Flint Guitarist Wins Blues Guitar Honor

Flint resident Bill Toll, aka "Sweet Willie Tea," is the solo/duo winner of the recent Canada South Blues Society Blues Challenge at Caesars Casino Windsor. After five weeks of competition, Toll advances to represent southern Canada at the prestigious 2011 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn.  Toll began playing guitar as a teenager inspired by his father's Johnny Cash records and in the 1980s released one record with the punk rock band Toll. In the 1990s he witnessed commercial success as front man for the blues/rock show band Cidy Zoo. The band's "Something for Everyone" release included the single "Talk Louder," the classical crossover instrumental "25 Strings” and the popular "Buick City Blues." All three received airplay and "Talk Louder" eventually charted at the No. 15 spot on the AAA radio charts.