The Sparrow was a Canadian blues-rock

Blues-rock

Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...

 band that existed in the 1960s, and which evolved out of Jack London & The Sparrow and later morphed into heavy rock group, Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf (band)

Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...

.

Early years

Singer/songwriter and guitarist Dennis Edmonton, drummer Jerry Edmonton

Jerry Edmonton

Jerry Edmonton was the drummer for the rock band, Steppenwolf.He was born Gerald McCrohan in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Both he and his brother Dennis, also known as Mars Bonfire, changed their surnames to Edmonton during the 1960s, when they performed in a group called The Sparrows...

 and bass player Nick St. Nicholas

Nick St. Nicholas

Nick St. Nicholas is a bassist, and is best known for his membership in Steppenwolf from 1968 to 1970, and then again from 1976 to 1980. After World War II, his family moved to Toronto and became Canadian citizens. Sister Maren joined the Canadian Ballet Company & Conservatory of Music as pianist...

 had all played together in Toronto “British Invasion” band, Jack London & The Sparrow between January and July 1965.

When the group separated from singer Jack London, The Sparrow recorded a final single on their own before adding new members, vocalist/guitarist/harmonica player and songwriter John Kay

John Kay (musician)

John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

 and keyboard player Goldy McJohn

Goldy McJohn

Goldy McJohn is a Canadian keyboard player best known as the original keyboardist for rock group Steppenwolf. Originally a classically trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the early use of the electronic organ in heavy metal...

.

As the new look Sparrows, the group made its live debut at Waterloo Lutheran University in Waterloo, Ontario during September 1965 and immediately made an impact with its high energy, blues rock sound. The following month, the band supported Gary Lewis & The Playboys

Gary Lewis & the Playboys

Gary Lewis & the Playboys were a 1960s rock group fronted by Gary Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis. They are best known for their 1965 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "This Diamond Ring."-Original members:* Gary Lewis - Drums and vocals...

 at Massey Hall in Toronto and also found regular work at Chez Monique and the El Patio in the city’s Yorkville village.

New York connections

Throughout the first few months of 1966, the group consolidated its following on the local club scene. Realising that they needed to attract a wider audience, The Sparrow (as the band was now called) attracted the interest of electronics executive Stanton J. Freeman, who became their manager and arranged for a booking at Arthur, Sybil Burton's hot new club in New York. Freeman then flew them to New York so the A&R people at the major record companies could see them perform. The Sparrow were so well received that over the next five months, they commuted back and forth between Toronto and New York. While in the Big Apple, The Sparrow also appeared at the Barge in Westhampton (The Rascals

The Rascals

The Rascals were an American blue-eyed soul group initially active during the years 1965–72. The band released numerous top ten singles in North America during the mid- and late-1960s, including the U.S. #1 hits "Good Lovin'" , "Groovin'" , and "People Got to Be Free"...

 had played there the previous summer) on Long Island and at another New York club, the Downtown.

Recording for Columbia Records

Producer David Kapralik, later manager of Sly & The Family Stone

Sly & the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...

, was introduced to Freeman by Jerry Brandt

Jerry Brandt

Jerry Brandt is a club owner, promoter, and manager, active since the 1960s. He is known chiefly for discovering Carly Simon and serving as her first manager, as well as for his work with Lori Petty...

 (head of Rock & Roll at the William Morris Agency

William Morris Agency

WME is the largest talent agency in the world, with offices in Beverly Hills, New York City, Nashville, London, and Miami. WME represents elite artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, and physical production...

). Freeman brought Kapralik to see and hear the band. He also heard some demos that the group had recorded at Allegro Sound Studios in New York on April 28, 1966. Impressed by the quality of the songs, he assisted Freeman get a recording deal with Columbia Records

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

. On June 25, the group recorded Dennis Edmonton’s “Tomorrow’s Ship”, which was subsequently coupled with the Dennis Edmonton-Nick St. Nicholas collaboration, “Isn’t It Strange” for the group’s debut single.

The single failed to chart on its release. The band returned to Columbia’s New York studios in October and recorded a follow up, the Edmonton brothers’ “Green Bottle Lover”, which was coupled with the Dennis Edmonton-Nick St. Nicholas collaboration, “Down Goes Your Love Life”. Released the following month, the second single also failed to chart.

