ray Condo, the Crazy Rhythm Daddies, the Howlin’ Hound Dogs, and as a solo artist. Since 2012, he’s been playing with the Hillbilly Boppers, singing harmony vocals with WillaMae in Victoria. In 2022, they developed their swing act, the ATOMIC COCKTAILS, playing for the Victoria SPEAKEASY club night.
Born in northern Canada to Swedish parents, one of Slim’s earliest recollections of music was listening to his father’s 78 records of 40’s jazz musicians, artists such as Louis Jordan, Fats Waller, Slim and Slam, and Nat King Cole, all of whom would become musical influences. Slim’s father played jazz guitar, and at the age of 12, Slim started learning how to play the guitar. He formed a band in high school, to learn rock n roll songs. As a young man, he attended blues shows in Montreal, and was privileged to see original blues greats such as Professor Longhair and Big Mama Thornton.