Legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor thought a young B.C. musician鈥檚 cover of his song 鈥淪teamroller Blues鈥� 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鈥檚 video of 鈥淪teamroller Blues鈥� on Instagram and posted it to his own account on Nov. 21. But that wasn鈥檛 enough. Nine days later, he shared the video again, adding an older clip of the Cowichan Valley resident performing Tom Waits鈥檚 鈥淢artha,鈥� 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.

鈥淣ot only is it good that he posted it,鈥� said Showroom impresario Longevity John Falkner. 鈥淭he fact he reposted it, that meant he went back and watched the whole show. Then when he added 鈥楳artha,鈥� that means he鈥檚 looking through the Duncan Showroom archives.鈥�

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

鈥淣ow [33,000] people know that the Showroom exists,鈥� Falkner said.

Taylor wasn鈥檛 the only celebrity to hype the 鈥淪teamroller Blues鈥� video, as former Melrose Place star Daphne Zuniga reposted it from Taylor鈥檚 account with the comment 鈥淒ang boy!!!鈥� and encouraged her fans to check out his other work.

The Oct. 29 show at which 鈥淪teamroller Blues鈥� 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鈥� Market on Saturdays.

The 70-year-old Falkner spotted Malakai鈥檚 talent early on and can鈥檛 wait to see where it takes him.

鈥淚鈥檝e known all along that Malakai was going to do something,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to stick around another 20 years to see where this kid lands.鈥�

Malakai鈥檚 Instagram account can be found at . The Showroom鈥檚 video archive is at

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