[2] "Flip, Flop and Fly" has been Downchild's only hit single, and became the signature song of Hock Walsh.

The band's musical style is described as being "a spirited, if fundamental, brand of jump-band and Chicago-style blues".

[4] The initial band membership was Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh, who remains the sole constant band member, with younger brother Rick "Hock" Walsh on vocals, accompanied by Dave Woodward, Cash Wall, John Tanti, and Jim Milne.

They were the house band at the fabled Grossman's Tavern from 1968 to 1970, managed briefly by former folk musician, Ron Gerston.

He was later greatly influenced by James Cotton, both in terms of musical style and band format.

"[11] In 1982, the band suffered a major setback with the untimely death of keyboard player Jane Vasey, who succumbed to leukemia at the age of thirty-two.

The band came back in the fall of 1982, with both a new singer and a new keyboard player, by way of a live recording from Toronto's historic El Mocambo club, But I'm On The Guest List.

Despite being closely identified with the band's initial sound and also being the co-writer, with brother Donnie Walsh, of "Shot Gun Blues", later recorded by the Blues Brothers, Hock Walsh would leave, rejoin and be replaced as lead singer in the band on several occasions.

[9] Notwithstanding their strained relationship, Donnie Walsh assessed his brother's ability as follows: "He was a fabulous singer; he could sing the blues better than anybody I've ever heard.

[14] His last recordings were three tracks on 4 Blues, the 1998 debut album of Toronto's Big Daddy G Review.

[17] One of Tony Flaim's last public performances was at a tribute to the late Hock Walsh, in February 2000, at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern.

[18] Most of the current lineup has been together since 1990, when Chuck Jackson (vocals) and Michael Fonfara[19] (keyboards) joined Donnie Walsh (guitar and harmonica) and Pat Carey (sax).

[21] Bass player Gary Kendall joined Downchild for a second time in 1995, after first playing with the band during the 1979-1983 period.

In 2005, when Dan Aykroyd and James Belushi toured as The Blues Brothers, Donnie Walsh joined them onstage at Ontario's Casino Rama.

[26] Michael Fonfara died on 8 January 2021 in a Toronto hospital, following a two-year battle with cancer.

Later that summer, Downchild embarked on a 50th anniversary tour, long delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, joined by returning drummer Jim Casson (who played with the group 1996 - 2001) and Toronto keyboardist Tyler Yarema.