The Mynah Birds

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This article is about the R&B band called The Mynah Birds. For the family of passerine birds see Myna

The Mynah Birds were a short-lived R&B band based in Toronto in the 1960's. Although the band did not itself ever release an album, it is famous as one of the earliest efforts of a number of musicians who went on to be hugely successful.

The Mynah Birds grew out of a 1964 group called the Sailorboys, fronted by Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, February 1, 1948 in Buffalo, New York; died August 6, 2004) and also including guitarist Ian Goble, drummer Rick Cameron and bass player Nick St Nicholas (born Klaus Karl Kassbaum, September 28, 1943 in Hamburg, Germany). Over its short lifespan, the group featured a surprisingly large number of artists, in many different configurations. Its most memorable lineup included James, Rickman Mason, John Taylor, Neil Young, and Bruce Palmer (who went on to form Buffalo Springfield with Young). Earlier members include Goldie McJohn, who like Nick St Nicholas, was later in Steppenwolf.

[edit] Early years

An early line up comprising James, St Nicholas, Cameron and guitarist Frank Arnel recorded "the Mynah Birds Song" for Columbia Records in late 1964 for a prospective single. However, the track was not deemed strong enough and a new track "the Mynah Birds Hop" was recorded to grace the a-side. The second track saw James, St Nicholas and Arnel joined by second singer, Jimmy Livingstone (born February 28, 1938 in Toronto, Canada; died June 1, 2002), keyboard player John Goadsby aka Goldie McJohn (born May 2, 1945) and drummer Richie Grand (born June 11, 1945 in Toronto Canada). The single was released in Canada only in early 1965 but flopped. Soon afterwards, James and new bass player Bruce Palmer (born September 9, 1946 in Toronto, Canada; died October 1, 2004), who had been swapped for St Nicholas in Jack London & The Sparrows, put together a new version with drummer Rickman Mason (born December 2, 1945 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada) and guitarists Tom Morgan (born Tom Catherwood, July 4, 1944 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada) and John Taylor (born John Yachemac, June 12, 1946 in Welland, Ontario, Canada; died September 27, 2002). Morgan was replaced by Neil Young in January 1966.

[edit] Sign to Motown Records

The Mynah Birds signed a seven-year deal with Motown Records in 1966, becoming the first predominantly white group on the label. They recorded a number of tracks, and their first album was in the works when Rick James was arrested, having deserted the Navy prior to forming the Sailorboys. Motown shelved their recordings, which have never been released. Young and Palmer promptly left the band.

Several of the remaining members continued to perform as the Mynah Birds throughout 1966, but did not make any recordings.

James put together a short-lived line up of the band in the summer of 1967 with bass player Neil Lillie aka Neil Merryweather (born December 27, 1945 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) but the group broke up soon afterwards.

After leaving The Mynah Birds in April 1965, Jimmy Livingstone joined The Muddy Yorks and then The Just Us, which evolved into Livingstone's Journey through The Tripp.