Blair Thornton
Encyclopedia
Blair Thornton is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the Canadian
rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive
(BTO). He also played in the Vancouver
-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.
Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman
, who left the group in January 1974. This occurred during the supporting tour for the Bachman-Turner Overdrive II
album. Thornton made his live debut with BTO at a televised
event for Don Kirshner's
In Concert program hosted by Don E. Branker
.
With Thornton's arrival, BTO began incorporating "dual-lead" guitar solos in many new songs, with Thornton playing the lead guitar parts along with primary lead guitarist Randy Bachman
. Such solos were not a major feature on the band's first two albums. As a songwriter, Thornton contributed two compositions to the Not Fragile
album: "Givin' It All Away" and an instrumental called "Freewheelin'". He also co-wrote three songs for the follow-up 1975 album, Four Wheel Drive
, including the title track (with Randy Bachman
).
After Randy Bachman left BTO in 1977, Thornton took over primary lead guitar chores for the band on their next two albums: Street Action
(1978) and Rock n' Roll Nights
(1979), also contributing several compositions to the albums. Thornton rejoined the "classic" Not Fragile
line-up (Randy Bachman, Rob Bachman, and Fred Turner) in 1988 for a reunion tour. In 1991, Randy Bachman exited the group again and this time was replaced by Vancouver guitarist-singer Randy Murray
. This version of BTO proved to be the most enduring, as they toured together until the latter part of 2004, though the band was unable to recapture its past commercial success.
Blair currently enjoys a quiet semi-retirement with his wife, Shane.
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...
rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Bachman–Turner Overdrive is a Canadian rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that had a series of hit albums and singles in the 1970s, selling over 7 million albums in that decade alone. Their 1970s catalog included five Top 40 albums and six Top 40 singles...
(BTO). He also played in the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.
Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman
Tim Bachman
Timothy Gregg Bachman is a guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with rock bands Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
, who left the group in January 1974. This occurred during the supporting tour for the Bachman-Turner Overdrive II
Bachman-Turner Overdrive II
Bachman–Turner Overdrive II is the second album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1973 . The album features the well-known single "Takin' Care of Business." Though it never cracked the Top 10 on the U.S. singles charts , it became one of the band's most enduring hits...
album. Thornton made his live debut with BTO at a televised
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
event for Don Kirshner's
Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner , known as "The Man With the Golden Ear", was an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups, such as The Monkees, Kansas and The Archies.-Early life:Don Kirshner was born to Gilbert Kirshner, a tailor,...
In Concert program hosted by Don E. Branker
Don E. Branker
-Early life:Branker grew up in Fresno. His father and uncle owned and operated Branker Brothers Cattle Co., one of the larger ranching operations in the San Joaquin Valley, until the 1960s when land buyouts by the oil companies cut down on the amount of grazing acreage.The family moved to Los...
.
With Thornton's arrival, BTO began incorporating "dual-lead" guitar solos in many new songs, with Thornton playing the lead guitar parts along with primary lead guitarist 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...
. Such solos were not a major feature on the band's first two albums. As a songwriter, Thornton contributed two compositions to the Not Fragile
Not Fragile
Not Fragile is the third album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1974 . The title could be thought of as a response to Yes' Fragile. Some feel that the group achieved a more original sound in this album; it has been described as a cross between Mountain and early ZZ Top...
album: "Givin' It All Away" and an instrumental called "Freewheelin'". He also co-wrote three songs for the follow-up 1975 album, Four Wheel Drive
Four Wheel Drive (Bachman-Turner Overdrive album)
Four Wheel Drive is the fourth album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1975 . It peaked at #1 in Canada on the RPM national albums chart on October 4 and again on October 18, 1975 while hitting #5 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart. The most popular single from the album, "Hey...
, including the title track (with 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...
).
After Randy Bachman left BTO in 1977, Thornton took over primary lead guitar chores for the band on their next two albums: Street Action
Street Action
Street Action is an album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive , released in 1978, . It was the first BTO album released after the 1977 departure of co-founder Randy Bachman, and had a distinctively heavier sound than the previous two BTO studio albums...
(1978) and Rock n' Roll Nights
Rock n' Roll Nights
Rock n' Roll Nights is a studio album by Canadian rock band BTO, released in 1979 . This album was one of three BTO albums that did not feature co-founder Randy Bachman. Rock n' Roll Nights is also one of the two albums from this band to feature Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine...
(1979), also contributing several compositions to the albums. Thornton rejoined the "classic" Not Fragile
Not Fragile
Not Fragile is the third album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1974 . The title could be thought of as a response to Yes' Fragile. Some feel that the group achieved a more original sound in this album; it has been described as a cross between Mountain and early ZZ Top...
line-up (Randy Bachman, Rob Bachman, and Fred Turner) in 1988 for a reunion tour. In 1991, Randy Bachman exited the group again and this time was replaced by Vancouver guitarist-singer Randy Murray
Randy Murray
Randy Murray was a guitarist member of Bachman Turner Overdrive. From 1989 to 1992 he taught music, did custom recordings and held a radio talk show in Prince George, British Columbia. From the late 1970s to 1989, Murray was a fixture on the B.C./Alberta music scene...
. This version of BTO proved to be the most enduring, as they toured together until the latter part of 2004, though the band was unable to recapture its past commercial success.
Blair currently enjoys a quiet semi-retirement with his wife, Shane.