Legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor thought a young B.C. musician含羞草研究社檚 cover of his song 含羞草研究社淪teamroller Blues含羞草研究社� 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 Malakai含羞草研究社檚 video of 含羞草研究社淪teamroller Blues含羞草研究社� on Instagram and posted it to his own account on Nov. 21. But that wasn含羞草研究社檛 enough. Nine days later, he shared the video again, adding an older clip of the Cowichan Valley resident performing Tom Waits含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社淢artha,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淣ot only is it good that he posted it,含羞草研究社� said Showroom impresario Longevity John Falkner. 含羞草研究社淭he fact he reposted it, that meant he went back and watched the whole show. Then when he added 含羞草研究社楳artha,含羞草研究社� that means he含羞草研究社檚 looking through the Duncan Showroom archives.含羞草研究社�

As of Dec. 1, Taylor含羞草研究社檚 posts of Malakai含羞草研究社檚 renditions had racked up more than 33,000 views, and counting. It含羞草研究社檚 a boon not only for Malakai and the Showroom, but also for the Cowichan Valley and its arts community.

含羞草研究社淣ow [33,000] people know that the Showroom exists,含羞草研究社� Falkner said.

Taylor wasn含羞草研究社檛 the only celebrity to hype the 含羞草研究社淪teamroller Blues含羞草研究社� video, as former Melrose Place star Daphne Zuniga reposted it from Taylor含羞草研究社檚 account with the comment 含羞草研究社淒ang boy!!!含羞草研究社� and encouraged her fans to check out his other work.

The Oct. 29 show at which 含羞草研究社淪teamroller Blues含羞草研究社� 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 Farmers含羞草研究社� Market on Saturdays.

The 70-year-old Falkner spotted Malakai含羞草研究社檚 talent early on and can含羞草研究社檛 wait to see where it takes him.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e known all along that Malakai was going to do something,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 want to stick around another 20 years to see where this kid lands.含羞草研究社�

Malakai含羞草研究社檚 Instagram account can be found at . The Showroom含羞草研究社檚 video archive is at

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