Legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor thought a young B.C. musiciansa国际传媒檚 cover of his song sa国际传媒淪teamroller Bluessa国际传媒� was so nice, he had to share it twice.

The five-time Grammy winner and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame spotted 11-year-old Malakaisa国际传媒檚 video of sa国际传媒淪teamroller Bluessa国际传媒� on Instagram and posted it to his own account on Nov. 21. But that wasnsa国际传媒檛 enough. Nine days later, he shared the video again, adding an older clip of the Cowichan Valley resident performing Tom Waitssa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒淢artha,sa国际传媒� and tagging the gravelly voiced troubadour.

Both clips, with Malakai on vocals and piano, were recorded during live gigs at the Duncan Showroom.

Malakai had tagged Taylor in his initial post, noting that he has tickets to see Taylor and Bonnie Raitt in Victoria once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Taylor apparently did his own research on YouTube after that.

sa国际传媒淣ot only is it good that he posted it,sa国际传媒� said Showroom impresario Longevity John Falkner. sa国际传媒淭he fact he reposted it, that meant he went back and watched the whole show. Then when he added sa国际传媒楳artha,sa国际传媒� that means hesa国际传媒檚 looking through the Duncan Showroom archives.sa国际传媒�

As of Dec. 1, Taylorsa国际传媒檚 posts of Malakaisa国际传媒檚 renditions had racked up more than 33,000 views, and counting. Itsa国际传媒檚 a boon not only for Malakai and the Showroom, but also for the Cowichan Valley and its arts community.

sa国际传媒淣ow [33,000] people know that the Showroom exists,sa国际传媒� Falkner said.

Taylor wasnsa国际传媒檛 the only celebrity to hype the sa国际传媒淪teamroller Bluessa国际传媒� video, as former Melrose Place star Daphne Zuniga reposted it from Taylorsa国际传媒檚 account with the comment sa国际传媒淒ang boy!!!sa国际传媒� and encouraged her fans to check out his other work.

The Oct. 29 show at which sa国际传媒淪teamroller Bluessa国际传媒� was recorded was a milestone concert for Malakai, marking four years since his first appearance on the Showroom stage at the age of seven. The prodigy has performed at the Showroom and other Cowichan Valley venues many times, and can often be seen busking across the street from Duncan City Hall during the Farmerssa国际传媒� Market on Saturdays.

The 70-year-old Falkner spotted Malakaisa国际传媒檚 talent early on and cansa国际传媒檛 wait to see where it takes him.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e known all along that Malakai was going to do something,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 want to stick around another 20 years to see where this kid lands.sa国际传媒�

Malakaisa国际传媒檚 Instagram account can be found at . The Showroomsa国际传媒檚 video archive is at

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