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Tim Ryan (vocals)
Ed Schreyer (guitar)
Nick Scali (rhythm guitar)
Dave Wilson (bass)
Bob Clarke (drums)
Bob Yukich (guitar; replaced Scali)
Bob Yeomans (drums; replaced Clarke

Sault Ste. Marie's The Amen was formed by high school friends Ryan and Schreyer along with friends Scali, Wilson and Clarke. They were similar to another Soo act, (Those) Rogues parroting British and American records but also writing their own material as well which they snuck into their sets while playing at the teen centre and school dances.

Following high school they packed up their equipment and relocated to Toronto just after Christmas of 1965. They beat a path to the local hotspots and played as often as they could.

They soon met Paupers and Kensington Market manager Bernie Finklestein. He, in turn, put them in touch with producer John Holt and recorded a single for Holt's Algoma Records called "Carnivals and Cotton Candy" which was released in 1967.

Soon they were performing regularly in Yorkville's club scene and opened shows for more established acts like The Tripp, The Rabble, The Paupers, Kensington Market, and The Guess Who.

In the summer of 1967, Scali and Clarke left and was replaced by Yukich and Yeomans who had jumped ship from fellow Soo band The Vendettas after the two acts had played together in Toronto. However, the momentum was lost and the band split up before the end of 1967.

Following an erratic stab at a solo career, Ryan re-teamed with Yeomans and Clarke under the name Hero and eventually hit pay dirt as a CBS Canada recordings act called Jackson Hawke in 1976.

The Amen reunited in December of 2007 for the Sault Ste. Marie '18 Forever Festival.

with notes from Tim Ryan.


Singles
1967 Carnivals And Cotton Candy/Peter Zeus (Algoma) ST-33

Albums


Video


Compilation Tracks