Ravin'
Encyclopedia
Ravin’ was a 1970s Canadian jazz-funk
band that had a half an LP
release on CBC Records
and won the first Q107
homegrown contest.
Performing regularly at the El Mocambo
and the Isabella Tavern in Toronto
, Ontario
, Ravin’ achieved moderate success and helped perpetuate the careers of many of its members. Parts of their performance also included Latin-funk overtones, as exhibited on the Rick Morrison/Santana
track "Aruba/Europa".
Marty Morell
has gone on to have a highly prolific jazz-based career. Jack Lenz is one of Canada’s top television and film composers and has written original songs for Andrea Bocelli
, Nanalan'
, The Grogs
, Little Mosque On The Prairie
, Due South
and Men With Brooms
.
Rich (Rick) Morrison, a featured performer on April Wine
's album, "On Record", has recorded and performed with Martha Reeves
, Long John Baldry
, Roger Whittaker
, The Good Brothers
, Teenage Head
, Rupert "Ojiji" Harvey
’’ of Messenjah
, T.H.P. Orchestra, The Band
, The Sattalites, and Ronnie Hawkins
.
Vocalist Wayne St. John, who besides having an extensive solo career and being entered into the Black Canadian Music Hall of Fame (1982) , sang lead vocals for Ocean (band)
, Domenic Troiano
band, Dr. Music
(with Doug Riley
and Don Thompson
), T.H.P. Orchestra, Motherlode, Dr. Lonnie Smith (jazz musician)
and performed on the single “Tears Are Not Enough
” – which was recorded by a Canadian super-group to raise money and awareness for the 1983-84 Ethiopia
famine.
Hugh Brockie was one of Ronnie Hawkins
’ “Hawks” and a founding member of Bearfoot
and Skylark.
Jazz-funk
Jazz-funk is a sub-genre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat , electrified sounds, and often, the presence of the first electronic analog synthesizers...
band that had a half an LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
release on CBC Records
CBC Records
CBC Records is a Canadian record label, owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which distributes CBC programming, including live concert performances in album and digital format....
and won the first Q107
CILQ-FM
CILQ-FM is a radio station, broadcasting at 107.1 FM in Toronto, Ontario. The station broadcasts a classic rock format branded as Q107 and is also available through streaming audio....
homegrown contest.
Performing regularly at the El Mocambo
El Mocambo
The El Mocambo Tavern is a live music and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Spadina Avenue, just south of College Street, the bar played an important role in the development of popular music in Toronto since the 19th century...
and the Isabella Tavern in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Ravin’ achieved moderate success and helped perpetuate the careers of many of its members. Parts of their performance also included Latin-funk overtones, as exhibited on the Rick Morrison/Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
track "Aruba/Europa".
Marty Morell
Marty Morell
Marty Morell is a drummer, percussionist, vibraphonist and producer who played with the Bill Evans Trio for seven years - longer than any other drummer. Morell attended the Manhattan School of Music and studied mallets with Morris Goldberg, and tympani with Saul Goodman at the Juilliard School of...
has gone on to have a highly prolific jazz-based career. Jack Lenz is one of Canada’s top television and film composers and has written original songs for Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
, Nanalan'
Nanalan'
Nanalan' is a Canadian television show broadcast by the CBC in Canada and by PBS in the US, created by the puppet troupe, The Grogs. Its target audience is preschool children and, according to the CBC, Nanalan is "designed to foster children's curiosity and love of learning, with the hope they will...
, The Grogs
The Grogs
The Grogs were a Canadian puppet company troupe best known for their work in the CBC Television children's television show Nanalan.The Grogs or Grogs Inc. were founded by Jamie Shannon and Jason Hopley in 1992 in Toronto, Ontario...
, Little Mosque On The Prairie
Little Mosque on the Prairie
Little Mosque on the Prairie is a Canadian sitcom on CBC, created by Zarqa Nawaz and produced by WestWind Pictures. It is filmed in Toronto, Ontario and Indian Head, Saskatchewan...
, Due South
Due South
Due South is a Canadian crime drama series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie...
and Men With Brooms
Men with Brooms
Men with Brooms is a 2002 Canadian romantic comedy film, starring and directed by Paul Gross. Centred on the sport of curling, the offbeat comedy tells the story of a reunited curling team from a small Canadian town as they work through their respective life issues and struggle to win the...
.
Rich (Rick) Morrison, a featured performer on April Wine
April Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
's album, "On Record", has recorded and performed with Martha Reeves
Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves is an American R&B and Pop singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Jimmy Mack", "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run"...
, Long John Baldry
Long John Baldry
John William "Long John" Baldry was an English and Canadian blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No...
, Roger Whittaker
Roger Whittaker
Roger Whittaker is an Anglo-Kenyan singer-songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of over 55 million. His music can be described as easy listening. He is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability...
