Canadian keyboardist Michael Fonfara brought sophisticated piano work and electronic keyboard mastery across multiple genres, establishing himself as a versatile session and touring musician throughout his prolific career. Trained classically at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Fonfara seamlessly blended his formal training with rock and blues sensibilities, earning recognition as one of Canada's most respected keyboard players.
Fonfara's career spanned decades of high-profile collaborations, including pivotal roles with psychedelic rock pioneers The Electric Flag and Rhinoceros during the 1960s, followed by work with Lou Reed's backing band and the influential proto-punk group Rough Trade in the 1970s. His enduring partnership with The Downchild Blues Band solidified his legacy in Canadian music, earning him multiple Maple Blues Awards for Piano/Keyboardist of the Year and a Juno Award, cementing his status as a cornerstone of the country's blues and rock keyboard tradition.
