Our Instructors
Professional instructors that just love music.
Cameron Dougall
Low End Nation Creator and Director/Bassist
Cameron Dougall is the creator of Low End Nation. A busy touring and session bassist from Toronto, ON he currently resides in Calgary, AB, Canada. He has toured extensively across Canada and the United States and has worked with artists including Divine Brown, Jarvis Church (Philosopher KIngs), Maya Azucena, KC Roberts, Guru, Matisse (Keys N' Krates), Graph Nobel, Res and God Made Me Funky.
Cameron currently records and performs with R&B/Neo Soul group Tendavillage and instrumental prog metal band NOK NOVUM, among many others.
Cameron has been teaching bass and music theory with a special emphasis on pocket and feel for over 20 years and looks forward to passing on this knowledge to all of the students at Low End Nation Bass Lessons to help them find their own sense of groove and pocket.
Rich Brown
Bass
Rich Brown has been an active member of Toronto’s culturally diverse music scene since 1992. Influences such as Jaco Pastorius, Victor Bailey, Jimmy Haslip, and Alain Caron fuelled his passion for bass at the age of 17. Rich is currently touring around the globe with the band Samdhi led by New York based sax-man Rudresh Mahanthappa. He has also performed and recorded with some of the finest musicians in the world including jazz vocalist Carol Welsman, Jane Siberry, Glenn Lewis, Dapp Theory, Steve Coleman & 5 Elements, James ‘Blood’ Ulmer, Vernon Reid, Andy Narrell, Bruce Cockburn, Marc Jordan, Kim Mitchell, and David Clayton Thomas (of Blood, Sweat, & Tears) to name a few.
Rich also dabbles in the film industry and has appeared in the feature film “Glitter” starring Mariah Carey, the made for TV movie “The Natalie Cole Story” starring Natalie Cole, as well as the television series “Soul Food”.
Our local artist also leads his own band, Rinse The Algorithm, which was nominated for “Electric Group of the Year” three years in a row (’07, ’08, ’09) at the National Jazz Awards and won the Galaxie Rising Star prize in 2010. He has appeared on over 60 recordings ranging from Jazz to Funk to Latin to traditional Asian and Arabic music.
David McMillan
Bass
Bass guitarist Dave McMillan grew up in Midland, Ontario, Canada. It was there that Dave began his musical career playing professionally in many local clubs and bars. Influenced early on by the music of Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Pearl Jam, along with many others, Dave quickly became one of the areas busiest working bassists. At 19 Dave moved to Toronto to study Jazz at Humber College where he graduated with Honours.
Since then Dave has carved out a very successful career as a professional Musician both in the studio and on stage. He has toured Canada and the U.S. extensively and has played with many of Canada’s top Artists.
The list of artists that Dave has worked with include Big Wreck, Justin Beiber, Carly Rae Jepsen, Nick Carter, The Philosopher Kings, Fefe Dobson, Ko, Crash Karma, Brian Melo, Keisha Chante, Treble Charger, and Shiloh to name a few.
Dave’s studio career has afforded him the opportunities to work with some of the industry’s top producers including Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Alice in Chains), Eric Ratz (Billy Talent, Cancer Bats) Gavin Brown (Three Days Grace, Tragically Hip) and Jon Levine (Philosopher Kings, Kreesha Turner)
Currently Dave is the bassist for the band Big Wreck, currently touring in support of their new EP "Big Wreck: 7.1."
Calvin Beale
Bass
Calvin Beale is aJuno Award winning in demand live/studio bassist. He has backed some of the world's greatest artists including:
Prince, Eric Benet, John Scofield, Bryan McKnight, Jim Cuddy, Johnny Reid, Debrah Cox, Ruben Studdard, Glass Tiger, Francesco Yates, Ruben Studdard, Chris Hadfield, Amy Sky, Susan Aglukar, Carly Rae Jepsen, Carly Rose Sonneclair, Divine Brown, Kardinal Offishall, Maestro Fresh Wes, Steven Page, Keisha Chante, Jully Black, Orianthi, Suzie McNeil, Matt Dusk, Snow, David Clayton Thomas, Guthrie Govan, Luke McMaster, Sean Jones, Tony bennet, Crystal Shawanda, Elise Legrow and Alan Frew.
Calvin has also appeared on The Casino, The Toronto Show, Good Morning America, Cover Me Canada, Canada AM, Canadian Idol, MTV, The Much Music Video Awards and Bravo's Live From The Masonic Temple.
