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After leaving Ronnie Hawkins in '63, his back-up band also earned success on their own, first with Bob Dylan. But after Dylan's near-fatal motorcycle accident, they ventured out on their own - first as Levon Helms' Sextet, Canadian Esquires, Levon & The Hawks, and then The Crackers - before settling on simply The Band in 1966. Levon Helm, who came up to Toronto in the late 50's from Arkansas with Hawkins, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel mixed their folk roots with blues influences and an innovative Dixie beat, and wrote some of rock's most original and time-enduring music, including the classics "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down", "Up On Cripple Creek", "The Shape I'm In" and "The Weight".
After The Band's original breakup in 1976, all the members went on to various solo career projects. Robertson would gain the most critical and commercial success with songs such as "Showdown At Big Sky" and "American Roulette". He's also contributed to a number of projects highlighting his Native roots. Helm meanwhile would cut a number of albums, tour with Ringo Starr's All Star Band, and appear in a number of movies, including "Carny" along with Robertson.
Richard Manuel committed suicide in 1986, two years before The Band received recognition for their contributions to rock in 1988, when they were inducted into The Canadian Music Hall Of Fame. Rick Danko died in his sleep of natural causes in 1999.
Bob Segarini, one of Canada's most prolific 'names', got his start in the mid 60's when the American-born Bob Segarini formed The Family Tree while living in Vancouver. After the group's eponymous debut, he moved to LA and formed Roxy with Randy Bishop. Again after only one lp, he moved to Montreal and formed The Wackers. 3 albums later and it was on to The Dudes with ex-April Wine members Ritchie and David Henman and future Winer Brian Greenway.
After moving to Toronto, he ventured on to a successful solo career that extended into the early '80's. He'd go on to produce several other acts, as well as a career in radio and work on film scores.
In 1965, East Prussian born Joachim Kruledat emigrated to Toronto from Germany. After changing his name to John Kay he hooked up with local group Jack London & The Sparrows, soon re-dubbed Steppenwolf. And by '67 they'd made California homebase, going on to literally define an entire generation. Through their music they epitomized the attitude of America at the time.
From their self-titled debut in '67, they dominated the charts for the next decade, spawning such classic rock anthems as "Magic Carpet Ride", a cover of Hoyt Axton's "The Pusher", "Monster", a scathing commentary on the Vietnam War, "Sookie Sookie" and "Born To Be Wild".
Born David Thomsett, David Clayton Thomas, an immigrant from England, was already established in the Toronto music scene with his groups The Shays, The Bossmen, and The Combine, releasing a string of singles between them, when he was recruited as frontman for Blood Sweat & Tears' self-titled second lp in 1969.
Their fusion of modern jazz and blues with the day's rock and roll came louder than life with horn sections and was both eclectic and innovative, spawning such hits as "Hi De Ho", "You've Made Me So Very Happy" the sombre "When I Die," and "Spinning Wheel", which peaked at #1 on Billboard in '69, holding the position for 7 non-consecutive weeks.
His recording career wove in and out of BS&T and solo efforts into the next century, and Thomas was also honoured in 1993 with a special Juno for his outstanding contributions to the Canadian music industry.
After Domenic Troiano left Robbie Lane & The Disciples, he spent the a period with Ronnie Hawkins, before forming Mandala in '67. Their jazz-flavoured
The Paupers were one of the more predominant Toronto groups in the mid 60's to combine the day's carefree attitude with experimental studio sounds.
After two albums, Skip Prokop left The Paupers to form Lighthouse. His rock drum style melded with Paul Hoffert's jazz piano, mixed with a full horn section. With this at the core of their music, Lighthouse emerged as one of the first 'rock orchestras'. They were the first band to have a record certified platinum, 1972's LIGHTHOUSE LIVE. "One Fine Morning", their first gold single, along with other AM classics such as "You Girl" and "Sunny Days" which epitomized summer fun in the '70's, established Lighthouse as one of Canada's true rock pioneers.
Fludd, formed around the nucleus of Toronto's Brian and Ed Pilling, was one of the country's most innovative groups in the late 60's/early 70's. With the classic "Cousin Mary", they employed an 'uptempo folk feel' to a hard-driving backbeat. The group enjoyed a strong following in southern Ontario behind the success of other singles such as "Brother and Me" and "Always Be Thinking Of You". The band broke up after Brian Pilling succumbed to cancer in 1978.
Possibly better known for the number of the stars to play in the band at one time or another, Fludd's roster at one time or another included Steve Negus and Jim Crichton, who went on to form Saga, Doni Underhill, later of Trooper fame, and Greg Godovitz, who formed Goddo.
