  Formed in Toronto by highschool friends Mike Swartz and Bob Walker (both ex- of Black Wheat) in 1973, they recruited Swartz's younger brother Rob as the second guitarist, and with Walker handling bass, they added Rick Haberman on drums - and Lynx was born. They made their way around the local circuit for the next year or so, while writing material on the side. Reviews of the shows were positive and the band's legion steadily grew around the region. Steve Taylor, head of Starship Music Productions, caught their show one night and signed a deal with him. Armed with a demo tape they'd recorded at Mercy Brothers Studio in Emirlo, Ont, Warner landed them a contract with Quality Records in early '76. While they were at Toronto's Phase One Studios, they augmented their sound by bringing in Tony Caputo on keyboards. He was classically trained on the piano at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music, and holds a degree in music theory and performance from Toronto's Humber Music College. Produced by Bob Morten, the material the tracks they were laying down were for the most part a joint writing effort, although Caputo had come on board too late. MISSING LYNX, their debut album was on the store shelves by that summer, and tracks like the lead-off and first single "Dollars," "Best You Ever Had," "Lucifer" and anthemic "Goodbye Educaton, Hello Rock & Roll" captured the band's live essence, and word of the band's raucous and flambouyant show continued to spread. They were featred on Global TV's "Caught In The Act" program that year on its Toronto station. But even with constant touring that took them throughout Ontario and beyond, they were finding it tough cracking the program directors' personal playlists. But Caputo noted at that time there were also a lot more choices for the live concert-goers to choose from. "There were so many groups out there back then that we were like a traveling road show from town to town, getting together at obvious spots for gas and food and to warm up," he said. But following a tour that took them across the country, what had already been years of toiling for the group led to its demise, with everyone going their separate ways. The problem though was Quality had a three album contract, and Caputo was talked into carrying on under the Lynx banner. He assembled a new, streamlined lineup. Norm Paulin was the new frontman, while Daryl Peterson was the new bass player, and Jim Differ was brought in on drums. With Morten returning behind the controls, some sessions at Thunder Sound in Toronto culminated in their sophomore release in the spring of '78. In many ways, SNEAK ATTACK picked up where its predecessor left off. The first single was "Which Side," and like its follow-up, "I Just Wanna Love You," was rock with a bit of an edge, towering with actual anthemic potential. Other noteable tracks included the slightly eerie aura of "Ain't No Way," "and keys-driven "Better Together." But neither of the singles cracked the top 40, and following another tour, the band was again on the shelf. By spring of '79, Caputo put the name under another major overhaul, assembling guitarist Jerry Donnelly, Dan Nowack on drums and bassist Dave McWilliams. They were shipped off to Hollywood with new producers Ed Cobb and James Pike, and WE ARE THE PEOPLE was on the store shelves that fall. Unfortunately though, the title track was released as the only single. But with what Caputo called 'lack of interest' from the label, the song went nowhere, and albums didn't leave the stores. With the band on life support once again, and frustrated with the industry's politics, Caputo pulled the plug on Lynx by the end of the year, following a short tour. He tried one last time to resurrect the band a couple of years later, but eventually moved to Chicago, where he played with the likes of Peter Gabriel and Cheap Trick. He then began spending much of his time overseas, and was the musical director at Spain's 5-star La Cala Resort for five years. He's also worked with a number of artists in far-off lands, including TNT and 1349, a pair of Norweigan groups that he noted sound eerily familiar. "I bailed out of the business after the last screwing by Quality Records, I've mostly played in Europe for the last 25 years, where good Canadian rock is appreciated," Caputo laughed. He added that although the band caused little ripples at home, it's ironic and still gratifying to have made an impact overseas. "A lot of groups there are crazy about Canadian '70s rock, and knew of Lynx as well as a few others that they modeled a lot of their style after. I was amazed. I think they know more obscure ground-breaking bands than i did." In the early '00s, Unidisc re-released all three Lynx albums.
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