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The Sparrows (band)
The Sparrows was a Canadian blues rock band of the 1960s. Notable for being the first group to bring musician John Kay into the mainstream, the Sparrows later morphed into the popular heavy rock group Steppenwolf.
The original Jack London and the Sparrows line-up was formed in Oshawa, Ontario, in early 1964 by British émigré Dave Marden (also known as Jack London; born February 16, 1944, in London, England), guitarist Dennis Edmonton (born Dennis McCrohan, April 21, 1943, in Oshawa, Ontario), and keyboard player Dave Hare, who later played with Everyday People.
Jack London and the Sparrows began as a beat group and played heavily on Dave Marden's English background. Their early repertoire reflected the influence of the "British invasion" and London even went as far as coaxing the others to "fake" English accents, in order to convince the audience that they had just arrived from England. Shortly afterwards, Dennis' brother Jerry (born Jerry McCrohan, October 24, 1946, in Oshawa, Ontario) replaced the original drummer and Brent Maitland (stage name: Bert Enfield) joined on bass. The group began to build up a local following, playing at various venues, such as the local Jubilee Auditorium (which was owned by the Edmonton brothers' father).
After moving to Toronto later that year, C.J. Feeney joined on organ. A short while later, Bruce Palmer replaced Maitland, who went to university. This line-up signed to Capitol Records and scored a #3 hit on the RPM chart with debut single "If You Don't Want My Love". Palmer, however, soon tired of affecting an English accent and was traded for the Mynah Birds' member Nick St. Nicholas in January 1965. Around the same time, local jazz keyboardist Art Ayre (born March 18, 1942, in Toronto) replaced Feeney, who formed a new version of his former band, the Spellbinders.
The new line-up was responsible for the band's lone album and the subsequent singles. The single "I'll Be The Boy" reached #29 in Canada in March 1965. Only "Our Love Has Passed", however, neared the success of the debut single, reaching #7 on the RPM chart in May 1965.
By mid-1965, the group was beginning to progress beyond its early British influences and was starting to incorporate more of a North American blues-rock sound. At the same time, resentment was growing over London's role in the band; he had signed the recording deal so that he would collect most of the group's royalties. As a result, the band separated from London (who went solo) and recorded a final single as the Sparrows, "Hard Times With The Law", which hit #13 on the RPM chart in August.
During September 1965, the Sparrows added singer/songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player John Kay to the line-up. Art Ayre left at this point to pursue a career in jazz with the Art Ayre Trio (and later Moe Koffman) and was replaced by Goldy McJohn, formerly keyboard player for the Diplomats and for the Mynah Birds.
As the new look Sparrows, the group made its live debut at Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier University) in Waterloo, Ontario, during September 1965 and immediately made an impact with its high energy, blues rock sound. The following month, the band supported Gary Lewis & the Playboys at Massey Hall in Toronto and also found regular work at Chez Monique and the El Patio in the city's Yorkville village.
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The Sparrows (band)
The Sparrows was a Canadian blues rock band of the 1960s. Notable for being the first group to bring musician John Kay into the mainstream, the Sparrows later morphed into the popular heavy rock group Steppenwolf.
The original Jack London and the Sparrows line-up was formed in Oshawa, Ontario, in early 1964 by British émigré Dave Marden (also known as Jack London; born February 16, 1944, in London, England), guitarist Dennis Edmonton (born Dennis McCrohan, April 21, 1943, in Oshawa, Ontario), and keyboard player Dave Hare, who later played with Everyday People.
Jack London and the Sparrows began as a beat group and played heavily on Dave Marden's English background. Their early repertoire reflected the influence of the "British invasion" and London even went as far as coaxing the others to "fake" English accents, in order to convince the audience that they had just arrived from England. Shortly afterwards, Dennis' brother Jerry (born Jerry McCrohan, October 24, 1946, in Oshawa, Ontario) replaced the original drummer and Brent Maitland (stage name: Bert Enfield) joined on bass. The group began to build up a local following, playing at various venues, such as the local Jubilee Auditorium (which was owned by the Edmonton brothers' father).
After moving to Toronto later that year, C.J. Feeney joined on organ. A short while later, Bruce Palmer replaced Maitland, who went to university. This line-up signed to Capitol Records and scored a #3 hit on the RPM chart with debut single "If You Don't Want My Love". Palmer, however, soon tired of affecting an English accent and was traded for the Mynah Birds' member Nick St. Nicholas in January 1965. Around the same time, local jazz keyboardist Art Ayre (born March 18, 1942, in Toronto) replaced Feeney, who formed a new version of his former band, the Spellbinders.
The new line-up was responsible for the band's lone album and the subsequent singles. The single "I'll Be The Boy" reached #29 in Canada in March 1965. Only "Our Love Has Passed", however, neared the success of the debut single, reaching #7 on the RPM chart in May 1965.
By mid-1965, the group was beginning to progress beyond its early British influences and was starting to incorporate more of a North American blues-rock sound. At the same time, resentment was growing over London's role in the band; he had signed the recording deal so that he would collect most of the group's royalties. As a result, the band separated from London (who went solo) and recorded a final single as the Sparrows, "Hard Times With The Law", which hit #13 on the RPM chart in August.
During September 1965, the Sparrows added singer/songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player John Kay to the line-up. Art Ayre left at this point to pursue a career in jazz with the Art Ayre Trio (and later Moe Koffman) and was replaced by Goldy McJohn, formerly keyboard player for the Diplomats and for the Mynah Birds.
As the new look Sparrows, the group made its live debut at Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier University) in Waterloo, Ontario, during September 1965 and immediately made an impact with its high energy, blues rock sound. The following month, the band supported Gary Lewis & the Playboys at Massey Hall in Toronto and also found regular work at Chez Monique and the El Patio in the city's Yorkville village.