Rich Dodson (lead guitar, vocals)
Len Roemer (rhythm guitar)
Kim Berly (drums, vocals)
Brendan Lyttle (bass) [quit in 1968]
Race Holiday (lead vocals) [quit in 1968]
Ronnie King (rhythm guitar, vocals) [replaced Roemer in 1965]
Van Louis (rhythm guitar) [joined 1965; quit in 1968]
In 1964, drummer Kim Berly (born Kim Meyer) answered an ad in a Calgary newspaper to join a band called the Rebounds, which consisted of lead guitarist Rich Dodson, bassist Brendan Lyttle and rhythm guitarist Len Roemer; Berly also brought his brother Al (who went by the name Race Holiday) into the fold to sing lead. In January of 1965, they changed their name to the Stampeders, after signing a managerial contract with Mel Shaw. At this point Roemer decided to call it quits and was replaced with Cornelius Van Sprang - stage name Ronnie King and his brother Emile - stage name Van Louis.
The six-man group started wearing assorted-coloured denim outfits and cowboy hats with the idea of promoting a group of cowboys playing rock 'n roll. During their first year as a band in Calgary, they had one single release on the SOTAN label entitled "House of Shake" b/w "Don't Look At Her."
Anticipating better things to come, The Stampeders decided to move to Toronto in 1966. At the invitation of Bigland booking agent, Ron Scribner, the six-man group, along with Mel Shaw and his family, loaded up their $800, used, '62 Cadillac limousine and U-Haul trailer, and left Calgary heading east to the 'big lights' of Toronto. Though most of the members were under the legal drinking age, they managed to beg, borrow and work their way across Canada, playing bars and various one-nighters. Upon their arrival in Toronto, the Western-Canadian band, with their yellow denim T-Kays, cowboy boots and hats, became an immediate curiosity in the folk-oriented, hippie clubs of the Yorkville district. Though the first year was an extremely lean one, the band managed to survive the six-month, Toronto Musician's Association's initiation and find work in the bustling Toronto club scene.
The Stampeders finally had a breakthrough late in '68 with a single they recorded while on a sight-seeing trip to New York. Released on the independent label, CARAVAN, "Morning Magic" b/w "All The Time" wasn't much of a sales success, but critical acclaim earned the group a BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) Award.
The first major-label single release, "Be A Woman" b/w "I Don't Believe," came in 1968 on the MGM label in the U.S. Though the record was done with a studio rhythm section and only featured the band's vocals, it was to be The Stampeders' final release as a six-member group. Late in 1968, the three oldest members - Lyttle, Louis and Race Berly - left the band, leaving the line-up of Dodson, Kim Berly and King.
The period from late '68 to the mid '70's was a time of evolution for the new, three-man Stampeders in which they would develop their own sound, a sound that would take them around the world. The stage set-up had Dodson on guitar, King on bass and Berly on drums, while all three members shared lead vocals. With the exception of Dodson, the cowboy hats came off, they all still wore boots, but the colored T-Kay denim outfits became history. During this period, the band toured around Ontario and Quebec developing their stage show with the help of their new road man, lighting-wizard, Stan Whitcher, winning fans and becoming an in-demand club and one-nighter attraction.
The Stampeders' only release during 1969 was "Cross-Walk" b/w "I Don't Know Where I'm At Sometimes" on the Melbourne label, distributed by London Records. Quality Records, then a major independent label in Canada, became interested in the band. By mid-1970, The Stampeders were in the studio working on their first album, "Against The Grain".
"Carry Me", the first single from this session, quickly hit the top of the Canadian charts, garnering the band it's first gold record. Simultaneously released on Polydor in the U.S., the single got lots of play but didn't quite make the charts. Canadian success, however, allowed the band to complete the album with one of their favorite recording engineers, Terry Brown. The resulting LP, "Against The Grain," was concurrently released with the next single, "Sweet City Woman" b/w "Gator Road." The band, along with it's new road crew -- Bob Luffman, Joel Wikhammer and Ian 'Snake' Dunbar -- was finally on it's way.
