Whiskey Howl was a Toronto-based Canadian blues band, most popular between 1969 and 1972. The band is notable as being one of the early Canadian bands promoting and developing blues music in Canada.Whiskey Howl - The First Year 1969-70
www.livinblues.com.

History

:''Whiskey Howl was always a great live band, but what truly made it stand out were the undeniable abilities of the band's two lead vocalists: Pickett, one of the world's most accomplished 'harp players' and the late John Witmer, arguably one of Canada's most gifted R&B singers.'' ::Extract fro

www.michaelpickett.com. The band was subject to rapid success from the time of its formation in 1969, and an equally rapid demise, breaking up in 1972, shortly after the release of their first album. The original band was composed of John Witmer (vocals), Peter Boyko (guitar), Gary Penner (bass), John ("B.J.") Bjarnason (harmonica) and Ron Sullivan (drums). By their second performance, they were an opening act for

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are c ...

. They later opened for or played with such artists as the

Paul Butterfield Blues Band Paul Vaughn Butterfield (December 17, 1942May 4, 1987) was an American blues harmonica player, singer and band leader. After early training as a classical flautist, he developed an interest in blues harmonica. He explored the blues scene in his ...

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, Lonnie Johnson and

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. The band's rapid early success is exemplified by their appearance at the historic 1969

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concert, which was headlined by

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and at which John Lennon's

Live Peace in Toronto 1969 ''Live Peace in Toronto 1969'' is a live album by the Plastic Ono Band, released in December 1969 on Apple Records. Recorded at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival, it was the first live album released by any member of the Beatles separa ...

album was recorded. At the time, the band was less than a year old, with band members still being in their teens or early twenties. The band's concert performance locations during their first year included the prestigious Convocation Hall, where they opened for

, and

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, where they opened for

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and Lonnie Johnson, in the latter's last public appearance. The band then returned to Varsity Arena (indoors) for the Toronto Rock Festival, on March 26, 1970, where they shared the bill with

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and

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, among others. Band personnel at the time of recording the first album were Richard Fruchtman (bass, vocals), Wayne Wilson (drums), Dave Morrison (guitar, vocals),

Michael Pickett Michael Pickett may refer to: * Michael Pickett (musician) Michael Pickett is a multiple award-winning Canadian blues and roots singer, guitarist and harmonica player. Career Michael Pickett was born in Toronto on September 19, 1950. Pickett c ...

(harmonica, vocals) and John Witmer (vocals). Witmer was a founding member and Wilson an early member of the band, in 1969; Pickett had joined in 1970, replacing original harmonica player John ("B.J.") Bjarnason, who had left the band to study to become a chiropractor. The album was produced by noted American producer and engineer Johnny Sandlin, associated with the

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, among others, and featured

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, then of the Allman Brothers, on keyboards. The band regrouped on occasion after 1972 and in 1981 regrouped for a recorded reunion performance at Toronto's famed

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club, resulting in their second, and final, album release. At that time, original members Witmer and Pickett were joined by John Tilden (guitar), Rick Burkett (bass), Ed White (drums), John Johnson (tenor saxophone), Simon Wallis (baritone saxophone) and Dave Dunlop (trumpet).

Later activities

Band members Michael Pickett and John Witmer went on to further contributions to Canadian blues music. Vocalist Witmer became the lead singer of the

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during the 1982-1986 period, as well as subsequently continuing as a professional musician until his death in 2004. Vocalist and harmonica player Pickett developed a multiple award-winning solo career.

Discography

*1972 ''Whiskey Howl'' (

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; CD Release 2008, Pacemaker) *1981 ''Live At The

'' (As The Whiskey Howl Big Band; CD Release 2005, re-release 2009, Solid Gold)As noted by one reviewer in relation to this live performance, "No other band would do an ''a capella'' version of '

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'... "Mother Earth", "Early in the Morning" and " Let The Good Times Roll" are standards here now because of this band. These performances still hold up today.
John's Blues Picks
November, 2005; www.torontobluessociety.com.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whiskey Howl Musical groups established in 1969 Musical groups disestablished in 1972 Musical groups from Toronto Canadian blues musical groups 1969 establishments in Ontario 1972 disestablishments in Ontario

History

Later activities

Discography

See also

References