Tom Wilson at Loplops, January 18

Tom Wilson is huge.

And I don't mean in the sense of actual size, although he is quite tall.

I mean in the sense that he is a really big deal in the Canadian music scene.

From his early days as front man for the Hamilton-based Florida Razors to his most recent solo release, Dog Years, Wilson's career has spanned and flourished for three decades.

Aside from these two projects, you'll find two uberpopular Canadian bands - Junkhouse and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.

Formed in 1989, Junkhouse achieved massive success with its funk/blues-influenced 1993 debut album Strays, and hits like Out Of My Head, Praying For The Rain and Big Brown Turtle.

Two more albums, Birthday Boy and Fuzz, were released before Junkhouse disbanded in 1997, although they still perform together on occasion.

Joining forces with Stephen Fearing and Colin Linden to form the roots trio Blackie and the Rodeo Kings as a Willie P. Bennett tribute, has taken Wilson around the globe, earning him international success.

With four albums to date, including its Juno-award winning 1999 release Kings of Love, the band shows no signs of slowing down and seems to be the perfect compliment to Wilson's solo career.

And as if he wasn't busy enough, Wilson released The Shack Recordings Vol. 1, a collaboration with longtime friend Bob Lanois in 2005.

After a treacherous battle alcohol and drug addiction, Wilson has emerged triumphant, in love with life, his kids and comedienne extraordinaire, Kathy Jones.

But most of all, himself.

Dog Days is proof of that from the driving, gritty rock opener, Super Sun Natural to the sleepy, sexy waltz, Dreamland that closes the album.

And then there's his distinctive deep voice.

As his website states, "Tom communicates via a voice best seen as a force of nature. Seemingly spawned from the mud of the Mississippi Delta, it is steeped in the spirit of the blues. It also reflects Tom’s beloved hometown, Hamilton, Ontario. It is raw, honest and unpretentious, primal and a little dirty, but possessing its own unique grace. If Steeltown could sing, chances are it would sound a lot like Tom Wilson."

To read and/or hear more about Wilson, visit his website or his myspace page.

This legend will be performing at Loplops Gallery-Lounge on Thursday, January 18.

Tickets for this event are $15 in advance or $18 at the door.