Butch McGillis (lead guitar, lead vocals)
Gordie Gray (rhythm guitar)
Al Girard (drums)
Jerry Triska (saxophone)
Dave McLauchlin (bass)
Dave Israel (keys)
|
|
|
| Hank Smith (bass, lead vocals)
Butch McGillis (lead guitar, lead vocals) Gordie Gray (rhythm guitar) Al Girard (drums) Jerry Triska (saxophone) Dave McLauchlin (bass) Dave Israel (keys) |
|
Hank Smith and Butch McGillis met in 1957 while touring with Joe Kozak's
Western Canadian Hayride Show. Both were involved in the country music
scene but the new sound of rock and roll coming from the States was a major
influence on them. Butch had played guitar on a recent single "Midnight
Rider" as part of Evan Kemp & the Trail Riders on Vancouver's Aragon
Records. They soon decided to form their own group, convinced that
they could get higher pay and a better chance of success than just being
session players or touring members of someone else's band. With the
addition of Gordie Gray on guitar, The Rock-A-Tunes were formed in the
fall of 1958.
About the same time that they formed the band, Hank and Butch also formed
Rock-A-Tune Records to handle the release of their own recordings.
Western Canada had few record labels and none that would support a young
group playing the new rock and roll sound. Adding Al Girard on drums, The
Rock-A-Tunes recorded and released their first three singles in just over
12 months, while also touring extensively across Canada. Recording
was done at a local radio station, generally using a single microphone
placed in the middle of a studio- without multitracking, mixing, or dubbing.
For each of the records released on the Rock-A-Tunes Records' label, Hank
was lead vocal on one side and Butch was lead on the flip. On the
"Maria/You're Some Kinda Nice" single, local vocal group The Shamrocks
were brought in to add a Jordanaires-style backing. Saxman Jerry
Triska had also been added to the group by this time.
In 1959 Columbia Records signed them and two further singles were released. Unfortunately the singles were not hits as the rockabilly sound had passed with Elvis being drafted; and the new smooth sounds of the teenybopper singers had become the new face of popular music. The Rock-A-Tunes continued to rock and added Dave Israel on keyboards, and Dave McLauchlin on bass. The demise of the Rock-A-Tunes was quite an amazing story. In
1960, the song "Muleskinner Blues" had been a massive hit for the American
guitar duo, The Fendermen.
In 1962, they recorded a full length LP for Soma Records of Minneapolis.
After recording and releasing this album, exhaustion from constant touring
led the original Fendermen to quit their own band. In order to continue
promoting the LP, the record label decided to create an all-new lineup
of the Fendermen. The Rock-A-Tunes were offered the chance to become the
touring Fendermen. Against Hank Smith's objections, the rest of the band
took the offer and moved to the States. Hank was left in Edmonton and the
Rock-A-Tunes were no more. The Rockatunes' Fendermen lineup toured
for another three years, then called it quits in the aftermath of the British
Invasion.
Hank Smith began a solo career with three bluegrass albums, followed by a string of 25 country and western LPs. He was heavily involved in the Canadian country music scene and helped found the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Order of Canada in acknowledgement of his work country music. He is currently a representative of the American Federation of Musicians in Canada. Bruce McGillis continues to play country and western music around western Canada. Gordie Gray retired from music and settled down in Edmonton. Al Girard quit music and made his career as a television cameraman. Jerry Triska led a tragic life and passed away in the mid-90s. Dave McLauchlin became a record producer in Nashville. Dave Israel's whereabouts are unknown
Discography Rockatune 1010 Danny (Hank Smith) / Woman Fever (Butch McGillis) Rockatune 1011 Honey Baby Sugar (Butch McGillis) / You're The Only One (Hank Smith) Rockatune 1012 Rock and Roll Hepcat (Hank Smith) / Love You So (Hank Smith) Rockatune 1013 Maria (Hank Smith) / You're Some Kinda Nice (Butch McGillis) Columbia C4-2613 Tomorrow (Butch McGillis) / Girls Nowadays (Hank Smith) Columbia C4-2619 Heartbeat (Butch McGillis) /Crazy Love (Hank Smith)
The Rock-A-Tunes complete discography is available on
this CD available from Freecloud
Records
The Rock-A-Tunes are also featured on Bear
Family Records Shakin' Up North- Canadian Rockabilly, Vol.
1 CD.
Also be sure to check out the following links:
|
