The Flying Circus were a short-lived Toronto-based group fronted by singer/songwriter,

Bruce Cockburn Bruce Douglas Cockburn ( ; born May 27, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. His song styles range from folk to folk- and jazz-influenced rock to soundscapes accompanying spoken stories. His lyrics reflect interests in spirit ...

. The band, which was active between late 1967 and early 1968, also featured

Neil Merryweather Neil Merryweather (born Robert Neilson Lillie, December 27, 1945 – March 28, 2021) was a Canadian rock singer, bass player and songwriter. Biography Merryweather was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and began his career in Toronto during the ...

and future Mapleoak members, Marty Fisher and Gordon MacBain.

The Mynah Birds

After leaving

The Mynah Birds The Mynah Birds was a Canadian R&B band formed in Toronto, Ontario, that was active from 1964 to 1967.Chong. 2005. Although the band never released an album, it is notable as featuring a number of musicians, such as Rick James and Neil Young, ...

(sometimes spelt Myna Byrds) in early September 1967, Neil Lillie (later better known as Neil Merryweather) was introduced to ex-

Esquires Esquires also known as Esquires Coffee or Esquires The Organic Coffee Company is an international coffeehouse chain comprising more than 90 stores in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, Asia the Middle East. Founded by Doug Williamson and Ga ...

member Bruce Cockburn through

The Five Man Electrical Band The Five Man Electrical Band (known as The Staccatos from 1963 to 1968) is a Canadian rock band from Ottawa, Ontario. They had many hits in Canada, including the top 10 entries "Half Past Midnight" (1967) (as The Staccatos), "Absolutely Right" ...

. The pair decided to launch a new group and recruited former

Bobby Kris & The Imperials Bobby Kris & The Imperials were a 1960s Toronto folk-rock band, that had a local hit with Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Walk On By". Origins The band was originally called J.S. & The Imperials and was led by singer Jim Snowdon and featured p ...

members Martin Fisher and Gordon MacBain who were playing at the Concorde Tavern in Toronto at the time. Signed to Harvey Glatt’s management, The Flying Circus recorded a number of unreleased tracks in Toronto during late 1967, including Cockburn’s “Flying Circus”, “She Wants To Know”, “I’m Leaving You Out” and “Mother” as well as Lillie’s “Last Hoorah” and “Elephant Song” and Fisher and MacBain’s “Where Is All The Love”. During the same sessions, the band also recorded songs by Cockburn’s former The Children cohort, William Hawkins, such as “Merry Go Round”, “It’s A Dirty Shame” and “Little Bit Stoned”.Later versions of which may be found on the tribute album, '' Dancing Alone: Songs of William Hawkins'' (

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, 2008), involving the participation of Cockburn. Around this time, the group also recorded a few tracks with another former Children member Sandy Crawley, which were never released. On October 1, the band began a residence at

Le Hibou Le Hibou Coffee House was an internationally known coffee house established in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, operating from 1960 to 1975. History Denis Faulkner, an Ottawa francophone, was the founding owner manager from 1960 to 1968. It was durin ...

in Ottawa. The following month, from November 14–18, 1967, The Flying Circus played at the Riverboat in Toronto. Over the next few months, the group also opened for

Wilson Pickett Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter. A major figure in the development of soul music, Pickett recorded more than 50 songs that made the US R&B charts, many of which crossed over to the '' ...

and

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his distinctive and powerful voice, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. Orbison's most successful periods were ...

at the Capitol Theatre in Ottawa.

The Flying Circus becomes Olivus

In early March 1968, Lillie left to form Heather Merryweather and was replaced by former Livingstone’s Journey member Dennis Pendrith. The group’s road manager, Michael Ferry (Lee Jackson of Jon and Lee & The Checkmates) suggested that the group should change name to Olivus.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flying Circus, The Canadian folk music groups