1927: CKUA goes on the air with a 500-watt signal, originating from the University of Alberta campus. Canada's first public broadcaster began as a project to take the University to the people via the new medium of radio. It came into being with the volunteer labour of two engineering students, using two windmill towers, some old iron poles and a $700 grant. On air personalities over the decades have included Robert Goulet, Tommy Banks, Roy Forbes, and Holger Peterson, among many others.
1952: Starchild's axeman Bob Sprenger is born in Cambridge, Ontario.
1970: The Band is in Syracuse, NY for a show at the Onondoga War Memorial.
1970: The Guess Who are in Cleveland for a taping of the TV show, Upbeat at WEWS' studio.
1970: R Harlan Smith tops the Canadian country chart with "Ode To Suburbia."
1973: Anne Murray is in LA for the first of a five-night stand at The Troubador.
1974: Billy Talent drummer Aaron Solowoniuk is born in Streetsville, Ontario.
1975: Steppenwolf are in Seattle, Washington for a show at Paramount Northwest with Argent.
1981: Downchild Blues Band are in Vancouver for a show at The Arlington.
1981: Anne Murray peaks at #9 on Billboard's country chart with "It's All I Can Do."
1982: In a ceremony at her manager Elliot Roberts' home in Malibu, Joni Mitchell and her bass player, Larry Klein tie the knot.
1982: Coney Hatch opens for Judas Priest in Long Beach, Cal at the Arena.
1987: Blue Rodeo's single, "Try" peaks at #6 on the Canadian pop chart.
1987: Michael Breen peaks on the Canadian albums chart at #91 with his self-titled debut (and only) album. The first single, "Rain," peaks at #33.
1989: Rush release their PRESTO album.
1989: Maestro Fresh Wes releases what would become his biggest hit, "Let Your Backbone Slide."
1991: Harem Scarem are in Toronto for a show at Rock & Roll Heaven during an "Addams Family" movie party.
1992: Alannah Myles tops the Canadian singles chart with "A Song Instead of a Kiss," beginning a four-week run.
1992: Tom Cochrane's "Washed Away" peaks at #88 on Billboard's chart, ending a two week run.
2005: Valdy is awarded the National Achievement Award at SOCAN's annual ceremony in Toronto.
2009: Stereos release the video and single for, "Summer Girls."
2011: Nickelback release their HERE AND NOW album.
2011: The Stampeders receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during SOCAN's ceremony in Toronto.
2014: Trews are in Calgary for a show at Flames Central.
2015: It's the $2 Punk Night at The Mustache Club in Oshawa, Ontario, with Bike Thiefs, Stranded Cruiser, Direct Disregard, and Wayne Kennedy.
2015: Lee Aaron is in Oshawa, Ontario for a show at the Music Hall.
2015: One Bad Son hold a party at the Roxy Theatre Sideroom in Vancouver. Also on the card are Return For Refund, Corporate Life, and From The Ruins.
2015: Bill Durst is in Edmonton to close out a two-night stand at Blues On Whyte.
2015: Jane Siberry is in Dallas, Texas for a show at The Kessler Theatre.
2018: Lowest of The Low release their retrospective boxset, SHAKESPEARE MY BOX!
2019: At the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, a special concert is held in recognition of six songs being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame "Let Your Backbone Slide" by Maestro Fresh Wes, "Rise Up," from Parachute Club, "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want" from A Foot in Coldwater ), "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" ( Klaatu), Mandala's "Opportunity," and "I Would Be the One" ( Kensington Market). Members of many of the groups that performed the songs take the stage during the evening.
2019: Lex Justice and Toque are in Edmonton for a show at Blues On Whyte.
2019: Winnie Brave are in Cold Lake, Alberta for a show at Beantrees. Opening is Ashley Earl.
2019: Lee Harvey Osmond, aka as Tom Wilson from Junkhouse is in White Rock, BC for a show at Blue Frog Studios.
2019: Aurora In Peril release their debut single and video, "Silly Boy," featuring Robs Yourson.
2019: Tara Van Der Kolk, Pablo Paddy, and Philip Vonesh & The Spare Parts are in Toronto for a triple bill at the Linsmore Tavern.
2019: Spoons release their new single and video, "All The Wrong Things."