, The Good Brothers
The Good Brothers
The Good Brothers are a Canadian country, bluegrass and folk music group originating from Richmond Hill, Ontario. The band's core members are Brian Good , his twin brother Bruce Good and younger brother Larry Good ....
, Teenage Head
Teenage Head
Teenage Head can refer to:* Teenage Head , a 1971 album by The Flamin' Groovies* Teenage Head , the title track from that album...
, Rupert "Ojiji" Harvey
Rupert "Ojiji" Harvey
Rupert "Ojiji" Harvey is a Reggae, Jazz, Funk, Dance Hall, and Roots music musician who is known for his solo records as well as his work in the Canadian band Messenjah, which had a platinum record with the hit "Cool Operator".-Early life:Born in Jamaica, Rupert moved to Canada with his family...
’’ of Messenjah
Messenjah
Messenjah was a Canadian-based reggae group that flourished to become one of the most successful and popular reggae groups in the history of Canadian music.-History:...
, T.H.P. Orchestra, The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
, The Sattalites, and Ronnie Hawkins
Ronnie Hawkins
Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins is a Juno Award-winning rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, USA, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life...
.
Vocalist Wayne St. John, who besides having an extensive solo career and being entered into the Black Canadian Music Hall of Fame (1982) , sang lead vocals for Ocean (band)
Ocean (band)
Ocean was a gospel rock band formed in 1970 in Toronto, Ontario, Ontario, Canada. They are best known for their million-selling 1971 single "Put Your Hand in the Hand", penned by Gene MacLellan. The gramophone record sold over one million copies and received a gold disc awarded by the Recording...
, Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano was a Canadian rock guitarist, most notable for his contributions to Mandala, The James Gang, The Guess Who and as a solo artist.-History:...
band, Dr. Music
Dr. Music
Dr. Music was a Toronto jazz group founded in 1969 by producer, arranger and performer Doug Riley. The band recorded three albums and toured across Canada. The personnel of the band changed throughout its history, with Doug Riley remaining at the core of the group.- History :In 1969, Doug Riley...
(with Doug Riley
Doug Riley
Doug Riley, CM was a Canadian musician. Born in Toronto, Ontario and informally referred to as "Doctor Music", he spent two decades with the Famous People Players as its musical director, besides his participation on over 300 album projects in various genres...
and Don Thompson
Don Thompson
Donald Thompson, Donald Thomson, Don Thompson or Don Thomson may refer to:-Sports personalities:* Don Thompson , American player for the Los Angeles Buccaneers in 1926...
), T.H.P. Orchestra, Motherlode, Dr. Lonnie Smith (jazz musician)
Lonnie Smith (jazz musician)
Dr. Lonnie Smith is a jazz Hammond B3 organist and pianist.-Biography:He was born in Lackawanna, New York, into a family with a vocal group and radio program. Smith says that his mother was a major influence on him musically, as she introduced him to gospel, classical, and jazz music...
and performed on the single “Tears Are Not Enough
Tears Are Not Enough
"Tears Are Not Enough" is a 1985 charity single recorded by a supergroup of Canadian artists, under the name Northern Lights, to raise funds for relief of the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia...
” – which was recorded by a Canadian super-group to raise money and awareness for the 1983-84 Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
famine.
Hugh Brockie was one of Ronnie Hawkins
Ronnie Hawkins
Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins is a Juno Award-winning rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, USA, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life...
’ “Hawks” and a founding member of Bearfoot
Bearfoot (Canadian band)
Bearfoot was a Juno Award-nominated Canadian rock band, founded by Jim Atkinson, Terry Danko, Dwayne Ford, Hugh Brockie and Brian Hilton. Initially going by "Atkinson, Danko and Ford", they changed their name out of practicality and because they didn't want to sound as though they were a law-firm...
and Skylark.
Album line-up
- Rich Morrison: Saxophones, Vocals
- Hugh Brockie: Guitar, Vocals
- Peter Jeffrey: Trumpet, Flute
- Dave James: Drums
- Peter Elias: Bass
- Jack Lenz: Keyboards
- Wayne St. John: Vocals
- Marty Morrell: Congas
Track listing
- ”Opus #1” – (Hugh Brockie) – 5:19
- ”Don’t Push It” (Hugh Brockie) – 4:19
- ”Aruba/Europa” (Rick Morrison/Santana) – 7:05
- ”Funky Thang” (Rick Morrison) – 4:42
Production
- Recorded at Studio 4S, Toronto
- Recording Engineers: David Dobbs, Tom Shipton
- Producer: Keith Duncan
- Remix Engineer: Larry Morey
External links
- Wayne St. John website - http://wsaintj.com
- Lenz Entertainment website - http://www.lenzent.com/jacklenz.html
- Marty Morrell on MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/martymorell