The summer of 1971 saw "Sweet City Woman" climb the charts to the Number One position across Canada, catching the attention of the American label, Bell Records. The band was signed immediately and Bell rush-released the single in the U.S. Even though it was up against classic songs like The Doors' "Riders On The Storm," Paul and Linda McCartney's "Uncle Albert," and James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend," "Sweet City Woman" climbed the Billboard charts, reaching the Number Eight spot on September 11, 1971. The band recalls the time they pulled over to the side of the road at four-o'clock in the morning, while enroute back to Toronto from a gig, and jumped around the car with excitement after hearing "Sweet City Woman" fading in on radio station WABC in New York City as the Number One record of the week. Bell records renamed the album "Sweet City Woman" for the U.S. market to capitalize on the success of the single.
Next came Juno Awards for 'Best Vocal Instrumental Group,' 'Best Producer,' 'Best Single' and 'Best Composer' -- and their first European tour. In 1972, at the request of their U.K. label, EMI, The Stampeders toured The United Kingdom. Upon their arrival, they discovered that their American hit, "Sweet City Woman," had already been covered by The Dave Clark Five. Dates included the Marquee in London, the Hard-Rock Theatre in Manchester and appearances on BBC Radio and "Top Of The Pops." Both Phillips and Bovema-EMI Records helped support the balance of the tour through Europe with British rock band, Steam Hammer. Holland was especially receptive to the band, partly due to the fact that Ronnie King (Cornelis Van Sprang) was a fellow Dutchman, having been born in Rotterdam.
In Holland, The Stampeders received the prestigious Edison Award for "Most Promising Group," along with Ry Cooder and Beach Boy, Carl Wilson. Carl was in session at the time, along with the rest of The Beach Boys, recording their classic "Holland" album. During this visit, The Stampeders had the privilege of staying at Amsterdam's Hotel Weichman with the infamousEagles. While Kim and Rich shared road experiences with Eagle drummer, Don Henley, Ronnie King and some of the other band members spent their time window-shopping in the famed, Amsterdam red-light district, only to find themselves locked out of the hotel upon their return.
1972 also took The Stampeders to Los Angeles to perform at the legendary "Whisky A-Go-Go" and tape their appearances on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" and "The Dating Game." While hanging out at The Troubadour in Hollywood, Ronnie King met Keith Moon, drummer of The Who. Keith took a liking to Ronnie and asked him what he and The Stampeders were doing the next night. It happened to be Keith's birthday and he wondered if The Stampeders might be available to play at his party at The Beverly Hills' Wiltshire Hotel. Ronnie quickly replied, "Of course," and The Stampeders ended up on stage performing for some of Hollywood's rock elite and jamming with Keith Moon.
Signing with U.S. booking agency, Premier Talent, in 1971 led to American tour appearances with Jim Dandy and Black Oak Arkansas, Santana, Joe Cocker, Steve Miller, The James Gang, Robin Trower, Steely Dan, Sonny and Cher, The Beach Boys, ZZ Top, The Eagles, Earth, Wind AndFire, Mountain, America, Tower Of Power, Blood, Sweat and Tears and Genesis. Establishing themselves as a good concert draw in the U.S., The Stampeders played everywhere from New York to Hawaii, including Los Angeles, Reno, Disneyland and the much-sought-after southern-college circuit.
Heavy airplay and extensive touring, coupled with many guest appearances on the popular Canadian TV shows of the time (Anne Murray, Miss Teen Canada, Kenny Roger's "Rollin' On The River" and The Ian Tyson Show), eventually led to The Stampeders' starring in their own CBC-TV special, "A Short Visit To Planet Earth."
