Skylark (Canadian band)
| Skylark | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Vancouver, Canada[1] |
| Genres | Pop rock, blue-eyed soul |
| Years active | 1971– 1973 |
| Labels | Capitol |
| Past members |
B.J. Cook Donny Gerrard Flip Arellano David Foster Carl Graves Robbie King Eddie Patterson Steven Pugsley Doug Edwards Gaye Delorme Duris Maxwell Brian Hilton Kat Hendrikse Norman McPherson John Verner Allan Mix |
Skylark was a former Canadian pop/rock band, active from 1971–1973, based in Vancouver, BC.[2]
History
Skylark formed in 1971 from one of Ronnie Hawkins's backup groups and signed with Capitol Records, releasing a self-titled album in 1972 which spawned three singles.[3][4] The group, whose alumni include composer/arranger David Foster, disbanded after the lukewarm reception of their second album, 2; its members achieved mixed success in other projects.
Their biggest single, the power ballad "Wildflower", was a 1972 #1 hit in Canada on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart; it reached #10 on the Canadian RPM singles chart and then peaked at #9 on Billboard Hot 100 chart the following spring, selling over a million copies.[1] It was written by guitarist Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson, who was a Victoria police officer at the time.[3][5] The song's popularity was boosted by frequent play on CKLW-AM radio after its initial release.[6]
Donny Gerrard was amongst the Canadian musicians who recorded the 1985 charity single for African famine relief entitled "Tears Are Not Enough". He sang his solo line with Bryan Adams.
Doug Edwards died on November 11, 2016.[3]
Former members
- B.J. Cook - vocals[7]
- Donny Gerrard - vocals
- Flip Arellano - vocals
- David Foster - keyboards
- Carl Graves - percussion
- Robbie King - Hammond organ
- Eddie Patterson - guitar
- Steven Pugsley - bass
- Doug Edwards - guitar
- Gaye Delorme - guitar
- Duris Maxwell - drums
- Brian Hilton - drums (replaced Maxwell)
- Kat Hendrikse - drums (replaced Hilton)
- Norman McPherson - guitar (replaced Edwards)
- John Verner - guitar (replaced McPherson in 1972)
- Allan Mix - guitar (replaced Verner in 1973)
Discography
Singles
- 1972 - "What Would I Do Without You" (Capitol) (#60 Can.)
- 1973 - "Wildflower" (Capitol) (#10 Canada) (#65 Australia)
- 1973 - "I'll Have to Go Away" (Capitol) (#83 Can.)
- 1973 - "If That's The Way You Want It" (Capitol)
Albums
1972 - Skylark (Shanachie/Capitol)
Track Listing
- Side 1
- "Brother Eddie" – (Howie Vickers, Joe Fahrni, Robbie King) - 4:31
- "What Would I Do Without You" - (Ernie Shelby, Phillip Mitchell) - 3:29
- "A Long Way To Go" - (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) - 3:46
- "Suites For My Lady" - (David Foster, Duris Maxwell) - 2:06
- "I'll Have To Go Away" - (Kerry Chater, Renée Armand) - 5:07
- Side 2
- "The Writing's On The Wall" - (Don Troiano) - 3:01
- "Twenty-Six Years" - (David Foster, Donny Gerrard, Linda Patterson) - 4:55
- "I'm In Love Again" - (Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew) - 3:18
- "Wildflower" - (David Richardson, Doug Edwards) - 4:08
- "Shall I Fail" - (Carolyn Borsman, Doug Edwards) - 1:27
Personnel
- Donny Gerrard - lead and backing vocals
- B. J. Cook - lead and backing vocals, percussion
- Kitty Ditto - backing vocals
- Patrice Holloway - backing vocals
- Doug Edwards - electric and acoustic guitars
- David Foster - acoustic and electric pianos, harpsichord, Moog synthesizer, string arrangements (all but 3)
- Steve Pugsley - bass
- Duris Maxwell - drums, percussion
- Bobby Torres - congas
- Jimmie Haskell - string arrangements (3)
- Robbie King - organ (8), arrangements (8)
References
- 1 2 "CANOE -- JAM! Music - Pop Encyclopedia - Skylark". Jam!. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.
- ↑ Attic Records will distribute Greedy artists. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 27 November 1976. pp. 88–. ISSN 0006-2510.
- 1 2 3 "Wildflower Co-Writer Succumbs to Cancer". The Music Express, November 14, 2016 Keith Sharp
- ↑ "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 50– 29 July 1972. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ " West Coast musician Doug Edwards composed Wildflower for Skylark". TOM HAWTHORN, The Globe and Mail, Nov. 28, 2016
- ↑ Nat Freedland (15 September 1973). "Skylark flying on 'flower' power". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 17–. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ "Top 11 (OK, 8) One-Hit Wonders — And Why So Many Bands Can’t Follow Up Their Only Hit". Rock Cellar, Frank Mastropolo. January 12, 2017.