The Guess Who, the band that became Canada’s first international rock music superstars, began in 1962 in Winnipeg as “Chad Allen & the Reflections. The original members included Randy Bachmann (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 became the number one single in Canada and was listed among the Top 40 singles in the United States. Burton Cummings joined the group that same year, replacing the keyboard player and sharing lead vocals.
A Marketing Ploy and A New Name
When Quality Records released the group’s first single and album it was packaged in a plain white record jacket with only the question “Guess Who?” written on it. The marketing ploy was designed to encourage consumer curiosity, and it worked. The album sold two million copies and the band had a new name --“The Guess Who.” Following the success of their first album The Guess Who toured the U.S. as part of Dick Clark’s “Caravan of Stars Road Revue.” In 1967 they contracted for a regular appearance on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s television 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 moved there to the U.S. to record. Their subsequent recording of His Girl gave the band a top 20 hit in England, an offer to record with London-based King Records and an opportunity to tour. They left for the England, but after recording just one album returned to Canada. The homecoming was not a happy one and was marked by the sale of their Quality Records contract for only $1000 to Nimbus 9, owned by producer Jack Richardson.
Into the Top Ten
Richardson believed strongly in the future of The Guess Who and mortgaged his home to finance the recording of the album Wheatfield Soul, which was released in 1968. His investment paid off. Their first single, These Eyes, reached the top spot in Canada, and earned the band recognition in the United States and a recording contract with RCA records. Heralded as the beginning of a Canadian invasion, These Eyes reached number three in the U.S. in 1969 with sales of more than one million copies. Their second album for RCA, Canned Wheat, released in 1968 included the Top Ten hits Laughing,No Time andUndun.
In 1970 the recording American Woman gave The Guess Who its first number one single in the U.S. unseating the Beatles from the top of the charts for three weeks. The top ten album of the same name also contained the hit No Sugar Tonight and was the B-side of the single American Woman.
The growing popularity of the band earned them an invitation to perform at the White House before the President and Mrs. Nixon and guest Prince Charles. It was during the peak of success that Randy Bachman decided to leave the band and form “Bachman Turner Overdrive.” The Guess Who persisted with new guitar players and during the next few years the group continued to chart with the singles Albert Flasher, Rain Dance, Bus Rider, Hand Me Down World, Star Baby, Share The Land, and Clap For the Wolfman. After 10 years with the band, Burton Cummings left in 1975 to pursue a successful solo career.
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 more than one million people. The excitement and personal enjoyment found in performing together again as The Guess Who inspired the original members to undertake a tour across Canada that took place in 2000, with 24 performances in 22 Canadian cities.
Although membership in the group has changed through the years, they have remained musically consistent. Appearing at Harborfest are original members Jim Kale (bass and vocals) and Garry Peterson (drums). Current members also include Carl Dixon (vocals and guitar), Leonard Shaw (keyboards, flue, sax and vocals) and Bobby Bilan (guitars).
Featured At Harborfest 2005 