1972 also saw the release of The Stampeders' second album "Carryin' On," featuring the lead-off single, "Devil You" b/w "Giant In The Streets." Although it was the last record released in the U.S. on Bell, the album gained a release in Europe on Regal Zonophone. It featured hard rocker "Wild Eyes," a song that gave their sound more edge and introduced the band to a whole new audience. Part of the appeal of The Stampeders was their musical versatility.
The Stampeders' busy schedule also took them to Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil (South America). They were asked to represent Canada in the Rio De Janeiro Song Festival, which entailed performing to a live audience of 30,000 and a television viewership of 90-million.
While 1971 was a banner year for The Stampeders, 1973 was, in many ways, their biggest year. Cross-Canada tours, coupled with the release of "Rubes, Dudes and Rowdies" and "From The Fire" kept the band very active. In Canada, both new singles, "Oh My Lady" and "Minstrel Gypsy," went gold, while follow-up singles, "Running Wild" and "Johnny Lightning," garnered heavy airplay and another JUNO nomination.
The release of The Stampeders' fifth gold album, "New Day," saw the emergence of a more experimental sound and a highly popular single, "Ramona." Their live-album, "Backstage Pass," was recorded at Ontario Place before a sold-out crowd of 17,000 fans. This was soon followed by the heavier, "Steamin," which contained a cover version of "New Orleans" and the infamousget-together of Ronnie King and U.S. radio D.J., Wolfman Jack, for the recording of "Hit The Road Jack."
The Stampeders met Wolfman Jack, and became good friends, while taping an NBC television special at the Saratoga Springs Song Festival in 1975. On April 4, 1976, "Hit The Road Jack" went Top-Forty in the U.S., reached Number One in Canada, and hit Top-10 in Holland, where it stayed for two weeks. The success of the single led to the release of The Stampeders' final gold album, "Hit The Road," and another JUNO nomination. It was later released in Europe by Quality records and in the U.S. on the Private Stock Label.
Dodson left the band in 1977 to start his own 24-track recording studio and independent record label, Marigold. The final three singles with Dodson, "Playing In The Band," "Sweet Love Bandit," and "San Diego" were released in 1976.
With the release of "Platinum" in 1977, the new band's line-up included original members, Ronnie King and Kim Berly, along with back-up musicians Gibby Lacasse (drums and percussion), Ian Kojima (tenor and baritone sax and flute), David Norris-Elye (tenor and soprano sax), Doug Macaskill (guitar) and Gary Scrutton (guitar and vocals). Single releases included the horn-basedR&B track, "Bring The House Down." Following "Platinum," TeeVee International released a "Best of The Stampeders" hit package. The failure of the new jazzier, funky-sounding Stampeders to gain critical and commercial acceptance, along with the increased cost of supporting the large band, eventually led to the departure of drummer, Kim Berly. Also gone was the band's recording deal with Quality records.
Ronnie King tried to keep the flame burning with a new album on Apex called "Ballsy." The new line-up included Ronnie's youngest brother, Roy Van Sprang, Bob Allwood and Gary Storin. Lack of sales, high overhead and disappointed fans led to the band's final break up in 1980 and the departure of manager, Mel Shaw.
Dodson continued recording other acts; Kim Berly was signed to RCA in 1979 as Kimball Fox under the handle of a new band called The Cry.
In 1992, The three-piece edition of the Stampeders reunited, released an album and toured as a New Country act.
Singles
Carry Me
Sweet City Woman
Devil You
Wild Eyes
Oh My Lady
Minstrel Gypsy
Ramona
Monday Morning Choo-Choo
Then Came The White Man
Keep Me Running Wild
Hit The Road Jack
New Orleans
San Diego
Playin' In The Band
Sweet Love Bandit
Me And My Stone
Bring The House Down
Albums
1971 Against The Grain
1972 Carryin' On
1973 Rubes Dudes And Rowdies
1974 From The Fire
1975 Steamin'
1975 Backstage Pass
1976 New Day
1976 Hit The Road
1978 Platinum
1980 Ballsy
Video
Compilation Tracks
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