Diana Braithwaite

Life and career Braithwaite is a Black Canadian and a descendant of the Wellington County, Ontario, pioneers. Her ancestors escaped slavery in America through the Underground Railroad, and lived in the first African-Canadian pioneer settlement in Ontario. She was born and grew up in Toronto, as the second youngest of six children of Bob and Rella Braithwaite. She began performing professionally as a singer-songwriter in her teenage years, and opened for John Lee Hooker in Toronto, before touring as Albert Collins's opening act. The duo recorded live at BBC Radio in London, England, with Bob Hall. Braithwaite and Whiteley have often worked together over the years, and in 2007 they released the album Morning Sun, a collection of original songs penned in a musical styling reminiscent of the 1930s and 1940s. It was issued by Electro-Fi Records.

They then toured North America, Europe, and the UK. Night Bird Blues (2009) had a five-week promotional tour in the UK, Russia, and Europe. The album peaked at number 2 on XM Satellite Radio. The follow-up release, Deltaphonic, reached number 1 on the same network. and the Monaghan Harvest Blues Festival in Ireland, plus the Hudson River Park Blues Festival in New York City, and had appearances on National Public Radio.

Their fifth joint album, Blues Stories, was released by Big City Blues Records in 2014.

Awards Braithwaite and Whiteley were named "Songwriter of the Year" at the 13th Maple Blues Awards.

Braithwaite is also the winner of the African-American Women in the Arts Award.

Films Braithwaite's film, Underground to Canada, aired on national television.