Sekou Lumumba
Drums
For just over 2 decades now, Sekou Lumumba has recorded and toured with many luminaries of the Canadian music scene: producer Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright), Chantal Kreviazuk, Big Wreck, Bedouin Soundclash, Thornley, Esthero, Jully Black, Divine Brown, Ivana Santilli, Kardinal Ofishall, and Incubus' bassist Ben Kenney, to name a few. His ability to seamlessly switch from one music style to another (rock, r 'n' b, punk, house, latin, drum n' bass, reggae, etc), has made him a first call session musician in multiple genres. He is currently an active studio player as well as the live/touring drummer for Serena Ryder and Big Wreck.
TJ Whitelaw
Guitar
TJ Whitelaw is a Toronto based guitar player, composer and musical director. TJ's on-stage experience is extensive (touring in North America, Europe, and Asia) and all-encompassing that spans from pop to jazz to gospel. He's performed with MYA, Jessie Reyez, Madison Beer, Kardinal Offishall, Allan Rayman, Ruben Studdard, Johnny Reid, and many more.
TJ can currently be seen performing with artists Amaal Nuux, Olivia Lunny and JP Saxe among many others.
Joel Joseph
Keyboards/Producer
Born in Toronto, Joel JJ Joseph has been around music from an early age, playing drums, sax and piano. After receiving a scholarship and graduating from the prestigious humber college music program , JJ has gone on to work with legendary artists including Nelly Furtado, Serena Ryder, Snow, Kaos, Saukrates, Kardinal Offiishal, Deborah Cox, the Weeknd and most recently universal recording artist Ryland James. Through live performance and remixes JJ has been instrumental in tens of millions of global album sales, and industry awards. His latest project, Bounty Hunterz is slated for release in 2021:“Music is the sound of our culture, today and yesterday. The Bounty Hunterz encapsulate the artistic ideals of our shared musical heritage and package it for today's audience.”
Wade O. Brown
Vocals/Keys
Mesmerizing audiences with his velvety voice and dazzling fans as a maestro on the keyboards, singer / songwriter Wādo Brown is “an artists’ artist” delivering a rich history of Soul and Rhythm & Blues.
Born Wade Osomond Brown in the Soul Mecca of Detroit, Wādo dedicated his life to his musical passion and cut his chops as a triple threat talent under the wing of the legendary Clarke Sisters — one of Detroit’s most notable singing families. From there he would move his inspiration to Toronto and became a sought out singer, keyboard player and musical director.
For 30 years musical mainstays confirmed what Brown does for live entertainment and studio magic! Icons like Aretha Franklin and Quincy Jones have utilized his big persona for personal engagements while stars Drake, The Weeknd, Glenn Lewis, and Divine Brown still call him to share the stage and screen. His two critically acclaimed albums are streaming favorites and 2021 will feature a third Soul Revue release collaborating with long time Philosopher Kings front man, Gerald Eaton aka Jarvis Church. From his two album releases to his mastery of mic and stage control, it only takes a moment of your attention to see that Wādo Brown’s magnetic persona and authentic soul sound makes his every contribution a journey into the songbook of our lives.
Divine Brown
Recording Artist/Vocalist
A rare gift to have, Divine Brown’s five-octave vocal range makes everybody stand up and pay attention. Her versatility as a performer both musically and vocally has found her manifesting success in the musical theatre world, as well as Top 40 radio. Divine has starred in several musical plays such as Rent, Ain’t Miss Behavin’, Life, Death and the Blues, and the Obeah Opera. Placing three top 10 singles on CHR, AC and Hot AC radio in Canada (with her hit single “Sunglasses” reaching Top 15 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart in 2010) Divine also captured the heart of the public and her music garnered her a Certified Gold Album for her debut self-titled project (2005 - Universal Music), a Juno Award for R&B Album of the Year (The Love Chronicles) as well as a SOCAN #1 Award.
Divine is currently getting ready to re-release her EP "Crazy Love Amplified" which is a reflection of her diverse taste in music and influences. Over the last 3 years, Divine set out to create a collection of songs that could speak to her, fans young and old. Singles from “Crazy Love Amplified" is being prepped for release this fall. Divine’s constant exploration of music and self will bring another diverse project in the near future. In the meantime, Divine will be spending her time on the road bringing you new music, creating songs for a new project, and performing in various musical theatre productions.
