The Paupers
Encyclopedia
The Paupers are a Canadian psychedelic rock
band
that recorded two albums for Verve Forecast Records
in 1967 and 1968 and appeared at the Monterey International Pop Festival.
during 1964 by ex-Riverside Three drummer Skip Prokop
(born Ronn Prokop, December 13, 1943 in Hamilton, Ontario
, Canada) and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Bill Marion aka Bill Misener (born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada). The other original members comprised lead guitarist Chuck Beal (born April 6, 1944 in Scarborough, Ontario
, Canada
) and bass player
Denny Gerrard (born February 28, 1947 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada).
According to legend, The Spats rehearsed for 40 hours a week, sometimes on a 13-hour a day shift, and as a result became one of Toronto’s tightest acts. After changing their name to The Paupers in early 1965, the group attracted the attention of local manager
Duff Roman, who signed them to Toronto’s independent label Red Leaf. In March 1965, the label issued Prokop and Marion’s "Never Send You Flowers" as the group’s debut single and it soon became a modest local hit, as did the follow-up "If I Told My Baby". During August, the group appeared at the Canadian National Exhibition's under 21 club with David Clayton-Thomas
& The Shays.
As 1966 dawned, the band signed a new deal with Duff Roman’s label Roman Records which issued the group’s next single "For What I Am". A cover of "Long Tall Sally" followed in the spring of 1966, by which point the group had parted with Roman (who subsequently became program director of CKFH) and signed up with Bernie Finkelstein
(later Bruce Cockburn’s
longstanding manager). However, shortly after a show at the El Patio on July 24, 1966, Marion left and subsequently recorded a solo single before moving into production work and playing with The Last Words.
émigré
Adam Mitchell (born November 24, 1944 in Glasgow
, Strathclyde
, Scotland
) from the CommonFolk (a folk group featuring Doug Bush, Ian Rankin and Bruce Whitehead), apparently on an hour and a half’s notice. Mitchell quickly asserted himself as the group’s new lead singer and chief songwriter with Skip Prokop and debuted with the band at the Broom and Stone in Scarborough on August 14, 1966.
Finkelstein signed the new line-up to New York
label MGM shortly afterwards and on September 24 the group made an appearance at a 14-hour pop music
show held at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens
, featuring 14 top local bands. The following month, on October 2, the band supported Wilson Pickett
at the Club Kingsway in Toronto. On December 11, The Paupers (together with Ottawa band, The Children) supported The Lovin' Spoonful
at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens.
The group’s live reputation began to spread and in early 1967, Bob Dylan
's manager, Albert Grossman
, convinced Finkelstein to sell his interests in the group. Grossman re-negotiated the MGM contract and signed the band to its associate label Verve Forecast. The group’s debut single with Mitchell, "If I Call You By Some Name" was released and reached #31 on Canada’s RPM
chart, the band’s biggest hit.
The single was followed by a well-received appearance at New York’s Cafe Au Go Go
from February 21-March 5, 1967 supporting Jefferson Airplane
. The group remained in the city to cut its debut album with Rick Shorter, played another concert opening for Jefferson Airplane at Hunter College, in New York City, and then set out for a series of concerts on the West Coast including several appearances at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium
and the Monterey International Pop Festival on June 16.
, scheduled for September 28-October 1 (but cut short due to faulty equipment) and headlining at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit with The MC5 in support on November 3–5, 1967.
In November 1967, The Paupers' debut album, "Magic People", peaked at US #178, but its modest success was overshadowed by Denny Gerrard’s departure in early 1968. His replacement was bassist/vocalist Brad Campbell from Marion’s previous group The Last Words. Around the same time, The Paupers also added (for live purposes) former BTB4 keyboard player Peter Sterbach, who quit after a month.
In January 1968, a final single was lifted from The Paupers’ debut album, "Think I Care", but it failed to chart. Prokop started to grow restless and was soon drawn into the lucrative session world; he duly appeared on Peter, Paul & Mary’s single "I Dig Rock And Roll" and Richie Havens’ album "Something Else" amongst others.
The band continued to play high profile dates and on February 24 supported The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Soft Machine at the CNE Coliseum in Toronto. This was followed by a second US tour.
