Jackson Hawke

Jackson Hawke was a Canadian pop rock band, principally active during 1976-1978 and most notable for its song "You Can't Dance", which became an international hit for England Dan and John Ford Coley.

Jackson Hawke
OriginSault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
GenresPop rock
Years active1974 (1974)–1978 (1978)
LabelsColumbia
Associated actsThe Amen
Past membersTim Ryan
Bob Yeomans
Gene Falbo
Chris Castle
Garry Holt
JP Hawkins
Bob Clarke
Bucky Berger

History

Jackson Hawke was co-founded in 1974 by Tim Ryan and Bob Yeomans. The two had originally begun working together as professional musicians in 1963 and had earlier been managed by noted Canadian manager, promoter and record producer Bernie Finkelstein.[n 1] Ryan and Yeomans, originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, had been in an early Canadian garage band, The Amen.[1]

In addition to Ryan on lead vocals and guitar and Yeomans on guitar, the original lineup of Jackson Hawke was completed by Gene Falbo on bass[n 2] and Chris Castle on drums.[n 3] Later guitarists were Garry Holt & JP Hawkins. Later drummers were Bob Clarke (previously with Ryan and Yeomans in The Amen)[1] and Bucky Berger.[2][3] Jackson Hawke was particularly prominent in Canada during the 1976-1978 period, releasing three singles and two albums on CBS Records. They were at one time associated with Canadian publicist and entertainment manager Gino Empry.[4]

Their first single, released in 1976, was a double-sided hit, featuring the original "You Can't Dance" and a version of Van Morrison's "Into The Mystic". "You Can't Dance" later became an international hit when released in 1978 by England Dan and John Ford Coley.[2] The song was also covered and released as a successful single by Ricky Nelson.[5] The band's 1977 single, "Set Me Free", peaked at number 54 in Canada,[6] but went to number 11 on the CHUM Chart in Toronto.

Tim Ryan developed a solo career both before and after Jackson Hawke. In 1973, he represented Canada in the Tokyo for the World song festival.[2] In 1984, he was nominated for a Juno Award as "Most Promising Male Vocalist of The Year".[7] He also developed a successful career singing commercial jingles.[8]

In December, 2007, both The Amen and Jackson Hawke reunited for the "18 Forever" festival in Sault Ste. Marie, commemorating the musicians who had originally gained fame in Sault Ste. Marie in the 1960s, which is regarded as a seminal period in that city's music history.[9]

Tim Ryan died in Toronto on June 2, 2016, at the age of 67, following heart surgery.[8]

Discography
  • 1976 Forever (CBS)
  • 1977 Jackson Hawke (CBS)

References
Notes
  1. Finkelstein, later the founder of True North Records, at the time managed The Paupers and Kensington Market, two of the early Canadian bands from the mid-1960s to achieve a degree of international success, including U.S. recording contracts. Kensington Market included Keith McKie, a Sault Ste. Marie native who had first gained local fame with The Vendettas.
  2. Gene Falbo has continued his career as a side and session musician. See Profile of Gene Falbo; www.loumoore.com. He was recently associated with The Stickmen (www.iridescentmusic.ca), one of several bands he has played in with longtime guitarist friend Bernie LaBarge; www.bernielabarge.com.
  3. Chris Castle is now a music attorney in Los Angeles, having been a member of the bands of Long John Baldry, Jesse Winchester and Yvonne Elliman. See Profile of Chris Castle; www.christiancastle.com.
Citations
  1. Profile of The Amen; www.garagehangover.com.
  2. Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, with notes from Tim Ryan, Biography of Jackson Hawke; www.jam.canoe.ca.
  3. Berger's later associations included Rough Trade, Chilliwack and Raffi.
  4. Gino Empry Client List Archived 2008-09-27 at the Wayback Machine; www.ginoempry.com.
  5. Contained on Nelson's 1977 album Intakes.
  6. RPM chart, November 26, 1977
  7. See Juno Awards of 1984. Ryan lost to Alfie Zappacosta.
  8. Jeffrey Ougler, Bob Yeomans remembers late Jackson Hawke bandmate Tim Ryan as man who loved music, loathed music business. Sault Star, June 9, 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  9. See 18 Forever Commemorative Site Archived 2008-10-17 at the Wayback Machine. Keith McKie also returned for the event, playing with The Vendettas.
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