Sparrow heads for California

By then, the band had abandoned Canada (and New York) for the warmer climes of California. During November 1966, The Sparrow debuted at It’s Boss in West Hollywood. Shortly thereafter, they moved to San Francisco where they performed at the Ark in nearby Sausalito as well as the Matrix

The Matrix (club)

The Matrix, a renovated former pizza shop, was a nightclub in San Francisco from 1965 to 1972 and was one of the keys to what eventually became known as the "San Francisco Sound" in rock music...

 and the Avalon Ballroom (sharing the stage with The Youngbloods

The Youngbloods

The Youngbloods was an American folk rock band consisting of Jesse Colin Young , Jerry Corbitt , Lowell Levinger, nicknamed "Banana," , and Joe Bauer . Despite receiving critical acclaim, they never achieved widespread popularity. Their only U.S. Top 40 entry was "Get Together".-Background and...

 and Moby Grape

Moby Grape

Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...

 at the latter).

Sparrow (as they now called themselves) continued to commute back and forth between Los Angeles and San Francisco throughout the first six months of 1967, performing alongside The Doors

The Doors

The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...

, The Steve Miller Band and many others. During June, Dennis Edmonton announced his decision to go solo and the band recruited American guitarist Michael Monarch in early July. Edmonton subsequently changed his name to Mars Bonfire

Mars Bonfire

Dennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....

.

Steppenwolf

Dennis Edmonton’s departure, however, hastened the band’s decline, and the group split into two factions. Nick St. Nicholas and new recruit Michael Monarch initially formed a new group together called TIME, although Monarch soon abandoned this project and rejoined John Kay, Goldy McJohn and Jerry Edmonton in Steppenwolf. As Steppenwolf, they performed at such venues as Whisky a Go Go

Whisky a Go Go

The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...

.

In 1969, in the wake of Steppenwolf success, Columbia Records put out of its archives supposed but not released in 1967 LP "John Kay & The Sparrow", including previously unknown material (as well as a totally remixed "Isn't It Strange", which makes the 45 the only place to find its quite different original mix).

Band members

Official Sparrow members

1964	Jack London – rhythm guitar Rhythm guitar Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... , lead vocals Dennis Edmonton Mars Bonfire Dennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....  – lead guitar Lead guitar Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... , vocals Bert Enfield/Bruce Palmer Bruce Palmer Bruce Palmer was a Canadian musician notable for playing bass guitar in the folk rock band Buffalo Springfield.-Early years:Palmer was born and raised in Toronto Ontario, Canada...  – bass Bass guitar The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... , vocals Dave Hare/C.J. Feeney – keyboards Keyboard instrument A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... , vocals Jerry Edmonton Jerry Edmonton Jerry Edmonton was the drummer for the rock band, Steppenwolf.He was born Gerald McCrohan in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Both he and his brother Dennis, also known as Mars Bonfire, changed their surnames to Edmonton during the 1960s, when they performed in a group called The Sparrows...  – drums Drum kit A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... , lead vocals
1965	Jack London/John Kay John Kay (musician) John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...  – rhythm guitar, lead vocals Dennis Edmonton – lead guitar, vocals Nick St. Nicholas Nick St. Nicholas Nick St. Nicholas is a bassist, and is best known for his membership in Steppenwolf from 1968 to 1970, and then again from 1976 to 1980. After World War II, his family moved to Toronto and became Canadian citizens. Sister Maren joined the Canadian Ballet Company & Conservatory of Music as pianist...  – bass Bass guitar The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... , vocals C.J. Feeney/Art Ayre/Goldy McJohn Goldy McJohn Goldy McJohn is a Canadian keyboard player best known as the original keyboardist for rock group Steppenwolf. Originally a classically trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the early use of the electronic organ in heavy metal...  – keyboards, vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, lead vocals
1965–1967	John Kay – rhythm guitar, lead vocals Dennis Edmonton – lead guitar, vocals Nick St. Nicholas – bass, vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, lead vocals
1967	John Kay – rhythm guitar, lead vocals Michael Monarch Michael Monarch Michael Monarch is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with the band Steppenwolf....  – lead guitar Lead guitar Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... , vocals Rushton Moreve Rushton Moreve Rushton Moreve was an American bass guitarist best known for his work with the rock band Steppenwolf from 1967–68 and again in 1978...  – bass Bass guitar The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... , vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, lead vocals

Singles

• "Tomorrow's Ship" b/w "Isn't It Strange" (Columbia 43755) 1966
• "Green Bottle Lover" b/w "Down Goes Your Love Life" (Columbia 43960) 1966
• "Square Headed People" b/w "Twisted" (Columbia 44769) 1967

Albums

• John Kay & The Sparrow (Columbia 9758) 1967
• The Best Of John Kay & Sparrow: Tighten Up Your Wig (Columbia 50344) 1993
• John Kay & The Sparrow (Repertoire 4878) 2001 (re-issue of 1967 album plus bonus tracks)
• As backing group on other artists' releases:
• Molly Camp Sings ..... (RCA Victor 3649) 1966

External links

• CanuckistanMusic review of Tomorrow's Ship / Isn't Life Strange