1970 LINE-UP
Bill Henderson (lead vocals, guitars, piano)
Glenn Miller (bass, guitar)
Ross Turney (drums)
Clair Lawrence (keyboards, flute, sax, piano)
1971 LINE-UP
Bill Henderson (lead vocals, guitars, piano)
Ross Turney (drums)
Clair Lawrence (keyboards, flute, sax, piano)
1972-1978 LINE-UP
Bill Henderson (lead vocals, guitars, synths)
Glenn Miller (bass, backing vocals)
Ross Turney (drums)
Howard Froese (guitar, backing vocals, keys; joined in 1973)
Brian Macleod (lead guitars, vocals; joined in 1977)
1979-1984 LINE-UP
Bill Henderson (lead vocals, guitars, synths)
Brian Macleod (lead guitars, vocals)
Ab Bryant (bass)
Rick Taylor (drums; 1979 only)
John Roles (guitar; 1979 only)
Born in Vancouver, Bill Henderson grew up in Western Canada and began earning a living as a musician while still in high school. He studied music at the University of British Columbia and in 1964 was asked to join a group of musicians who had previously been in The Classics.
After two years of high school and teen hall dances they managed to land a record deal with Valiant Records and after recording their debut single, "Looking At A Baby", they were given the new name of The Collectors. The group managed two albums and a string of radio singles between 1967 and 1970 before changing their name to Chilliwack, with Henderson assuming lead vocal duties, after the departure of several members of the Collectors.
The new 4-piece Chilliwack released their self-titled debut on Parrot Records in 1970 and had moderate radio success with "Rain-O" as a single.
Glenn Miller left for their follow-up double album set (also self-titled) in 1971, but returned after the departure of Claire Lawrence (who would go on to a solo career), for 1972's 'All Over You'.
The three member line-up was augmented in 1973 with the addition of Howard Froese as second guitarist and the band hooked up with pop tunesmith and Poppy Family main-man Terry Jacks who produced 1974's 'Riding High' album on his own Goldfish label. The record featured the hit single "Crazy Talk".
1975 saw the band switch this time to Casino Records for 'Rockerbox' which yielded no radio singles.
In 1976 the band hooked up with fledling Vancouver record label Mushroom and struck gold with four singles from the 'Dreams, Dreams, Dreams' album including "California Girls" and "Fly At Night".
1977 saw another line-up shake up with the departure of Howard Froese who was replaced by Brian "Too Loud" MacLeod for the album 'Lights From The Valley' in 1978.
By the third Mushroom release in 1979 ('Breakdown In Paradise') Chilliwack was only Bill Henderson and Brian MacLeod and featured a complete line-up change with the addition of Ab Bryant (bass), Rick Taylor (drums) and John Roles (guitar).
With the bankruptcy of Mushroom Records, Chilliwack moved homebase to Solid Gold Records and lost Rick Taylor and John Roles in the process. Their first LP for the label, 'Wanna Be A Star', yielded several radio hits in "My Girl" [winning the band a JUNO Award in 1981], "(Don't Wanna) Live For A Living", and "I Believe".
'Opus X' in 1982 continued their hit streak as the trio rode the crest of renewed popularity. A greatest hits called 'Segue' was quickly fashioned for 1983 and the band followed that with their final studio release 'Look In, Look Out' before Solid Gold Records went bankrupt and took Chilliwack's good fortunes with it.
Brian MacLeod, would find similar success with his own act the Headpins before succumbing to cancer.
Henderson's talents as a record producer have been much sought after. In addition to his work with Chilliwack, he has also produced recordings for The Nylons, Long John Baldry, Jr. Gone Wild, Toronto, The Irish Rovers, and The West End Girls among other. In 1982 he won the JUNO Award for "Producer Of The Year". Henderson has also been past president of The Songwriter's Association Of Canada and SOCAN.
Glenn Miller lives in the east end of Toronto with his wife, Jackie Cale, and plays bass in The John Bell Band on a part time basis. His day job is working for a market research company and he hand builds furniture in his spare time; Henderson spent the '90s perfmorming and recording with the acoustic music group Ulrich, Henderson, Forbes (UHF). He still tours Chilliwack and holds positions of prominance of some of Canada's music organizations such as the Songwriter's Association; Turney lives in L.A.; Lawrence has become an accomplished producer and solo artist as well; Vickers is semi-retired now and lives in Fort Langley, BC.
with notes from Mark McTaggart, James Schoening and Glenn Miller.
Singles
1970 Chain Train (Parrot/London)
1970 Rain-O (Parrot/London)
1971 Sundown (A & M)
1971 Everyday (A & M)
1971 Lonesome Mary (A & M)
1972 Groundhog (A & M)
1974 There's Something I Like About That (Goldfish/A & M)
1974 Crazy Talk/In And Out (Goldfish/A & M)
1975 Come On Over (Goldfish/A & M)
1976 California Girl (Mushroom)
1977 Something Better (Mushroom)
1977 Baby Blue (Mushroom)
1977 Fly At Night/Mary Lou And Me (Mushroom)
1978 Arms Of Mary (Mushroom)
1980 Road To Paradise (Mushroom)
1980 Communication Breakdown (Mushroom)
1981 My Girl/Sign Here (Solid Gold/A & M)
1981 I Believe/(Don't Wanna) Live For A Living [double A-side] (Solid Gold/A & M)
1983 What You Gonna Do (Solid Gold/A & M)
1983 Gettin' Better (Solid Gold/A & M)
1983 Don't Stop/Lonesome Mary (Solid Gold/A & M)
1983 Don't Go (Solid Gold/A & M)
1983 Secret Information/You're Gonna Last (Solid Gold/A & M)
1984 Got You On My Mind (Solid Gold/A & M)
Albums
1970 Chilliwack (Parrot/London)
1971 Chilliwack [double LP](A & M)
1972 All Over You (A & M)
1974 Riding High (Goldfish/A & M)
1975 Rockerbox (Casino/A & M)
1976 Dreams, Dreams, Dreams (Mushroom)
1978 Lights From The Valley (Mushroom)
1979 Breakdown In Paradise (Solid Gold/A & M)
1981 Wanna Be A Star (Solid Gold/A & M)
1982 Opus X (Solid Gold/A & M)
1983 Segue (Solid Gold/A & M)
1984 Look In, Look Out (Solid Gold/A & M)
1988 Chilliwack's Greatest Hits [CD] (CBS)
2003 There And Back [CD] (independent)
Video
Compilation Tracks
Official Bill Henderson Website
Chilliwack Fansite
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