canadianoldies

Brad Merritt is the well known as the bass player in 54-40. In this chat with Dan Hare Brad talks about: the punk roots of 54-40; the strong interest in the U.S. market for their music and videos; "Rock School 101"; how 'I Go Blind' became a huge hit for Hootie and The Blowfish; why the band is still together, and so much more. Find out about Brad and 54-40 @ www.5440.com

The seventh episode of our special series ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests this week are:
MARTY KRAMER, promoter, manager, producer, collector, and eye-witness to the evolution of rock music shares highlights from his 27 year working relationship with Burton Cummings including why Burton was singing to cows;
MARTHA JOHNSON & MARK GANE of Martha and The Muffins, best known for the 1980 Juno award-winning hit ‘Echo Beach’ reveal how the band got it’s name, why modifying it was a bad ideas, and how Martha copes with her Parkinson’s disease in the recording studio;
DON SCHMID, drummer with the iconic Canadian band and Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees The Northern Pikes talks about how the death of a band mate was instrumental in the ‘Pikes’ formation, the “exoticness” of being from Saskatoon, signing with Virgin Records and more;
SANDY HORNE, bass player and singer/songwriter for the Juno nominated new wave band Spoons reveals why she took up the bass and the challenges of being a female bass player, how Spoons got their name, the excitement of having one of the first music videos on Much Music, and where to find new music from Spoons.
Listen to the full interview of each guest @ linernotes.ca.

Blair Packham has had a multi-faceted music career as a recording artist, producer, sound engineer, jingle writer, educator, film and TV theme creator and much more. He is perhaps best known as the songwriter/singer for the 1980s Juno-nominated band The Jitters. In this chat with Dan Hare, Blair discusses everything from the process of songwriting, the Jitters career including opening for Heart on their UK tour and what he would do differently, recoupable costs involved in the biz, the dilemma of entertainer versus artist and much more. Find out about Blair on his website blairpackham.com

The sixth episode of our special edition series of Liner Notes - ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests include:
MARC LAFRANCE has done it all - singing (including jingles), drumming, touring, recording, studio work, management, and artist development. He’s rubbed shoulders with the many of the premier musicians in the world and remains a long-time member of Randy Bachman’s projects. He also has his own record label, Delinquent Records. In this clip Marc tells Dan talks about the early Winnipeg music scene, playing with Prism, and Trooper and some advise to up and coming up artists;
BRIAN DANTER is the lead singer and bass player or the band Tease. In this bit he reveals the origin of Teaze, opening for Kiss, the Teaze-mania that greeted the band when they played in Japan, and why he walked away from fame and fortune.
CRAIG ZURBA is a well-known and accomplished Producer, Songwriter, Recording Engineer, Singer, Keyboardist, Film Composer, Programmer, Video Director, and Sound Designer. In this short bit Marc talks about working with Tom Jones, writing songs with Bryan Adams, the short lived success of his ‘80s band Agent, starting his jingle company, and how the music industry has changed;
CHRISTOPHER WARD has written songs for Diana Ross, Wynonna Judd, The Backstreet Boys, and many others. His best-known song is the worldwide #1 hit for Alannah Myles, “Black Velvet," for which he received the Juno award for Songwriter of the Year in 1990. In this clip Christopher talks about his start in radio, becoming one of the first VJs for Much Music, the scoop on his solo hits 'Maybe Your Heart' and 'Once In A Long Time’, his time at Second City and his friendships with Colin Mockery, Mike Myers and Ron James, and info. on his new album 'Same River Twice’.
Listen to the full interview of each guest @ linernotes.ca.

The fifth episode of our special edition series of Liner Notes - ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests include:
MURRAY MCLAUCHLAN: the singer-songwriter has won 11 Junos, is a Member of the Order of Canada, a Governor General's Award recipient, a Doctor of Laws, actor, composer, martial artist, pilot, painter and more. In this clip Murray explains why he moved to New York and why he came back to Canada, McLauchlan’s theory of recording;
FRANK SODA: the guitarist/vocalist and songwriter for The Imps is known for his high energy live shows and outrageous antics. In this bit Frank tells Dan who gave the Imps their name, how he came up with his wild stunts, why he hates his recordings;
HENRY SMALL: the one-of-a-kind Canadian legend has had a career spanning 40+ years. Here Henry shares bits from his glory days with the band Scrubbaloe Caine, the reality of performing on The Midnight Special, how he came to join Prism;
HOWIE VICKERS - the former lead singer with the late ‘60s band The Collectors also had a career singing jingles. In this clip Howie shares tidbits on his journey from TV show house band to singing with The Collectors and recording in L.A., more on the bands eclectic style, why he left and what he did afterwards. Listen to the full interview of each guest @ linernotes.ca.

