Edmonton's Rock & Roll History Page

05/16/2024

RIP Hans Staymer

Explore the discography of Hans Stamer. Shop for vinyl, CDs, and more from Hans Stamer on Discogs.

05/16/2024

https://www.sonymusic.ca/press_release/founding-member-of-loverboy-paul-dean-unearths-resurrects-restores-and-releases-eponymous-album-of-60s-vancouver-band-canada-fox?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0xhVs6NGsTWKDqjanwyfEmKuH1dY9RWn_Ld9ssi_I2SQzJ_EwnUjm_ckg_aem_AQeoW_ainaudu9wwsbLtoKjh5myGrVTUYXy7zgAiSnDWlB9-f8XytczTfgCaYdnleHXlnAWgFAH9PhO09d8_yS86

Press Release April 26, 2024 FOUNDING MEMBER OF LOVERBOY PAUL DEAN UNEARTHS, RESURRECTS, RESTORES AND RELEASES EPONYMOUS ALBUM OF 60s’ VANCOUVER BAND CANADA-FOX FOUNDING MEMBER OF LOVERBOY PAUL DEAN UNEARTHS, RESURRECTS, RESTORES AND RELEASES EPONYMOUS ALBUM OF 60s’ VANCOUVER BAND CANADA-FOX Can...

02/23/2024

02/14/2024

Blast from the past. 1968?

02/03/2024

RIP Larry "Lars" Wanagas. Condolences to his family, friends and associates.😢✌❤

CIMA is saddened to hear of the passing of Larry Wanagas, a longstanding member & Board Director. With an impressive career spanning over 38 years, his remarkable contributions left a lasting impact on the music industry.

Larry will be greatly missed, and our heartfelt thoughts go out to his loved ones.

https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/rip-canadian-music-industry-veteran-and-manager-larry-wanagas/

01/10/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9NIJs46m2M

12/31/2023

Damon Productions was founded in Edmonton in 1966 by Garry McDonall and Wally Petruk. McDonall and Petruk were members of the Edmonton-based rock band, The Nomads, and created the company as a means to create and promote their own music. The name “Damon” was selected as it is “Nomad” in reverse.

In 1968, McDonall, Petruk, and Nomads drummer Don Paches decided to expand the company by creating a recording studio. The three were joined by Petruk’s brother, Len Petruk, and Edmonton-based singer Robert Harlan Smith and the partnership founded Damon Studios in 1968.

Damon Studios was initially a 4-track recording operation but upgraded with an 8-track system in 1972. The studio eventually upgraded to 24-track recording and was the first recording studio in Canada to install the fully-computerized Neve 8108 sound board.

In addition to the recording studio, McDonall and Damon Productions also ran two record labels, Damon Records (focusing on country music) and Mustard (focusing on rock and popular music), as well as two music publishing companies, Pet-Mac and 3 P.M. These publishing concerns made Damon one of the largest music publishers in western Canada.

Over the course of its history, Damon recorded or released two double platinum, three platinum, and eight gold records. Some Damon artists include Tommy Banks, Tim Feehan, Randy Broadhead, Kennedy Jenson, Bob Ruzicka, and Donna Adams. Damon Studios also served as the recording facility for Garry Lee and the Showdown’s 1980 hit single, The Rodeo Song, and the Emeralds’ worldwide polka sensation, The Bird Dance.

Garry McDonall served as the President of Damon Productions from its inception in 1966 to his death in 2010, as well as being chief recording engineer. He was also a member of the Alberta Recording Industries Association (ARIA), serving two terms as president and various positions on the board since ARIA’s beginning in the early 1980s. McDonall was awarded the Heritage Award at the 2004 Western Canadian Music Industry Awards, honouring his lifelong career in the music industry.

Garry McDonall died on October 5, 2010 at the age of 72. After his death, Damon Productions and all of its subsidiaries ceased operations. https://hermis.alberta.ca/paa/Details.aspx?ObjectID=PR3228&dv=True&deptID=1

12/30/2023

The Nomads were originally formed in 1958 by Bob Weldon Clarke and can be considered as one of Edmonton’s first big rock bands. As quoted by Bob Clarke: " I got started in 1958, after I got out of the Air Force. Wes Dakus had his band and I had The Nomads. They were big bands. I had a nine piece. We could play almost anything. We only had one singer, so we did maybe four or five instrumentals and then one vocal."

Lennie Richards was the bands original lead singer. Although the Nomads and the Rebels were in competition, band members switched back and forth frequently, so it is hard to keep a chronological order. In 1964 they underwent several band member changes and are referred to as the Nomads second edition. Suffice to say that the Nomads were important members of the Edmonton rock and roll scene in the 60s. In 1966 they recorded their first album in Toronto and Edmonton. They had radio success with such tunes as Cry Baby, Bittersweet, and Walking Mary Home.

The original Nomads disbanded in the late 60s as members pursued other careers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvnboJiWmX0