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, Ontario in the 1960's. Although the band never released 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 its many different configurations. Its most memorable lineup included future funk star James, Rickman Mason, John Taylor and future folk-rock music stars Neil Young and Bruce Palmer, both of whom went on to form Buffalo Springfield. Earlier members included Goldie McJohn, who like Nick St Nicholas, was later in rock band Steppenwolf. As well, a late-running 1968 version of The Mynah Birds featured noted folk-rocker Bruce Cockburn.

[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 as 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, Ontario; 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, Ontario). The single was released in Canada in early 1965, but flopped.

Shortly therafter, Bruce Palmer joined the band in an unusual bass-player swap: Jack London & The Sparrows gave up Palmer to get Mynah Birds bassist St. Nicholas.

James and new bass player Bruce Palmer (born September 9, 1946 in Toronto, Ontario; died October 1, 2004) then put together a new version of The Mynah Birds, featuring drummer Rickman Mason (born December 2, 1945 in Brantford, Ontario) and guitarists Tom Morgan (born Tom Catherwood, July 4, 1944 in Brantford, Ontario) and John Taylor (born John Yachemac, June 12, 1946 in Welland, Ontario; died September 27, 2002) and John Klassen (born April 17, 1945 in Brantford, Ontario).

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.

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 James was arrested, having deserted the United States Navy prior to forming the Sailorboys. Motown subsequently shelved their recordings.

A planned single, "It's My Time" b/w "Go Ahead And Cry", was withdrawn just prior to its scheduled release by Motown. Both sides of this single were included in the 2006 box set "The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 6: 1966", released in a limited edition of 6000 by Universal vanity label Hip-O-Select, marking the first time any of the 1966 Motown recordings by the Mynah Birds had seen the light of day.

Young and Palmer left the band after James' arrest. Several of the remaining members continued to perform as the Mynah Birds throughout 1966, but did not make any recordings.

James put together a new 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). In some legal trouble again, James then left the group once more within a matter of months; however, the Mynah Birds (which now featured no original members) still had contractual commitments to play various live shows. Around this time, Bruce Cockburn joined the band for a period. By mid-1968, the group had gone through more personnel changes and were known as The Flying Circus. The band finally broke up for good soon afterwards.