Demo Cates

{{Short description|American-Canadian musician}}

Demetrius (Demo) Cates is an American-Canadian musician.Greg Quill, "Canada's blacks win recognition from music world". Toronto Star, November 1, 1985. He is most noted as a two-time Juno Award nominee for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year, receiving nominations at the Juno Awards of 1985 for "Memories of Moments""Two rockers square off in four categories: Juno nominations pit Adams against Hart". The Globe and Mail, September 4, 1985. and at the Juno Awards of 1989 for "Secret Love"."Juno candidates announced". Vancouver Sun, February 2, 1989.

Cates began his musical career in Detroit, Michigan as a member of the soul/funk band The Fabulous Counts.[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p17399/biography|pure_url=yes}} The Fabulous Counts]. AllMusic. After that band recorded part of its 1971 album What's Up Front That Counts in Toronto, Ontario, Cates opted to stay in the city, performing as a session musician for Lenny Breau and Wayne St. John.Greg Quill, "Cates cuts a new 'demo'". September 5, 1986.

In 1981 he collaborated with Bobby Boyer and Jay W. McGee on Rap the Night Away,Michael Rancic, [https://hazlitt.net/longreads/finding-mr-q "Finding Mr. Q"]. Hazlitt, March 17, 2021. which has been credited as the first known full-length Canadian hip hop album.Alessandro Porco, [https://maisonneuve.org/article/2010/03/18/evolution-canadian-hip-hop/ "The Evolution of Canadian Hip Hop"]. Maisonneuve, March 18, 2010. He recorded a number of soul, rhythm and blues and jazz singles, and was a regular performer in Toronto jazz clubs.Val Clery, "Jazz a dirty word in some clubs". Toronto Star, February 20, 1986.

Although principally a saxophonist, Cates has also performed as a jazz and R&B vocalist.Claudelle Boudreau, "Smooth jazz in the Country: Artists, food and refreshments; people on the go". Hamilton Spectator, May 19, 2005. He has also had occasional supporting or guest roles as an actor, including in the television series Forever Knight, Goosebumps and The Jane Show, and the films Blues Brothers 2000 and A Raisin in the Sun.