Valdy, Canada's first travelling poet, learned the craft of Canadian folk from practically all four corners of the country. Born Valdemar Horsdal in Ottawa, he had already studied guitar and piano while learning orchestration at a private music school in Victoria. By the mid 60's he was a member of the London Town Criers, and then moved to Montreal to play with The Prodigal Sons. He also gained a taste for country while playing backup for Blake Emmons.
His solo career began in '72, with his first single "Rock and Roll Song" going gold. By '76 he'd already recorded five albums, and was second only to Lightfoot in sales by a Canadian folk artist. He's played folk fests as far away as Poland and has released an incredible 22 singles over his career, 10 alone during the 1970's. Recognized around the world as one of folk music's true legends, Valdy has received countless awards, including a '73 Juno for Canadian folk artist of the year.
Another Ottawa native Bruce Cockburn had fronted such local acts as The Esquires and The Children before going solo. From his debut in 1970, he helped shape the sound of the day with such hits as "Musical Friends" and "All The Diamonds". His tastes would shift to a more pop-oriented rhythm by the early 80's, culminating in more gold, such as "Wondering Where The Lions Are" in '79 .
He also wrote the soundtrack to the Canadian film Going Down The Road in 1970 and has had a huge impact on today's stars, highlighted by his music covered by the likes of The Skydiggers and The Bare Naked Ladies. He has lent his name and time to various charities and non-profit organizations, with these influences the topics of some of his most potent lyrics, including the scathing political commentary "If I Had A Rocket Launcher" in 1984.
Cockburn's countless contributions to the Canadian music scene were recognized in 2001, when he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile Buffy St. Marie, a native of Craven, Saskatchewan, had by this time made Toronto her home, where by the early 60's she'd gained notoriety as Canada's first aboriginal star, and a direct influence on the good fortunes of such stars of today as Lawrence Martin, Tom Jackson and Susan Aglukark. Her biggest hit was writing "Universal Soldier" for Donovan in 1965.
But her contributions to the Canadian music scene in general were recognized with her induction into The Hall of Fame in 1995.
Born in Fort MacLeod, Alberta, Joan Anderson moved from Saskatoon back to Alberta in 1964 to attend music school in Calgary. After only one year, she followed her destiny to the Toronto area and the folk scene which encompassed it. After marrying fellow folk singer Chuck Mitchell, the two moved to Detroit in '65.
From her first lp in '68, the critics and fellow musicians, including the likes of Graham Nash and David Crosby, knew she had something special to offer. Her first single was the monster hit from 1970, "Big Yellow Taxi" - covered later by BB Gabor, and has had her material recorded by such artists as Tom Rush and Tom Scott. She's been the recipient of countless Junos and Grammys, and was inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1981.
By the mid 60's Andy Kim had already released a number of singles after making New York home. He began a string of huge solo records that saw a number of singles, including "How'd We Ever Get This Way", "Shoot 'Em Up Baby" (banned by some US radio stations), "Rainbow Ride" and his cover of Johnny Cash's "If I Were A Carpenter" and The Ronnettes' "Be My Baby."
But it was the 1974 hit "Rock Me Gently" that helped define Canada's entry in the '70's World Bubblegum Parade. He also made a career of writing for others and as a session man, including writing The Archies' "Sugar Sugar". Andy Kim dropped out of site before returning in the early '80's as Baron Longfellow, a gimmick that only lasted for 2 records.
While going into seclusion off and on throughout the decades, Kim resurfaced in 2004, and has sold over 30 million records worldwide throughout his career, and brought home the Juno for Male Vocalist of The Year in '68 and '69.
Another Montreal native, Leondard Cohen was born in 1936, and was the true innovator of merging poetry with music. A well-respected and published poet by the mid 60's, he moved to Nashville and pursued music full-time, eventually writing for the likes of Judy Collins and countless others. His first album was released in 1968 and served as the backdrop for a unique style of folk-country-easy listening. His hits included "Suzanne," "First We Take Manhattan" and the much-covered "Hallelujah."He's worked with some of the industry's top performers, and inspired even more while winning countless awards for both his music and written works. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
By this time Anne Murray had outgrown her role on the CBC's 'Singalong Jubilee' and was on her way to international country and folk superstardom. A former phys-ed teacher from Nova Scotia, her first single was "What About Me" in 1967. Her other hits throughout the years are numerous, including "Snowbird" in 1970, the first single by a Canadian woman to exceed a million sales in the US, "Danny's Song" in 1973, and "You Needed Me" in '78.
Still at the top of the charts today, her sound is distinct and unmistakeable. She's received countless awards and recognitions, including an amazing 26 Junos here at home and was inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1993, making her quite simply Canada's greatest female artist of all time.
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Yanovsky had joined The Lovin' Spoonful, topping the charts in '66 with "Summer In The City." Other classics included "Do You Believe In Magic", "Rain On The Roof" and "Six O' Clock".
