For nearly two decades, LaSalle resident Jeff Burrows, best known as the drummer of Canadian rock band The Tea Party, has been as much a force in Windsor-Essex’s charitable scene as he has been behind his drum kit. Between marathon jam sessions, benefit concerts, and grassroots food bank drives, Burrows’ rhythm keeps time for a community that rallies around his giving spirit.
This past May marked the 19th edition of Burrows’ 24-Hour Drum Marathon, an event that’s raised close to $800,000 for area charities since its inception. This year, Burrows was able to raise $40,000. The long-running event—equal parts endurance test and musical celebration—draws musicians, fans, and volunteers from across the region.
Some of the charities that have benefited from the marathon include the Canadian Mental Health Association, Harmony In Action, House of Sophrosyne, In Honour of the Ones We Love, Maryvale Adolescent and Family Services, St. Clair College’s scholarship program, and Transition to Betterness.
“I’ve got people that have come ten years in a row, nineteen years in a row,” says Burrows. “They’re all donating their time. It’s not just me—it’s a whole team behind it.”
Burrows plans to close out the marathon’s remarkable run with a 20th and final edition in 2026, marking the end of an era but not the end of his giving streak. “We’re going to go out with a big bang,” he promises. “Then we’ll move on to something new. I’ve got a few ideas floating around.”
Giving back has become second nature to Burrows. Earlier this year, he joined forces again with LIUNA Local 625, at Leamington’s historic Bank Theatre, for the Labour Day S’Aints concert, a family-friendly show that raised funds for the St. John’s Anglican Church food bank. This year’s free-to-attend event saw a crowd of about 4,000 people and raised almost $9,000 for the charity.
Formed in 2010 by Burrows and singer/songwriter Jody Raffoul, The S’Aints, a Windsor-based supergroup, performs annual Christmas charity concerts in support of local food banks. The lineup includes Wes Buckley, Kelly “Mr. Chill” Hoppe, David Cyrenne, Kay Howl, Marty Bak, Jim O’Neil, and vocalists Liz Robinson and Stephanie Baker—known as The Twisted Sisters.
“People fly in from all over the world for that one,” Burrows says proudly. “We’re blessed to do it, and we never take it for granted. There’s such a strong giving community in Windsor, Essex, and Chatham-Kent.”
On top of those large-scale events, Burrows has found joy in more intimate fundraisers, such as his shows with The Twisted Sisters and “Mr. Chill”. Their upcoming benefit, taking place on Thurs., Oct. 30 at Banded Goose Brewery, will help the Kingsville Community Food Bank.
“These smaller food banks in Kingsville, Leamington, and LaSalle are literally run by volunteers,” Burrows explains. “They’re grassroots. I love that. Why not help them? This is our backyard.”
Whether it’s a full amphitheatre or a local Legion hall, Burrows’ goal is the same—to lift spirits, bring people together, and direct energy toward those in need. “As a kid, you don’t understand that it’s better to give than receive,” he laughs. “But as an adult, you see the smiles on people’s faces, and it’s pretty heartwarming.”
Between all the charity work, Burrows is still keeping busy behind the drum kit. His band Tea Party is about to embark on a massive cross-Canada tour this fall with Can-Rock legends Finger Eleven and the Headstones, kicking off in Penticton, B.C. before rolling through major cities like Edmonton, Ottawa, and Halifax—with a Windsor stop on December 10 at Caesars Windsor.
The tour, which has already seen several casino and arena dates sell out, will be one of the biggest Canadian rock runs of the year. Also, ahead of the shows, the band will hit the studio in Vancouver to capture new material they’ve been collaborating on remotely.
“Jeff [Martin]’s in Australia, Stuart [Chatwood]’s in Vancouver, and we’ve all been writing and recording from home,” says Burrows. “But for drums, you can’t beat a real studio sound. So, we’ll track for a few days before rehearsals.”
Burrows has even turned the tour itself into another opportunity to give back—auctioning off a “Drum Tech for a Day” experience at select shows, with all proceeds going to UHC’s Hub of Opportunity Food Assistance Program, one of his longtime charitable beneficiaries. The limited spots sold out almost instantly in Penticton, Abbotsford, Windsor, and Moncton.
“I started doing that maybe four or five tours ago,” he says. “It gives someone a really unique experience and lets me raise more money in a creative way.”
With a full tour, studio sessions, and a 20th anniversary drum marathon on the horizon, Jeff Burrows shows no sign of slowing down. For him, music and philanthropy have always gone hand in hand.
Between his national tour, studio work, and the upcoming 20th and final 24-Hour Drum Marathon, Burrows continues to stay busy both on and off the stage. Over nearly two decades, he has brought together musicians, volunteers, and fans to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities across Windsor-Essex. For Burrows, the music and the giving go hand in hand: “I’m really, really lucky.”