- Skylark (Canadian band)
Skylark was a
Canadian pop/rock band active from 1971-1973 and based in thePacific Northwest . The band formed from one ofRonnie Hawkins ' backup groups and signed withCapitol Records , releasing a self-titledalbum in 1972 which spawned three singles. The group, whose alumni include renownedcomposer /arrangerDavid Foster , disbanded after the lukewarm reception of their second album, "2", and its members achieved mixed success in other projects.Their biggest single, "Wildflower", was a 1972 number one hit in Canada, peaking at #9 on Billboard's
Hot 100 chart, and selling over a million copies. It was written byguitarist Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson, who was a Victoria police officer at the time. "Wildflower" is an early example of thepower ballad , featuring a strong, emotional lead vocal, a blend ofelectric guitar , strings andharp , distinctive "slow dance" percussion, and almost-gospel background vocals. It has since been covered byJohnny Mathis ,The New Birth ,The O'Jays ,Kenny Rogers ,Aaron Neville ,Gary Morris ,Color Me Badd ,Lisa Fischer , Hong Kong superstarSandy Lam , and sampled byTupac Shakur andJamie Foxx .Members
B.J. Cook (vocals), Doug Edwards (guitar), David Foster (keyboards), Donny Gerrard (vocals), Carl Graves (percussion), Duris Maxwell (drums), Steven Pugsley (bass), Kat Hendricks (drums; replaced Hilton), Brian Hilton (drums; replaced Maxwell), Norman McPherson (guitar; replaced Edwards), John Verner (guitar; American, replaced McPherson), Allan Mix (guitar; replaced Verner).
Discography
ingles
* 1972 - "What Would I Do Without You" (Capitol)
* 1973 - "Wildflower" (Capitol)
* 1973 - "I'll Have to Go Away" (Capitol)Albums
* 1972 - "Skylark" (Shanachie/Capitol)
* 1974 - "2" (Capitol)
* 1996 - "Wildflower: Golden Classics Edition" (Collectibles)External links
* [http://pnwbands.com/skylark.html Skylark on Pacific Northwest Bands]
* [http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicPopEncycloPagesS/skylark.html Skylark on Canoe.ca]
* [http://www.nettwerksongspublishing.com/artists_composers/bio.jsp?composer_id=141 Wildflower on Nettwerk.ca]
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