Lighthouse arranger and keyboard player Paul Hoffert is also a composer, producer, film composer, research and writer all for which he has won many awards and accolades. In this chat with host Dan Hare, Paul reveals: starting a jazz quartet when he was just 15 years old; the unique beginnings and orchestral style of the band Lighthouse; why the band declined to play at Woodstock; his relationship with Skip Prokop; the heady days of recording and touring; how he thinks of Lighthouse like a sports team; his role in the creation of CanCan, and much more. Find out about Paul and Lighthouse @ www.lighthouserockson.com

Keith Sharp is the founder of the iconic Canadian music magazine Music Express. In this chat with Dan Hare Keith shares: how an interview of The Stampeders was the impetus for Music Express; the expansion of the magazine from Canada to the U.S., England and Australia; his connection to Bryan Adams, Alan Frew, and others; interviewing the biggest national and international artists of the day; his favourite (and least favourite) interviews; which Partridge Family star wrote for the magazine; why the print version of the magazine folded; which Canadian band encourage Keith to revive it in digital form, and so much more. Find out about Keith and Music Express @ https://themusicexpress.ca/

Gil Moore is the drummer/singer and co-founder to the iconic award-winning and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee band, Triumph. In this chat with Dan Hare Gil talks about: which member of the band Lighthouse helped him with his drumming; why Triumph is all about high energy and positivity; how the ‘power trio’ Triumph prepared for each show; the changes in music and the business; why the band broke up, and so much more. Find out about Triumph @ triumphmusic.com and the band’s iconic recording studio @ metalworksstudios.com.

The fourth episode our special edition series of Liner Notes - ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests include:
MARC JORDAN - legendary songwriter, singer, hitmaker, producer talks about succeeding, and starving, in L.A., the ‘chance’ encounter that turned his career around and how Rod Stewart ended up recording ‘Rhythm of My Heart’;
WILL MILLAR - former lead singer of The Irish Rovers shares tales from the Rovers hugely successful TV show, the famous musician who played on their hit song ‘The Unicorn’, and how the band was formed;
LES VOGT - lead singer of The first R&B recording band talks about his hit song that knocked Elvis off of the Vancouver charts, pioneering the Canadian music biz in Vancouver and why he gave up singing;
JOEY GREGORASH - Juno award-winner shares tales including how he became a singer, recording Randy Bachman songs with his early ‘70s band The Mongrels, why he never left Winnipeg and what he does now.
Listen to the full interview of each guest @ linernotes.ca.

This is a special edition of Liner Notes - ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests include:
KIM BERLY - the award-winning singer/songwriter and drummer for The Stampeders explains the 'trick' to using Neal Peart’s drum kit;
The late SUSAN JACKS - this legendary music icon shares intimate memories of some dark days with The Poppy Family;
AL HARLOW - original member of the iconic band Prism reveals a time in the 1980s when a hitman was out to get a band member ;
DARBY MILLS - the Queen of scream talks about her experience as lead singer for The Headpins and tells of waiting to be arrested.
Listen to the full interview of each guest @ linernotes.ca

Tom Lavin is guitar, vocals, front man and founding member of the Legendary Powder Blues, the 1981 Juno award-winner for best new band. Over the course of his career, he has been a performer, writer, arranger, composer, publisher, manager, and educator. As a record producer, Tom has over a dozen gold, and platinum records for Powder Blues, Prism, April Wine, others.
In this chat with host Dan Hare Tom talks about: why he moved to Canada from the U.S.-and why he was arrested the first time he returned; playing with Prism in the band’s early days; putting together Powder Blues; building Blue Wave Studio; working with B.B. King and Long John Baldry among others; living in Hollywood; the song idea ZZ Top took from Tom; upcoming shows for Powder Blues, and much more. Find out about Tom and Powder Blues @ powderblues.net

Michelle, along with Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor, co-founded Crash Vegas, the successful folk rock band of the 1990s. In this chat with Dan Hare, Michelle talks about: living in the U.K. and the experiences there that kick-started her career; her time with the new wave band Corect Spelling; appearing in two music videos for Blue Rodeo; her time in Crash Vegas; problems with management and record labels; touring with The Tragically Hip and Radiohead; her approach to life and living, her solo career and much more. Find out about Michelle at michellemcadorey.com.

