By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

In the early ‘90s, a trio of musicians from LaSalle knew they had within them a unique, eclectic rock sound they were beginning to perfect. It was within the walls of the former Coach and Horses bar in Windsor where they crafted the distinct sound of what would become the globally-renowned rock band, The Tea Party.

On Friday, July 10, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Councillor Renaldo Agostino presented members of The Tea Party – guitarist/singer Jeff Martin, drummer Jeff Burrows, and Bass/keyboardist Stuart Chatwood – a Key to the City.

In a full circle moment, the trio accepted the award, presented in recognition of 35-years of global success, inside what used to be the Coach and Horses bar. It is now Rocket Innovation Studio, which was thanked for allowing the presentation to happen in what was once a legendary venue.

The Tea Party even recorded its independent album in the upstairs of the facility, in the north-west corner in 1991.

“What better way to come back to the Coach and Horses than with the legendary Tea Party,” Agostino said. “It is such an exciting time for this group of guys who have done so much for the community.”

“They are Windsor legends,” Mayor Dilkens said of the trio and all they have accomplished so far, including selling over three-millions units around the world, achieving gold, platinum, and double-platinum awards, and several JUNO Award nominations.

Over the course of its career, the hard rock – infused with world music – band has released eight albums, in addition to its inaugural independent album, its collection album “Tangents,” and “Alhambra,” which recorded previous music that was reworked.

Dilkens said he watched The Tea Party grow in the ‘90s, watching the band take off to become hyper-successful.

The recognition was hosted at this time as the band was in the area for a visit.

“Keys to the City are important,” he said. “After 12-years of being Mayor, I have given out very few Keys to the City.”

He presented this prestigious recognition “to the best contributors, and when I think of The Tea Party, it is more than just the music,” Dilkens said, adding it is about what they have done for the community.

There is a “laundry list of charitable endeavours” the band has supported, Dilkens noted. That included the region’s Transition to Betterness, which is dedicated to providing comfort to patients and families impacted by a life-altering illness, and the global White Ribbon Campaign, which is a movement of men and boys working to end gender-based violence.

In addition, Burrows raises funds through the charitable band, The S’Aints, and his 24-hour drum marathon, which was an annual fundraiser for a variety of local causes for twenty-years.

“I am honoured to be here to recognize a band that has made a difference not just in our community and for our community, but around the world,” Dilkens said.

Receiving a Key to the City meant a lot to Burrows and his family. “All the guys can attest it is the families that suffer in the beginning when we are out touring months and months at a time.”

Martin called receiving the recognition humbling and an honour. He credited his father, who he said believed in him at a very young age, when he began to play the guitar at seven. His father’s influence installed within him

in him at a very young age, when he began to play the guitar at seven. His father’s influence installed within him a fascination and appreciation of the blues “and made me the guitar player that I am.”

In a moment of reflection, Martin said, “It is just amazing to think that in that corner that is where we started, and in February of this year, we were on stage at the Sydney Opera House – sold that out – with the Sydney Symphony. What a crazy journey this has been.”

And that journey has been a blessing, he added, thanking his bandmates.

He called it another feather in the cap, “and we are running out of places to put these feathers. It has been a wonderful, wonderful journey. It’s a blessing.”

“We are Windsor’s Tea Party, and we have always been Windsor’s Tea Party,” Chatwood added, noting the recognition was symbolic that the city has their back and supports them as they play stages around the world. “That is just a great feeling.”

Selling out the Coach and Horses in those early days made the band realize what they had was special, Chatwood said, noting they noticed the fever the fans had for an independent local band, which then grew from city-to-city.

Being across from Detroit and Detroit radio, The Tea Party had an “unfair advantage.” Those from other areas of the Country did not have the exposure they did to that culture. “It is in our DNA. You start listening when you are a child. You know every Led Zeppelin song, every blues artist, the guitar players, the blues players,” Chatwood said.

When The Tea Party started making music in the early ‘90s, “every other band our age was pretty much trying to smell like teen spirit. So, The Tea Party, we didn’t want to be about that; we wanted to do something different – as much as we appreciated it. Hence our fascination with world music and fusing that with hard rock,” Martin added. It has gotten to a point, these days, if a rock band comes out and they have anything remotely middle-eastern in their sound, now they get compared to The Tea Party.”

What differs playing at home than anywhere else includes a bigger guest list, Martin said. Burrows added they get a lot more nervous preparing to play for an audience at home, as family and friends are in the crowd. Four of their best friends were their first fans, and they were proud to invite them to the event to recognize how it all started.

“Playing at home, that’s the test of a really good band,” Burrows added.

Mayor Dilkens also spoke of the importance of supporting the arts and musicians, including that of the City’s Arts, Culture, and Heritage Fund, established to try to support the arts, and the funds it invested into the Capitol Theatre.

Chatwood thanked the City of Windsor for realizing the importance of the arts.

While reflecting on the past 35-years was special, Martin noted he believes “the best is yet to come.”