In 1966 Glenn Miller, Claire Lawrence and Howie Vickers of the CFUN Classics joined up with Bill Henderson and Ross Turney to
form the house band of the Torch Cabaret. In early ‘67 upon the
release of their first single “Looking at a Baby” which quickly rose to
number three in Canada, they took the name The Collectors. A few
singles later, and now signed to Warner Brothers, their first album,
with its twenty minute major opus the “What Love: Suite”, became a huge
cult classic in Western North America, England, Germany and the
Netherlands. The album influenced hundreds of artists with its daring
originality. Melody Maker Magazine in England proclaimed it one of the
ten best albums of the sixties decade.
In 1970, the band
shifted focus and personnel and re-emerged as Chilliwack. “Raino” and
“Lonesome Mary” were early successes. These songs continue to be played
on radio stations in Canada and the United States along with other hits
like “Crazy Talk”, “Fly at Night”, “Baby Blue”, “California Girl”,
“Communication Breakdown”, “My Girl (Gone Gone Gone)”, and “Whatcha
Gonna Do”.
On the airwaves now is Chilliwack’s newly recorded
live CD, THERE AND BACK and soon to be released, a rocking commentary on
life patenting issues: “Patent On The Wind”.
“People have
often asked why we chose the name Chilliwack,” says Henderson. “It was
suggested by our drummer Ross Turney. At that time in 1970 our music
had picked up certain West Coast native influences (as heard for
instance in“17th Summer”). We liked the sound of the word itself – the
meaning of Chilliwack as we understood it – “valley of many streams”,
and “going back up” - appealed to us.”
Chilliwack continues to play concerts across Canada.
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