Born in Montréal, blues vocalist Valérie Clio was raised in Brooklyn, where she sang Gospel in church choirs from the age of 12. Her strong vocals and her love of soul, blues and gospel brought her to perform in churches and clubs throughout her teenage years and early adult life. Upon her return to the province, she formed the Blues Highway, and almost instantly accumulated accolades and awards thanks to her rich vocals and energetic live performances. In 2010, she took home the "Best New Group" award from the Quebec Lys Blues Awards. With band members Shaw Rice (guitar), André Lavergne (lapsteel), Sébastien Champagne (piano), Yannick Lambert (bass) and Serge Poulin (drums), she released her long-awaited and lauded debut album, My First Blues, in 2009.