A native of Iowa, Denise McCann grew up in a musical family and began her journey as a teen, singing in the church choir and high school musicals. By 1967 she'd moved to California and was performing at local coffee houses as a folk singer. Her first real 'break' was later that year when she got a spot on the inaugural Monterey Pop Festival lineup. She spent the rest of the decade on the circuit honing her craft before moving to Vancouver in '74.

Her sound and image quickly took on a more pop-feel as she toured BC with Hot Crackers. She landed some work writing and performing commercial jingles before being signed to a deal with Butterfly Records in '76. She released the single "It Still Hurts" early the next year. Though the song failed to live up to expectations, the record company suggested she alter her sound again, tailoring another song to the disco crowd. The song "Tattoo Man" was released as a single and before long was in the top 20. The song "Midnight Madness" was cut next and was met with a fairly optimistic response, prompting her debut album shortly thereafter. Recorded in both San Fransisco and Vancouver, the self-titled record was a collection of 9 tracks McCann had written herself and featured The Tower of Power Horns Section.

The disco scene was in full groove and the title track was an instant hit, followed by "I Don't Want To Forget You", backed by "Too Good To Be True". Produced by husband Guy Sobell (who played in th 60's folk group The Chessmen with Terry Jacks), the album was quickly reissued with a new cover under the guise of TATTOO MAN (with 1 song substitution and different arrangements) to capitalize on the disco craze. It cracked the top 20 in Canada and the title track went to number one in some US cities.

Her follow-up was I HAVE A DESTINY, released the spring of '79. But disco's eventual demise was in the air, and the sophomore lp was met with lacklustre response - despite being a more well thought-out effort. The title-track was released as a single and although it cracked the top 40, it stalled shortly thereafter. Featuring a young Jim Vallance on drums and produced again by Sobell, other noteable cuts included the single's flip side "I Like The Look", the soulful "It Hurts Just Like The Real Thing" and the uptempo "The Boys In The Back Room". That summer she found herself on the ballot at that year's Junos, nominated for most promising female vocalist, but lost to Colleen Peterson. She was nominated again two years later in the same category, but again lost, this time to Claudja Barry - another to lay claim to the title of 'Canada's Disco Queen'.

Before the end of the year she was approached by Brian 'Too Loud' MacLeod' for his new side-project from Chilliwack. The Headpins were looking for a singer but McCann's sultry dance-image didn't fit the puzzle, lasting only a few weeks. She took a step back and resurfaced a year or so later with her own group, The Dead Marines ... and then The Night Train Revue. For the most part McCann all but disappeared from the music scene after marrying Randy Bachman in 1983. She did however appear on BTO's 'comeback' self-titled album the next year - doing bg vocals on "For The Weekend". Though she toyed with this project and that, she didn't appear on record again until '92, on husband Randy's ANY ROAD - co-writing and doing bg vocals on a few tracks.

She formed Black Velvet Band with Jo Lundstrom and Harry Warner, performing their unique brand of Irish traditional music at various folk festivals until disbanding in 2000. Rose Hip Jam (an earlier incarnation of which was named The Jammin' Tarts) is the latest project of this versatile singer/songwriter. Always a strong advocate on conservation issues, she drew attention that same year when she joined forces with Andrea Collins (Phil's ex-wife) and painter Robert Bateman's wife. The three posed nude for a calendar, with proceeds to help stop the development and subsequent deforestation of Saltspring Islands, off the coast of Victoria. She still lends her support to this day to a variety of other conservational issues as well as contributing regularly to a number of arts & crafts publications.