Yanovsky was deported back to Canada in 1973 after a drugs charge, where he became a top sessions-man and producer/engineer. His chief writing partner in the group was John Sebastian, who'd go on to solo success with the theme to "Welcome Back Kotter."
The Lovin' Spoonful was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Zanovsky died of a heart attack in 2002.
Doherty meanwhile had already toured the majority of the continent and been part of several fairly successful groups. But hooking up with Mugwumps alumni Cass Elliot would lead him to his most prominent notoriety. After forming The Mamas & Papas with John & Michelle Phillips they would eventually become cemented in the annals of the San Fransisco sound with classics like "Monday Monday" and "California Dreaming".
Following the band's demise following Elliott's death, Doherty would go on to record several solo albums, as well as working with a variety of other artists, television and filmwork. Along with fellow surviving member Michelle Phillips, he accepted The Mamas and Papas induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. He died of complications from surgery in January the next year.
Neil Young had fronted the Winnipeg group The Squires before heading to Yorkton, ON. After a brief stint with the pre-funk group The Mynah Byrds, he folowed his folk roots to international acclaim. He was a mainstay with Buffalo Springfield when, along with Steven Stills, they left the band to form half of Crosby Stills Nash & Young. It was there that Young would collaberate some of the era's most powerful music, including the hit "Ohio".
His recordings with Crazy Horse and his solo ventures often composed of social and political commentaries, such as the timeless classics "Southern Man", "The Killing of Valdez" and "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man' from 1972's HARVEST album. Never to be held to a label or limited to any specific genre Young strays from his folk roots long enough to pen such rock anthems as "Cinnamon Girl" and "My My Hey Hey". Still at the top of his game today, Young has inspired countless others and was inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1982.
Despite being one of the hottest commodities on the Winnipeg scene in the mid 60's, Chad Allan & The Expressions were without a frontman after Allan's departure.
Enter teenage sensation Burton Cummings, ex of the Deverons ... and The Guess Who was born. The team of Cummings/Bachman wrote the majority of the band's material, and some of the era's most dominant music, including "These Eyes" in 1969, the first single by a Canadian group to top Billboard's Top 100, "No Time", "No Sugar Tonight" and arguably one of rock and roll's greatest anthems, "American Woman" in 1970.
Following Bachman's departure in '71, the group still struck gold repeatedly with a revolving door full of band members. "Running Back To Saskatoon", "Rain Dance", "Albert Flasher" and "Clap For The Wolfman" all helped cement the band's name into the annals of Canadian rock history. The group's contributions to the music world were formally recognized in 1987 with their induction into The Hall of Fame.
Cummings meanwhile would also enjoy tremendous success following his leaving of the band in 1976. "Stand Tall," his first of dozens of hits came his way throughout the '80's, and tried his hand at acting with the Canadian indie film, "Melanie," as well as the first of several Guess Who reunions.
Mel Shaw, who was the first artist from Calgary to record an album and had come back from a successful tour of the US in the early 60's, when he'd begin his legacy as the first true pioneer of Alberta's entry into the rock scene.
Along with putting out a regular music scene publication as 'The Baron', he was instrumental in the direction of two of the city's first groups. The Masquerades began as The Rockin' Royals. But under Shaw's guidance, they transformed themselves into one of Canada's first 'gimmick groups', wearing black masks and becoming all the rage at live events.
Their mostly instrumental sets served alongside two singles, and the four songs from '61 and '62 were the first from a Calgary group to make any splash. The band broke up by the middle of the decade, as members went on to other projects, including Roger Vickers playing with Buddy Knox (Party Doll), and Tony Allbury would enjoy several years with Roy Orbison.
Originally a six piece outfit out of Calgary, The Stampeders earned their fame after moving to Toronto in 1968. Comprised of Ronnie King, Rich Dodson and Kim Berly, the band took their brand of country-flavoured pop to the charts with a string of hits during the 70's, including "Carry Me", "Wild Eyes" and "Devil You" . 1971 saw them walk out with 3 Junos, including one for top single of year for "Sweet City Woman" which peaked that year at #8 on Billboard. They experimented with a variety of sounds during the rest of the 70's, even after Dodson left in 1977 to embark on a solo career and head-up Marigold Records.
In 1968, two Vancouver musicians would meet and form Canada's most successful group of the 'flowers and beads' genre. Terry Jacks would soon marry Susan Pesklevits, and together they formed The Poppy Family, whose biggest chart success was "Which Way You Going Billy?", which went gold here and peaked at #2 on Billboard in 1970. Terry struck big with the '74 classic which defined the era "Seasons In The Sun". The song won countless awards worldwide, topped Billboard's chart and was the first Canadian single to sell 100,000 copies. Both Jacks would go on to successful solo careers before Terry got into producting other acts.
