My friend since Grade 8, Richard Newell, out of the blue in 1960, joined a younger neighbourhood four piece instrumental band, The Barons, as their singer and holy fuck, who knew he’d been learning how to play blues harmonica like Little Walter and Jimmy Reed, Slim Harpo and Sonny Boy Williamson2.

The Barons had two electric guitars, one steel guitar and a drummer. One day they needed a bass player and I became it.  We shared the love of the blues and r’n b grooves and of rock ‘n roll and rockabilly.  Rock ‘n roll meant Little Richard and the rest of Specialty Records, rockabilly ee the guys on Sun Records and their urban counterparts mainly Eddie Cochrane and Gene Vincent. Rhythm and Blues was Hank Ballard and the rest of King Records and Little Jr. Parker on Duke/Peacock Records down in Houston and Chicago blues was Chess, Checker, Cobra and Vee Jay Records that is Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin’ Wolf and Otis Rush and Jimmy Reed. And then there was New Orleans Rock and Roll on Ace, Ric/Ron and Judd Records along with Fats Domino and all the rest of Imperial Records. So much to listen to, so much to learn. No white urban pop for us.  Those were the kind of songs we learned and played out on. 

We played high schools and dances all over town from 1961 until the spring of 1965.  Great part time job.  The core of the band through that time period remained myself, Ron Copple and Richard Newell.  John ‘Babe’ Myles replaced drummer Ritchie Hodgson after about a year.  Lead guitarist Steve Caskennett left to join Frank Rondell’s full time bar band on the Ontario circuit around that time and was replaced by Richard’s friend from Central High School, Rick Golka, who had just left the Frank Rondell Band.  After Golka eventually went back on the road full time he was replaced by Ron Copple moving to lead guitar from steel guitar after several tryouts for the position failed to stick. Occasionlly pianist Paul Conkwright joined us.

Below is a set we recorded in the winter of 64/65 at the Sportsmen Bowling Alley situated along the escarpment on Charlton E. as it was going west from Wentworth St. A hot weekly Sunday night dance where the hip kids that could get out on a Sunday night went to dance and hookup. At that time lead guitar players came and went and the lineup that night was Paul Conkwright, piano, Ron Copple, National steel guitar, Rick Golka, lead (Telecaster) guitar, John “Babe” Myles, drums, guest guitarist Russ Carter, Richard and myself.

Here’s 3 tunes from that gig…..

Little Walter’s Juke

Elmore James’ Yonders Wall

Little Jr. Parker’s Sweet Home Chicago

In June of the summer of ‘65 the band travelled to England to embark on a two month tour of West Germany with a gigs in England including a showcase set at London’s Marquee Club and a club in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on the way. That band was Rich, Ronnie, Babe, myself and a Barons original Andy Torkelson on rhythm guitar.

To listen to entire set from the Sortsman’s gig here’s the link. https://app.box.com/s/25hk7oqez6y0qg9c3gwpzg7dpcrutpl5

These songs were originally transferred from the original 2 track reel to reel tapes to cassette and in 2011 J. P. Riemens kindly took the cassette and digitalized and cleaned it up best possible.

All the songs were recorded live and should be considered ‘historical documents’. Best listened to through a sound system where the bass and treble can be controlled.

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