Skylark (Canadian band)

Skylark was a former Canadian pop/rock band, active during 1971–1973, based in Vancouver, BC.[2]

This article is about the Canadian pop/rock group. For the Italian power metal band, see Skylark (Italian band). For other uses of the same word/name, see Skylark.
Skylark
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada[1]
GenresPop rock, blue-eyed soul
Years active1971– 1973
LabelsCapitol
Past membersB.J. Cook
Donny Gerrard
Flip Arellano
David Foster
Carl Graves
Robbie King
Eddie Patterson
Steven Pugsley
Doug Edwards
Gaye Delorme
Duris Maxwell
Brian Hilton
Kat Hendrikse
Norman McPherson
John Verner
Allan Mix

History

Skylark formed in 1971 from one of Ronnie Hawkins's backup groups and signed with Capitol Records, releasing a self-titled album in 1972 which spawned three singles.[3][4] The group, whose alumni include composer/arranger David Foster, disbanded after the lukewarm reception of their second album, 2; its members achieved mixed success in other projects.

Their biggest single, "Wildflower", was a 1972 #1 hit in Canada on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart; it reached #10 on the Canadian RPM singles chart and then peaked at #9 on Billboard Hot 100 chart the following spring, selling over a million copies.[1] It was written by guitarist Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson, who was a Victoria police officer at the time.[3][5] The song's popularity was boosted by frequent play on CKLW-AM radio after its initial release.[6]

Donny Gerrard was amongst the Canadian musicians who recorded the 1985 charity single for African famine relief entitled "Tears Are Not Enough". He sang his solo line with Bryan Adams.

Doug Edwards died on November 11, 2016.[3]

Former members
  • B.J. Cook - vocals[7]
  • Donny Gerrard - vocals
  • Flip Arellano - vocals
  • David Foster - keyboards
  • Carl Graves - percussion
  • Robbie King - Hammond organ
  • Eddie Patterson - guitar
  • Steven Pugsley - bass
  • Doug Edwards - guitar
  • Gaye Delorme - guitar
  • Duris Maxwell - drums
  • Brian Hilton - drums (replaced Maxwell)
  • Kat Hendrikse - drums (replaced Hilton)
  • Norman McPherson - guitar (replaced Edwards)
  • John Verner - guitar (replaced McPherson in 1972)
  • Allan Mix - guitar (replaced Verner in 1973)

Discography

Charted singles
Year Name Peak chart positions Album
CAN CAN AC CANCON US US AC AUS[8] NET US R&B
1972 "What Would I Do Without You" 60 77 — — — — — — Skylark
1973 "Wildflower" 10 1 15 9 5 65 23 —
"I'll Have to Go Away" 83 54 — 106 39 — — —
"If That's the Way You Want It" — — — — — — — 55 2
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Albums

Track listing
Side 1
  1. "Brother Eddie" – (Howie Vickers, Joe Fahrni, Robbie King) - 4:31
  2. "What Would I Do Without You" - (Ernie Shelby, Phillip Mitchell) - 3:29
  3. "A Long Way To Go" - (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) - 3:46
  4. "Suites For My Lady" - (David Foster, Duris Maxwell) - 2:06
  5. "I'll Have To Go Away" - (Kerry Chater, Renée Armand) - 5:07
Side 2
  1. "The Writing's On The Wall" - (Don Troiano) - 3:01
  2. "Twenty-Six Years" - (David Foster, Donny Gerrard, Linda Patterson) - 4:55
  3. "I'm In Love Again" - (Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew) - 3:18
  4. "Wildflower" - (David Richardson, Doug Edwards) - 4:08
  5. "Shall I Fail" - (Carolyn Borsman, Doug Edwards) - 1:27

Personnel

1974 - 2 (Capitol)
  1. You Remind Me Of A Friend (B.Russell - B.Gordon) 3:20
  2. Love's A River Flowing (R.Nichols - J.Bettis) 3:58
  3. It's A Wonder (Alexandra Wangberg) 3:14
  4. Wingless Bird (D.Edwards - C.Borsman) 5:07
  5. Wildflower (D.Richardson - D.Edwards) 4:08
  6. If That's The Way You Want It (D.Lambert - B.Potter) 3:38
  7. Foster Frees (David Foster) 6:19
  8. The Love Affair Is Over (Bob Ruzicka) 3:15
  9. One More Mountain to Climb (N.Sedaka - H.Greenfield) 5:04

Personnel
  • Produced and Engineered by Erik The Norwegian.
  • Arrangements and Production Coordination by David Foster

Members of Skylark:

  • Donny Gerrard: lead vocals, background vocal arrangements
  • B.J. Cook Foster: lead and background vocals
  • David Foster: piano, electric piano, moog and pipe organ

Other musicians:

  • Steve Pugsley - Bass
  • Alan Mix - Guitar
  • Brian Hilton and Duris Maxwell - Drums
  • Carl Graves - Background Vocals and Percussion
  • Gabriel Delorme - Acoustic Guitar
  • Robbie King - Organ (tracks 2,6,7)
  • William Smith - Organ (track 9)
  • Bobby Taylor - Background Vocals

See also

References
  1. "CANOE -- JAM! Music - Pop Encyclopedia - Skylark". Jam!. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.
  2. Attic Records will distribute Greedy artists. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 27 November 1976. pp. 88–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. "Wildflower Co-Writer Succumbs to Cancer". The Music Express, November 14, 2016 Keith Sharp
  4. "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 50– 29 July 1972. ISSN 0006-2510.
  5. " West Coast musician Doug Edwards composed Wildflower for Skylark". TOM HAWTHORN, The Globe and Mail, Nov. 28, 2016
  6. Nat Freedland (15 September 1973). "Skylark flying on 'flower' power". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 17–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  7. "Top 11 (OK, 8) One-Hit Wonders — And Why So Many Bands Can’t Follow Up Their Only Hit". Rock Cellar, Frank Mastropolo. January 12, 2017.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 277. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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