Kenny Wayne takes the stage

In the '50s, Hall of Famer Fats Domino was one of rock and roll's earliest stars. His New Orleans style of piano and blend of R&B was often imitated.

Vancouver-based singer/pianist, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne is a true modern-day bluesman whose unique brand of jazz, boogie-woogie and swinging piano sound eerily similar to Fats Domino.

In fact, Wayne is performing his Fats Domino Tribute on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Country Meadows Golf Course.

"My style is so much like his and I'm also from New Orleans," said Wayne, adding he's been performing the Fats Domino tribute show for two years. "Fats was always one of my favourites."

He went on to add that what makes Fats Domino's music still popular today is that "it's memorable, happy and inspiring."

"Fats really had a sweetness about him and he was never tarnished by any controversy - no drugs, no jail," said the 68-year-old piano man. "Who can forget his songs "Hello Josephine" or "Blueberry Hill"?

"[He's] my alter ego." Wayne's personal favourite, "Walking to New Orleans", is always a crowd pleaser whenever he performs it on stage.

More than 400 people came out to his last Fats Domino tribute on the lawns of Country Meadows.

"It's a pretty special night to have the concert outdoors," he said.

Wayne is bringing along an eight-piece band to back him up - a horns and bass section, as well as a harmonica player.

"I'm going to be giving the audience a real New Orleans style party," said Wayne of his upcoming concert. "I'll have a Mardi Gras theme, and we will pass out beads and there will be a 1950s vintage car there as well."

Wayne has performed a number of legends from rock and roll, including Elvis, Roy Orbison and Ray Charles.

"The toughest thing about doing a tribute show is to sound natural," he said. "A lot of musicians study the mannerisms and moves of the people they imitate, but I don't.

"Fats Domino is an easy transition for me because we do share a similar style."

Originally from Spokane, Wash., Wayne spent most of his youth in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where he was strongly influenced by gospel music.

"My mother was very musical and got me involved in the church choir where I was fascinated with Methodist-style gospel music," Wayne said in his warm, melodic voice.

An only child, the eight-year-old Wayne was encouraged by his mother, Billie, to also try his hand at piano.

In 1959 - the days of the late, great John Lee Hooker and Ray Charles - the 15-year-old got his first professional gig with his band, The Kenny Wayne Trio, in a Los Angeles restaurant/gambling joint.

"I was paid $100 for the weekend," Wayne said with a grin. "That was pretty good money back then."

Word-of-mouth spread about this garage

band that played some awesome Motown and jazz, but since the trio were underage they could only perform in homes, private parties and restaurants. The guys disbanded after high school.

Wayne continued his musical career. He played piano and sang with various R&B, jazz and Motown groups until 1974.

Then fate intervened. "I met up with a British songwriter, Paul McCartney's friend, who urged me to try my hand at writing my own lyrics," Wayne said. "My first song was "The Other Side", a song about saying goodbye to something and hello to something else."

The song was a hit. From then on his songwriting path was paved.

Wayne wrote lyrics for his band - a Santana-ish group called Sun Smoke - until he branched out in 1980.

"I started doing shows with Billy Preston and with Sly and the Family Stone," Wayne reminisces of his days headlining with bigname musicians across the United States.

In 1981, Wayne, lured by the beauty of B.C. and the "gorgeous West Coast women," moved to Vancouver where he showcased his compelling jazz and R&B piano style in venues such as Richard's on Richard's and the Commodore.

Wayne is not ready to retire his dazzling, colourful suits or hang up his trademark hat anytime soon. He plans on tickling the ivories for years to come.

He will be performing his Fats Domino Tribute show on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Country Meadows Golf Course, 8482 No. 6 Rd. If it's a beautiful night, the concert happens on the grounds of the golf course. Tickets are $40 and include a prime rib buffet and the show. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.

"Come prepared to dance and enjoy great food," said Wayne. "The way it's set up just outside the dining room doors, people can either sit indoors or out."

For more information or to reserve your seat (a $20 deposit required), call 6042414653 or visit www.countrymeadowsgolfcourse.ca.