About True Rodeo
Blue Rodeo burst onto the Canadian music scene in 1987 with their first album, Outskirts,
and many a Canadian fell in love with the band's blend of rock, country, and rockabilly
throughout the album and embodied in Rose Coloured Glasses, Rebel, Outskirts, and their
career defining hit, Try. The young men who would eventually make up True Rodeo were
among those Canadians, and the music of Blue Rodeo has been a vital part of their lives
as it has for millions of Blue Rodeo fans across Canada and around the world.
True Rodeo's goal is to bring those iconic songs to its audiences with energy and
musicianship to bring back the feeling of hearing them for the first time. Look around
our website, see and hear True Rodeo, sit back, close your eyes, and experience those
great Blue Rodeo songs and those great feelings again.
Below you'll find brief biographies of True Rodeo.
Special thanks to Terry DeBono for his many photos found throughout this website
& True Rodeo's other media platforms, and to Dee Brinton for photos and live footage.
True Rodeo Is...
Vito Alvaro
Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin,
and Harmonica
Vito is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has played for audiences all over North America as a solo act, in duos, trios, and bands. Vito's musical prowess encompasses rock, funk, pop, jazz, and more. Vito's tenor vocals and fine guitar, mandolin, and harmonica playing make him the perfect person to take on the daunting task of Jim Cuddy's musical brilliance.
Dave Brinton
Vocals and Guitars
Dave started True Rodeo out of his love for Blue Rodeo's music. Getting his first acoustic guitar from his parents on that snowy prairie Christmas Day, Dave's musical meanerings have taken him onto stages in Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the U.S., as a solo act, in duos, and bands such as Groove Hammer, and even a sketch/improvisation/musical comedy group, Comedy On Wry throughout the '90s. Dave is honoured to sing and play Greg Keelor's parts in True Rodeo.
Paul Cafarelli
Bass Guitar
Paul Cafarelli has been playing bass on the Southern Ontario music scene for decades with a long list of artists and bands. His musical interests and talents run the gamut from classic rock to country to jazz and more. Paul's super solid bass playing and rather uncanny resemblance to Blue Rodeo's Bazil Donovan make Paul the one and only choice for True Rodeo.
Larry Crowe
Drums
Look up the definition of "consummate professional" and you'll see a picture of Larry Crowe. Larry has played on countless stages all over the world since the mid 1980's. He has been teaching drumming for over 20 years and is the author Masterful Drumming 1 and 2 and continues to teach workshops, clinics and online courses. Larry even plays Yamaha drums just like Blue Rodeo's Glenn Milchem...coincidence?
Terry Donnelly
Keyboards
Terry has been playing professionally since the ripe old age of 16. In the 1980's he toured nonstop for 7 years with artists such as Bryan Adams, the Payolas, Colin James, k.d. lang, Streetheart, Jeff Healey, Jeff Beck, & Stephen Stills to name a few! Terry plays a Hammond SK2 organ and a Yamaha MODX5 to recreate many parts of True Rodeo's sound...but he DOES NOT under any circumstances play a Hammond Suzuki Melodian.
Mimico Bill
Dobro, Guitars, Mandolin,
Pedal Steel Guitar, and Vocals
Blue Rodeo has Colin Cripps, Jimmy Bowskill, and Kim DesChamps. True Rodeo has all three in Mimico Bill. A multi-instrumentalist, Bill plays lead guitar, dobro, mandolin, and pedal steel guitar, and lends vocal harmonies. Bill also plays bass, classical guitar, & has experience in musical direction, engineering, production, & orchestral studies. Bill also played the part of George Harrison in a long running Beatles tribute project.