The Guess Who with Blood Sweat & Tears

Saturday, April 10 | 7 pm
Legends Theater

Ticket Prices: $45.00 | $35.00 | $30.00 | $25.00

The Guess Who

The Guess Who, the band that became Canada’s first international rock music superstars, began in 1962 in Winnipeg as Chad Allen & The Reflections. Including members Randy Bachman (guitar), Jim Kale (bass) and Garry Peterson (drums), Chad Allen and the Reflections had become Chad Allen and the Expressions by the time they recorded a cover of “Shakin’ All Over”, released by Quality Records in 1965. The song was a #1 single in Canada and reached #22 in America. Burton Cummings joined the group that same year, replacing the keyboard player and sharing lead vocals.

Quality Records released the group’s first single and album, Shakin’ All Over, in a plain white record jacket with only the question “Guess Who?” written on it. The marketing ploy capitalized on curiosity and the promise of another British Invasion band. It worked. After selling two million copies the band had its trademark name: The Guess Who. Following the success of Shakin’ All Over, the band toured the U.S. as part of Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars Road Revue and in 1967 they landed a regular spot on the CBCTV show, Where It’s At.

Experimenting with the sounds of freedom, psychedelic, and garage rock that were filtering across the border from Minneapolis, The Guess Who traveled to Minneapolis, where they did their first recordings at K-Bank Studios. Their song “His Girl” gave the band a Top 20 hit in England, an offer to sign with London-based King Records, and the opportunity to tour. They immediately left for the U.K. After just one album, the band quit King Records and returned to Canada. After recording the promotional album A Wild Pair (with The Staccatos on the flipside) for Coca-Cola and appearing on the TV show Let’s Go, the homecoming of The Guess Who was marked by the sale of their Quality Records contract for $1,000 to Nimbus 9, owned by producer Jack Richardson.

Richardson believed so strongly in The Guess Who that he mortgaged his home to finance the recording of the album, Wheatfield Soul, which was released in 1968. The first single, “These Eyes”, reached #1 in Canada, and earned the band a U.S. contract with RCA Records. Heralded as the beginning of the Canadian Invasion, “These Eyes” reached #3 in America in 1969 with total sales of more than one million copies. Their second album for RCA, Canned Wheat by The Guess Who, also released in 1968, contained the Top 10 hits “Laughing”, “No Time”, and the Top 40 hit “Undun” (the Bside of “Laughing”).

Ironically it was “American Woman”, from March of 1970, which gave The Guess Who a #1 single in the U.S. and unseated The Beatles for three weeks straight. The Top 10 album, also entitled American Woman, containing the hits “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature” (the B-Side of American Woman), also went to #1 in Billboard for three weeks.

This new trend of having double sided singles both going to #1 was a rare occurrence, only achieved by; Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Guess Who, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The popularity of the band earned them an invitation to perform at the White House before Prince Charles and the President and Mrs. Nixon, although she requested that the band not perform “American Woman.” It was during this peak of The Guess Who’s success that Randy Bachman decided to leave the band (replaced by guitarists Kurt Winter and Greg Leskiw); he formed Bachman Turner Overdrive shortly thereafter. Over the next few years the group continued to chart with the singles “Hand Me Down World”, “Share The Land”, “Bus Rider”, “Rain Dance”, “Albert Flasher”, “Star Baby” and “Clap for the Wolfman” (which reached #6 on the Billboard Charts), and the album Greatest Hits. In all, the group has 14 bona fide Top 40 Hits to its credit!

After 10 years with the band, Burton Cummings left in 1975 to pursue a successful solo career. The original members of the The Guess Who appeared sporadically over the ensuing years: Jim Kale continued the band with new members through the late 70’s; Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings toured together in 1983; there was a brief reunion from which an album and concert video were released in 1985; and the band appeared together when they were inducted into the Canadian Recording Arts & Sciences (CARAS) Hall of Fame in 1987.

In 1999 The Guess Who returned to their Winnipeg roots, responding to a personal request from the Premier of Manitoba, to appear at the closing ceremonies of the Pan Am Games. The reunion was performed in driving rain before a combined live and television audience of nearly a million people. The excitement and personal enjoyment found in performing together again as The Guess Who inspired them to consider touring across Canada. Months of reunion rumors were finally confirmed in March 2000 when the Running Back Thru Canada tour announced more than 24 performances in over 22 cities across Canada.

The emergence of “classic rock” radio stations throughout North America has broadened the base of the group’s loyal followers to include more of the baby boomer generation, on down to today’s teenagers. A typical audience at a concert by The Guess Who will contain fans from 16 to 60 years old. The popularity of The Guess Who has increased tremendously due to the strength and the highly regarded reputation of their live concert performances.

Although membership in the group has changed through the years, they have remained musically consistent behind the strengths of original members Jim Kale (bass and vocals) and Garry Peterson (drums and vocals). Additionally, current members include Derek Sharp (vocals and guitars), Leonard Shaw (keyboards, flute, sax and vocals) and Laurie MacKenzie (guitars and vocals). As they perform hit after hit in concert, it is easy to see and hear why The Guess Who remain one of today’s most sought after touring attractions.

Blood Sweat & Tears

A musical institution, Blood Sweat & Tears has left an indelible mark on the American music scene since 1968. One of the greatest horn bands in the history of popular music, BS&T’s alumni roster reads like a Who’s Who of the world’s greatest jazz and rock musicians.

As BS&T has evolved through the years, it has maintained its commitment to high standards by including in its current roster the most talented musicians available.

Starting out in Greenwich Village in New York, the band won world-wide acclaim, becoming the first in many categories: first band to tour behind the Iron Curtain, first band to have 3 hit singles from the same record, first band to combine rock with jazz and of course Sunday night Woodstock, YES the real Woodstock.

Racking up sales in the millions, BS&T earned multiple gold albums, 10 Grammy nominations and won 3 Grammy Awards, including the most prestigious of them all, Album of the Year.

A band with a social conscience, At selected concerts BS&T awards the Elsie Monica Colomby music scholarship award to deserving students to help pay for lessons or to the music departments of schools to help buy instruments, as they did after the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 when BS&T had the entire high school marching band join them on stage for a jam session—a night those kids and some very proud parents will never forget.

Through there have been many changes in the bands lineup over the years, BS&T continues its tradition of finding and showcasing the brightest talent around the world. Whether playing their greatest hits, or new arrangements of classic songs, the band provides a night you will never forget.

At all the band’s performances, the musicians are available to answer any questions, to sign autographs, and to talk to young people about the joy and importance of having found music in their lives. As BS&T’s long-standing audiences bring their children to the band’s performances, a new generation joins an existing wide demographic of loyal fans.

BS&T concerts has brought record attendance and sold out shows throughout the world. Blood Sweat & Tears has once again proven that great musicians produce great music, The main reason the band is in such high demand. The horn section has recorded with Jazz great Jeff Lorber for his 2007 Grammy nominated album “He Had A Hat”.

2008 Saw the return of Founding Father Steve Katz to the BS&T line up on select shows.

Also in 2008 BS&T was named Honorary Ambassador of Peace by Kim, Jin-sun Governor of Gangwon Province Republic of Korea.