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301:(harmonica, vocals) and John Witmer (vocals). Witmer was a founding member and Wilson an early member of the band, in 1969; Pickett had joined in 1970, replacing original harmonica player John ("B.J.") Bjarnason, who had left the band to study to become a chiropractor. The album was produced by noted American producer and engineer Johnny Sandlin, associated with the
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club, resulting in their second, and final, album release. At that time, original members Witmer and
Pickett were joined by John Tilden (guitar), Rick Burkett (bass), Ed White (drums), John Johnson (tenor saxophone), Simon Wallis (baritone saxophone) and Dave Dunlop (trumpet).
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Whiskey Howl was always a great live band, but what truly made it stand out were the undeniable abilities of the band's two lead vocalists: Pickett, one of the world's most accomplished 'harp players' and the late John Witmer, arguably one of Canada's most gifted R&B
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The band's history is contemporaneous to that of the
Downchild Blues Band, also formed in Toronto in 1969. While Whiskey Howl existed for only three years, the Downchild Blues Band (later known as Downchild) has performed consistently for four decades; see
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The original band was composed of John Witmer (vocals), Peter Boyko (guitar), Gary Penner (bass), John ("B.J.") Bjarnason (harmonica) and Ron
Sullivan (drums). By their second performance, they were an opening act for
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on three occasions as harmonica player of the year plus, in 1999, a "Blues With A Feeling Award", honouring a distinguished musical career. The Maple Blues Awards are considered to be Canada's equivalent of the U.S.
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At the time of the band's formation, Witmer was 18 years old, Penner and
Sullivan were 19 and Bjarnason was 20. The oldest member of the group, at 23, was Boyko. When Wilson joined the band, he was only 20. See
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during the 1982-1986 period, as well as subsequently continuing as a professional musician until his death in 2004. Vocalist and harmonica player
Pickett developed a multiple award-winning solo career.
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was a
Toronto-based Canadian blues band, most popular between 1969 and 1972. The band is notable as being one of the early Canadian bands promoting and developing blues music in Canada.
274:, in the latter's last public appearance. The band then returned to Varsity Arena (indoors) for the Toronto Rock Festival, on March 26, 1970, where they shared the bill with
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The band was subject to rapid success from the time of its formation in 1969, and an equally rapid demise, breaking up in 1972, shortly after the release of their first album.
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Band members
Michael Pickett and John Witmer went on to further contributions to Canadian blues music. Vocalist Witmer became the lead singer of the
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Band personnel at the time of recording the first album were
Richard Fruchtman (bass, vocals), Wayne Wilson (drums), Dave Morrison (guitar, vocals),
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602:; www.cktimes.ca (The Chatham-Kent Times), posted March 30, 2004. Four decades later, Bjarnason continues with a chiropractic practice: see
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465:; www.wolfgangsvault.com. Identified year of poster (1979) appears to be in error; ticket prices ($ 3.50 -$ 5.50) and reference to
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album was recorded. At the time, the band was less than a year old, with band members still being in their teens or early twenties.
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The band regrouped on occasion after 1972 and in 1981 regrouped for a recorded reunion performance at
Toronto's famed
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As noted by one reviewer in relation to this live performance, "No other band would do an
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The band's concert performance locations during their first year included the prestigious
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712:" are standards here now because of this band. These performances still hold up today."
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The band's rapid early success is exemplified by their appearance at the historic 1969
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Whiskey Howl's
Michael Pickett takes centre stage in this week's Classic Vinyl
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357:(As The Whiskey Howl Big Band; CD Release 2005, re-release 2009, Solid Gold)
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was later added to the bill, as were the Toronto area bands Nucleus and
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185:. They later opened for or played with such artists as the
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494:; www.wolfgangsvault.com. Other listed performers were
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Witmer died in July 2004; see Toronto Blues Society,
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Leavell references his involvement with the album in
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Toronto Rock & Roll Revival Promotional Handbill
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Beaches Metro Community News Professional Directory
708:'... "Mother Earth", "Early in the Morning" and "
632:, The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia; www.jam.canoe.ca.
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645:, September, 2004; www.torontobluessociety.com.
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538:was listed as the Master of Ceremonies.
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512:Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys
737:Musical groups disestablished in 1972
574:Whiskey Howl - The First Year 1969-70
552:Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Website
437:Whiskey Howl - The First Year 1969-70
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732:Musical groups established in 1969
562:was not publicly known in advance.
554:. The appearance of John Lennon,
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757:1972 disestablishments in Ontario
630:Biography of Downchild Blues Band
463:Performance Poster Advertisement
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236:concert, which was headlined by
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234:Toronto Rock and Roll Revival
169:Biography of Michael Pickett
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187:Paul Butterfield Blues Band
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245:Live Peace in Toronto 1969
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667:; www.michaelpickett.com.
617:Chuck Leavell Discography
408:List of bands from Canada
171:; www.michaelpickett.com.
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710:Let The Good Times Roll
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125:Dave Glendenning (bass)
111:John ("B.J.") Bjarnason
665:Michael Pickett Awards
576:; www.livinblues.com.
439:; www.livinblues.com.
560:The Plastic Ono Band
540:Screaming Lord Sutch
451:Downchild Blues Band
345:Warner Bros. Records
327:Downchild Blues Band
303:Allman Brothers Band
199:Screaming Lord Sutch
691:; www.allmusic.com.
679:; www.allmusic.com.
714:John's Blues Picks
661:Blues Music Awards
656:Maple Blues Awards
264:Bobby "Blue" Bland
548:Malcolm Tomlinson
195:Big Mama Thornton
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121:Richard Fruchtman
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628:Uncredited,
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528:Doug Kershaw
520:Gene Vincent
504:Alice Cooper
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376:Music portal
352:Live At The
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341:Whiskey Howl
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227:Doug Kershaw
183:Led Zeppelin
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146:Whiskey Howl
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137:Simon Wallis
135:John Johnson
131:Rick Birkett
115:Wayne Wilson
113:Ron Sullivan
99:Past members
84:Warner Bros.
55:Years active
20:Whiskey Howl
508:Chuck Berry
334:Discography
288:The Zombies
284:Amboy Dukes
280:Small Faces
276:Canned Heat
260:Massey Hall
256:Chuck Berry
207:Chuck Berry
203:Elvin Jones
139:Dave Dunlop
129:John Tilden
109:Gary Penner
107:Peter Boyko
104:John Witmer
726:Categories
654:Including
536:Kim Fowley
488:Bo Diddley
414:References
354:El Mocambo
314:El Mocambo
89:Solid Gold
702:a capella
532:The Doors
268:Buddy Guy
238:The Doors
219:Buddy Guy
211:B.B. King
87:Pacemaker
556:Yoko Ono
544:Milkwood
362:See also
159:singers.
133:Ed White
663:. See
492:Chicago
152:History
69: (
61: (
34:Ontario
30:Toronto
550:; see
258:, and
80:Labels
44:Genres
38:Canada
26:Origin
350:1981
339:1972
67:-1972
48:Blues
558:and
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490:and
478:See
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270:and
225:and
71:1972
63:1969
59:1969
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292:MC5
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