Whitey Somers

Original Roots, Blues & Other Grooves

Whitey Somers is a seasoned Canadian guitarist, singer, songwriter and recording artist whose music reflects a lifetime of stories told through a roots-and-blues lens. A true journeyman, he has been performing since the age of 16, bringing his songs to appreciative audiences in clubs, theatres, festivals, and stages across Canada and beyond.

Where Whitey truly shines is as a songwriter. His work captures life and times through Canadian eyes—honest, relatable, and rich with character. As he puts it, “I try to paint a feeling with melody and words.” On guitar, he delivers a versatile style that blends expressive phrasing with groove-driven energy, while his seasoned vocals bring authenticity and depth to every performance.

Coming from a musical family, Whitey is the nephew of Juno Award–winning Canadian composer Harry Somers and brother to renowned Vancouver Island bassist “Scary” Harry Somers. His passion for music began early and has been shaped by years of travel and lived experience across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and now Shaunavon, Saskatchewan.

With four solo albums, a growing catalog of original material and a host of other notable recordings to his credit. Whitey has also earned recognition across international songwriting competitions and music platforms. His song “A Free Man” placed 3rd in the 2025 International Songwriters Day Contest, and he was nominated for Songwriter of the Year by The Elite Music Awards. His work has also been recognized by the Canadian Songwriting Competition and the Unsigned Only International Music Competition.

In 2025, Whitey won the “Road to Memphis” Challenge in Saskatoon, earning the honor of representing the Saskatoon Blues Society at the 41st International Blues Challenge held on legendary Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Building on that momentum, he received multiple 2026 International Singer-Songwriters Association (ISSA) Award nominations and has advanced to the finals (to be held in Atlanta, Georgia in August of 2026) in four categories: International Songwriter, Vocalist, Musician, and Emerging Artist.

Whitey’s music continues to reach audiences worldwide, with international airplay and chart success for releases including Down That Road (2019) and The Call of the Blues (2021). His song “Gone” is also featured in the 2026 feature film The Killer Balloon: ’Til Death Do Us Part.

Grounded in roots, driven by story, and delivered with heart, Whitey Somers continues to write, perform, and connect through music that’s real, lived-in, and unmistakably his own.