Doni Underhill was the bass player and backup vocalist for the Juno award-winning band Trooper, performing on the band's biggest hits, including the triple platinum album 'Hot Shots'. In this chat with Dan Hare Doni talks about: his early days in Toronto, playing with Robbie Lane, and in the bands Fludd and Brutus; how he ended up in Trooper; the recording of several of Trooper’s iconic songs; the experience of having Randy Bachman as producer; the real story behind the song ‘Janine’; why 'Raise A Little Hell' remains popular; that limo accident after the Juno awards ceremony; why he left Trooper and what he did afterwards, and so much more.

David Hayes (Slagter) is an extremely accomplished chief engineer and mixer who has worked in various recording studios, including Toronto Sound, Little Mountain Sound and Pinewood Studios. David was the co-owner of Rock Beach Studios (now Blue Frog Studio) and has engineered for many well-known artists such as Klaatiu, Dr. Music, Paul Janz, Headpins (w/Darby Mills), and Chilliwack. In this chat with Dan Hare, David reveals: why he moved from drumming to sound engineering; the differences in engineering at various studios; why he worked at studios in various countries including Russia; his top three regrets, and much more.

Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jim Foster founded and fronted the late '70s band Fosterchild but is perhaps best known for his 1986 hit single 'X-ray Eyes'. In this revealing chat with Dan Hare Jim delves into: meeting, and being influenced by, Roger McQuinn of The Byrds; the Fosterchild years; his solo work and awards for 'X-ray Eyes'; co-writing with Murray McLauchlan; how his songs 'disappeared' off the charts overnight; why not having a record deal was a good thing; the sacrifice he made for his career; what he has in the works now, and much more.

Ken Tobias is a well-known singer/songwriter, guitarist, and producer who has written hit songs recorded by others (Stay Awhile by The Bells) and himself, best known for his '70s radio hits I Just Want To Make Music, Fly Me High, Every Bit of Love and New York City. He chats with Dan Hare about everything from: his stints on Music Hop and Singalong Jubilee; being "discovered", and produced, by Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers; turning down Stevie Wonder; the music biz in L.A. and England; partying with Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan and others; producing demos for Corey Hart; why he returned to New Brunswick; his career as a painter and so much more.

Al Harlow is an icon of the Vancouver music scene and member of the iconic Canadian band Prism. In this chat Al shares with host Dan Hare: his exposure to the late sixties musicians; memories of first human be-in in Vancouver; living in England and being mentored by Long John Baldry; Bryan Adams writing contribution to Prism; touring with Meatloaf; his special friendship with Prism lead singer, the late Ron Tabak; tales from his upcoming book and so much more on the business of music.

Craig Zurba is a well-known and accomplished Producer, Songwriter, Recording Engineer, Singer, Keyboardist, Film Composer, Programmer, Video Director, and Sound Designer. Here he chats with Dan Hare about: the ups and downs of his '80s band Agent including their two day record deal and how Heinz ketchup was pivotal in the bands career; songwriting with Bryan Adams; working with David Foster, Michael Jackson, Tom Jones and others; his jingle and production company; playing with tribute acts including 'Nearly Neil'; today's music scene and much more.

Ian Thomas' extensive career has earned him a JUNO (for 1973's Painted Ladies), four SOCAN awards, a UNICEF Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award and many other accolades and nominations. Artists such as America, Santana, Bette Midler and even Jon Bon Jovi have covered his songs. In this extensive interview with Dan Hare Ian talks about: his days working at CBC radio; the many aspects of recording, producing and engineering records; his expansive catalogue; jingle work, "looping" John Cleese and voicing the character of Snap from the Rice Krispies Commercials; composing film scores; his success with The Boomers; the thrill of live performing with 'Lunch At Allen's, and so much more.

Teaze was a hard rockin' band hailing from Windsor, superstars in Japan and poised to make a bigger name for themselves in North America. Then lead singer and bass player Brian Danter pulled the plug. In this real and raw interview Brian shares: how the band was almost called Ontario; the Teaze-mania experienced when the band played in Japan; why he walked away from fame and fortune and what he did instead; working with Myles Goodwin, who produced the bands fourth album; how the band reunited and what they are up to now.