2019: Bloated Pig release their new single and video, "Ritual Burning."
Originally called The Colonials, The Charlottetown, PEI’s Gary Weeks and Newmarket, Ontario’s Dave Beckett met in grade school and played in several bands – Edgar And The Allan Poes and The Diplomats – right through their post-Secondary education at the University Of Western Ontario. It was in London, Ontario in 1966, as part of a United Appeal concert in which their latest band, The King Bees, finished fourth that the duo decided to perform together professionally. With a deal through RCA/Victor the act released the single “Little Girl/What’s Your Name” that year. There wasn’t a huge amount of success and gigs were hard to come by. They eventually quit the act and decided to focus on their talents as a duo. Beckett worked the comic end of the act as Weeks became the straight man while weaving comedy, original songs and established hits into their act. Their stage show was punctuated by imitations of other Canadian recording artists such as a Vienna choirboy singing The Bells’ “Stay Awhile” or an all kazoo version of “One Fine Morning” by Lighthouse. This show made them very appealing in Europe particularly Holland. They began recording in 1969 and began playing festival including a headlining attraction at the 1970 World’s Fair in Japan. Gary And Dave signed to Greg Hambleton’s Axe Records in 1972. Their first few singles were slow starters, but the label was determined to find the right material and musicians to record a full length LP. 1973’s ‘Together’ was recorded at Toronto Sound Studios and Manta Sound by engineers Dave Slagter, Terry Brown, Greg Hambleton and Dave Green, with Hambleton also acting as the producer. Beckett and Weeks sang everything and supplied instrumentation on several tracks. The string and horn arrangements were by Brown’s musical director, Doug Riley, with bass and guitars by Sebastian Agnello and Greg Hambleton’s brother Fergus. Drums were supplied by Paul Clinch (Chimo!) and keyboards by Peter Goodale. The album spawned what would become their biggest hit – 1973’s “Could You Ever Love Me Again”. The song not only went to #1 in Canada but stayed on the charts for 27 weeks and became a French hit for 12 year-old Michel Lesage in 1974. To promote the single and the album, they toured along with The Stampeders which was followed by their own CBC-TV show. The single would eventually be released in 22 countries with mild success in the US and major success in Australia. After several more hits, like 1974’s “It Might As Well Rain Until September”, the duo walked away from their recording contract and decided to follow their other love, flying, and both became pilots for Airtransit STOL Canada, an experimental commuter airline from Toronto to Ottawa. It wasn’t long, however, before they were back into music. With their return to music full time they enlisted the help of backing band The Stewart Brothers and toured to support the release of their album “14 Greatest Hits” in 1977. The duo finally split in 1979 and returned to full time jobs as pilots for Air Canada. Weeks retired from music and was assistant pastor at the Calvary Church in Toronto before moving to Ireland to do Missionary work; Beckett became a consultant for the Ministry Of Transportation in their test pilot program and was the flight safety director for Ontario’s London Air Show. with notes from Sebastian Agnello and Davida Bösch. Singles with KING BEES 1966Little Girl/What’s Your Name (RCA/Victor) 3414 as GARY & DAVE 1970 Tender Woman/I’m A Rider (Quality) 1977X 1972 Can’t You Do It Now/I’ve Seen The Light (Axe) AXE-2 1973 Here It Comes Again/My Special Place (Axe) AXE-7 1973 Could You Ever Love Me Again/Where Do We Go From Here? (Axe) AXE-10 1974 I Fell In Love With You Sometime/For You (Axe) AXE-11 1974 It Might As Well Rain Until September/September Lady Theme (Axe) AXE-17 1974 I May Never See You Again/I Think I Know You (Axe) AXE-19 1974 What Can You Do About It/All In The Past Now (Axe) AXE-22 1974 I Can’t Find The Words/I Don’t Want To Leave You (Axe) AXE-25 1975 It’s Alright My Darling/Carolina Carole (Axe) AXE-45 1975 I’ll Always Love You/Flying On The Wings Of A Song (Axe) AXE-51 1976 You Send Me/I Could Fall In Love With You (Polydor) 2065-324 Albums 1973 Together (Axe) AXS-503 1974 All In The Past (Axe) AXS-506 1977 14 Greatest Hits (Axe) AXS-519
