Chimo!
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Chimo! (Inuit for “Hello”) was a Canadian ‘60s rock band, formed in 1968 by two former David Clayton-Thomas sidemen, piano prodigy Tony Collacott and guitarist Jack Mowbray. The band recorded an album for Revolver Records.
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[edit] David Clayton-Thomas Combine
Lead guitar player Jack Mowbray and drummer Pat Little (a former member of Toronto blues-rock band, Luke & The Apostles) formed the core of the group after playing with future Blood, Sweat & Tears singer David Clayton-Thomas in his band, The David Clayton-Thomas Combine between February-May 1968. When Thomas was offered the position of lead singer in BS&T in June,due to the recent turn down by chum radio as "keep trying boys" Mowbray was freed of his recording obligations with Arc records (Bill Gilalnd), and was offerd severel positians in New York city but, decided to come back and start his own band in canadian night club circut witch offered plenny of rehearsal time for Tony Collacott(clayton thomas and the boss man 1966 chum chart hits Brainwashed, Processions of Mabs Lucresha Mcevil etc.) to arrange a power house cocert group.
Jack Mowbray while on a flight to NY to taking a demo tape to columbia was spotted by Mort Ross and Steve Kennedy(motherload), Mort offerd a managment contract to be nagotiated back in toronto in lue of sighing to a us company. Mowbray on rout via newyork to a gig in bufalo with his newly formed band including organB3 player Ross Raby, bass player John-scrapiron-Johnson, drummer Andy Cree and piano player Tony Collacott. bass player Stuart McCann and drummer Rick king (previously the Georgian Four)were replaced late summer, by John Johnson and Andy Cree. Pat Little left Transfusion, the house band at the Rock Pile in Toronto to replace cree for the last two cuts on the album
In late 1968, singer Breen LeBoeuf joined the line up. At this point, the band’s manager, Mort Ross , changed their name to Chimo! At the end of 1969, the group released its debut single, "Quicksilver Woman", a David Clayton Thomas song from Thomas/Mowbrays combine days with Arc records and Bassist Peter Hoggeson and Drummer Pat Patterson.Wich included Spinning Wheel and many more to be hits witch were denied by chum records as "keep trying boys, these songs are for fm radio only"
The band played mapleleaf gardens with sister group chicago to a full house, opened the second day of the Festival Express with The Band ,Janice Joplin etc. held at CNE Stadium on June 28, 1970 and also appeared at the Midsummer Night Rock Festival at Michigan State Fairground in Detroit on July 4 alongside Alice Cooper, The electric circus and others.
Following the release of the band’s album in November 1970, Andy Cree left (later to do sessions for the likes of David Wiffen and spend several years with Anne Murray's band) and was replaced by former member Pat Little, who had spent the interim doing sessions for Van Morrison, Peter, Paul & Mary and playing with a reformed Luke & The Apostles. The new line up was responsible for one lone single, Little’s “In The Sea”and Mowbray Cross Country man written well on flight to rome italy to negotiate a uropian tour and a song writting contract with chapel publishing in Milano with Mowbray previous ass. former drummer Silvino Desemoni bass player Franco Deljudich from 1967 italian tour with Nicola Di Bari and RCAVictor Rome .
[edit] After disbanding
However, the group’s career was flagging and in mid-1971 Raby and Johnson and collocot dropped out, leaving a power trio Mowbray Laboeuf and little playin Butchers Arms Young street clubs like Zanza Bar Tavern etc. Little departed to join Heaven and Earth for two singles before forming Flag, while LeBoeuf joined a reformed Motherlode.
[edit] Recordings
- 45 Quicksilver Woman c/w Day After Day (Revolver 006) 1969
- 45 Silken Silver Melody c/w Lonely Girl (Revolver 009) 1970
- 45 In The Sea c/w Cross Country Man (Revolver 1070) 1971
- LP Chimo! (Revolver 503) 1970
[edit] Sources
- "1,500 rock groups in search of smash records", Toronto Telegram, September 17 1970, page 33
- Bill Munson’s sleeve for Chimo! CD on Pacemaker
- Interview with Breen LeBoeuf, 2004
