Bill Wallace
Encyclopedia
Bill Wallace is a bassist
from Winnipeg, Manitoba
, Canada
. He started his musical career in the 1960s, with a Winnipeg band called The Gettysburg Address. He later joined his friends Kurt Winter
and Vance Masters in Brother. Wallace was the lead singer and bassist. Brother was on its way to becoming the most popular rock band in Winnipeg, when Randy Bachman
left The Guess Who
at the height of that band's popularity. The Guess Who scrambled to replace Bachman, and did so with two of the most talented guitarists in Winnipeg: Winter, and Greg Leskiw
. This meant the immediate demise of Brother. In time, Masters and Wallace would both find themselves joining The Guess Who.
Wallace replaced Jim Kale
in mid-1972, not long after the release of "Live at the Paramount", which was the first album on which guitarist Donnie McDougall
appeared, after replacing Leskiw. While still in Brother, Wallace co-wrote the eventual Guess Who hits "Bus Rider" and "Hand Me Down World" with Masters and Winter, but to this day has never received a writing credit. Bill (nicknamed Wee Willy by Burton Cummings
) wrote and co-wrote many Guess Who hits including "Clap for the Wolfman
", "Road Food
", "Follow Your Daughter Home", and sang lead on "Bye Bye Babe".
In the late '70s and early '80s, Wallace played with several Canadian bands such as Crowcuss, LesQ, and Kilowatt, achieving regional and cross-country radio hits. He was often the lead singer on many songs. One example is the 1983 Kilowatt song, "I'm Not a Kid Anymore."*
In 2000, original bassist Jim Kale
could not accompany the original members of the Guess Who on their Running Back Thru Canada Tour, so Wallace was called, and became the permanent bassist of the Guess Who. His two grown children, Gord and Marlo, were able to see Wallace perform live with The Guess Who for the very first time in July 2000 at CanWest Park. Before re-joining the Guess Who, he was teaching music in his hometown of Winnipeg.
In 2001, he received an honorary music doctorate at Brandon University
in Brandon, Manitoba
with the rest of The Guess Who.
Wallace currently teaches "Guitar" and "Geography" classes at West Kildonan Collegiate.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
from Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He started his musical career in the 1960s, with a Winnipeg band called The Gettysburg Address. He later joined his friends Kurt Winter
Kurt Winter
Kurt Winter was a Canadian guitarist and songwriter, best known as a member of The Guess Who.After starting his career with Winnipeg bands The Fifth, Gettysbyrg Address, and Brother, Winter joined The Guess Who in May 1970, along with co-guitarist Greg Leskiw, replacing Randy Bachman...
and Vance Masters in Brother. Wallace was the lead singer and bassist. Brother was on its way to becoming the most popular rock band in Winnipeg, when Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
left The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
at the height of that band's popularity. The Guess Who scrambled to replace Bachman, and did so with two of the most talented guitarists in Winnipeg: Winter, and Greg Leskiw
Greg Leskiw
Greg Leskiw is a Canadian guitarist best known for playing guitar with The Guess Who 1970-1972.-History:Greg's father was, like Elvis Costello's, a talented but not widely known jazz guitarist. Greg Leskiw began playing the guitar at the age of 12...
. This meant the immediate demise of Brother. In time, Masters and Wallace would both find themselves joining The Guess Who.
Wallace replaced Jim Kale
Jim Kale
Jim Kale is the bassist for the popular band, The Guess Who. Kale left the band in 1973, after the Live at the Paramount album. He was replaced by Bill Wallace, formerly of Winnipeg band, Brother...
in mid-1972, not long after the release of "Live at the Paramount", which was the first album on which guitarist Donnie McDougall
Donnie McDougall
Donnie "Don" McDougall is a guitarist who joined The Guess Who in 1972, replacing Greg Leskiw who moved on to a solo career. His first album performance was on the record Live At The Paramount, recorded in Seattle, Washington. McDougall sang "Glace Bay Blues" on that album...
appeared, after replacing Leskiw. While still in Brother, Wallace co-wrote the eventual Guess Who hits "Bus Rider" and "Hand Me Down World" with Masters and Winter, but to this day has never received a writing credit. Bill (nicknamed Wee Willy by Burton Cummings
Burton Cummings
Burton L. Cummings, OC, OM is a Canadian musician and songwriter.He was the lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian rock band The Guess Who...
) wrote and co-wrote many Guess Who hits including "Clap for the Wolfman
Road Food
Road Food is an album released in 1974 by the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. The song "Clap for the Wolfman" is an ode to disc jockey Wolfman Jack.A Quadraphonc mix was available on both vinyl and Quadraphonic 8-track tape formats....
", "Road Food
Road Food
Road Food is an album released in 1974 by the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. The song "Clap for the Wolfman" is an ode to disc jockey Wolfman Jack.A Quadraphonc mix was available on both vinyl and Quadraphonic 8-track tape formats....
", "Follow Your Daughter Home", and sang lead on "Bye Bye Babe".
In the late '70s and early '80s, Wallace played with several Canadian bands such as Crowcuss, LesQ, and Kilowatt, achieving regional and cross-country radio hits. He was often the lead singer on many songs. One example is the 1983 Kilowatt song, "I'm Not a Kid Anymore."*
In 2000, original bassist Jim Kale
Jim Kale
Jim Kale is the bassist for the popular band, The Guess Who. Kale left the band in 1973, after the Live at the Paramount album. He was replaced by Bill Wallace, formerly of Winnipeg band, Brother...
could not accompany the original members of the Guess Who on their Running Back Thru Canada Tour, so Wallace was called, and became the permanent bassist of the Guess Who. His two grown children, Gord and Marlo, were able to see Wallace perform live with The Guess Who for the very first time in July 2000 at CanWest Park. Before re-joining the Guess Who, he was teaching music in his hometown of Winnipeg.
In 2001, he received an honorary music doctorate at Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
in Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
with the rest of The Guess Who.
Wallace currently teaches "Guitar" and "Geography" classes at West Kildonan Collegiate.
External links
- I'm Not a Kid Anymore on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....