Internal problems, however, continued to dog the band. Following a final date at New York’s Electric Circus
running from August 29-September 1, Prokop left to form Lighthouse
, while Campbell joined Janis Joplin
's Kozmic Blues Band. The band’s second album "Ellis Island" was released in the aftermath of the group’s break up. A final single, Mitchell’s "Cairo Hotel" (later recorded by McKendree Spring
), was released simultaneously, but failed to chart.
in the interim) was formed to pay off the existing debt. Roz Parks (born April 15, 1945 in Picton
, Ontario, Canada) from Edward Bear
and Magic Circus
completed the line up, which debuted at the Night Owl in Toronto on October 26–27 and continued to play locally to positive reviews.
Gerrard, however, soon left followed by Mitchell in April 1969. The remaining members brought in James Houston (born May 25, 1946 in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
), who had previously played with Parks in the Magic Circus, and bass player Mel O'Brien, and returned to the local club scene. Later that year, the Houston-led line up returned to the Night Owl for a show running from August 7–8 but broke up later that month.
and Linda Ronstadt
. Gerrard joined Luke & The Apostles
briefly before forming Jericho in March 1970. Beal worked as a record producer
and manager, and was last heard of working at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind
, producing a talking book series. Ord's band backed Chuck Berry
in the summer of 1969. Houston formed his own eponymous band, Houston, and worked with Parks and Gerrard in Tranquillity Base.
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
that recorded two albums for Verve Forecast Records
Verve Forecast Records
Verve Forecast Records is a record label specializing in cutting-edge material which was founded in 1967 by Verve Records and since been revived twice....
in 1967 and 1968 and appeared at the Monterey International Pop Festival.
Origins
The group was formed as The Spats in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
during 1964 by ex-Riverside Three drummer Skip Prokop
Skip Prokop
Ronn "Skip" Prokop is a Canadian drummer and band leader who was a driving force in Canadian rock music, creating seminal bands, including The Paupers...
(born Ronn Prokop, December 13, 1943 in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Canada) and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Bill Marion aka Bill Misener (born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada). The other original members comprised lead guitarist Chuck Beal (born April 6, 1944 in Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) and bass player
Bass Player
Bass player can refer to:*Bass Player , an album by Rhombus*Bass Player , a magazine for bassists*Bassist, or bass player, a musician who plays the bass guitar...
Denny Gerrard (born February 28, 1947 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada).
According to legend, The Spats rehearsed for 40 hours a week, sometimes on a 13-hour a day shift, and as a result became one of Toronto’s tightest acts. After changing their name to The Paupers in early 1965, the group attracted the attention of local manager
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
Duff Roman, who signed them to Toronto’s independent label Red Leaf. In March 1965, the label issued Prokop and Marion’s "Never Send You Flowers" as the group’s debut single and it soon became a modest local hit, as did the follow-up "If I Told My Baby". During August, the group appeared at the Canadian National Exhibition's under 21 club with David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas is a Canadian musician and singer best known as the lead vocalist for the American band; Blood, Sweat & Tears...
& The Shays.
As 1966 dawned, the band signed a new deal with Duff Roman’s label Roman Records which issued the group’s next single "For What I Am". A cover of "Long Tall Sally" followed in the spring of 1966, by which point the group had parted with Roman (who subsequently became program director of CKFH) and signed up with Bernie Finkelstein
Bernie Finkelstein
Bernie Finkelstein is a leading figure in the Canadian music industry. In 1969, he founded True North Records. Finkelstein managed The Paupers from 1966–1967 and Kensington Market from 1967-1969...
(later Bruce Cockburn’s
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
longstanding manager). However, shortly after a show at the El Patio on July 24, 1966, Marion left and subsequently recorded a solo single before moving into production work and playing with The Last Words.
Touring
In his place, The Paupers recruited ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
émigré
Émigré
Émigré is a French term that literally refers to a person who has "migrated out", but often carries a connotation of politico-social self-exile....
Adam Mitchell (born November 24, 1944 in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Strathclyde
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) from the CommonFolk (a folk group featuring Doug Bush, Ian Rankin and Bruce Whitehead), apparently on an hour and a half’s notice. Mitchell quickly asserted himself as the group’s new lead singer and chief songwriter with Skip Prokop and debuted with the band at the Broom and Stone in Scarborough on August 14, 1966.
Finkelstein signed the new line-up to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
label MGM shortly afterwards and on September 24 the group made an appearance at a 14-hour pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
show held at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
, featuring 14 top local bands. The following month, on October 2, the band supported Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
at the Club Kingsway in Toronto. On December 11, The Paupers (together with Ottawa band, The Children) supported The Lovin' Spoonful
The Lovin' Spoonful
The Lovin' Spoonful is an American pop rock band of the 1960s, named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. When asked about his band, leader John Sebastian said it sounded like a combination of "Mississippi John Hurt and Chuck Berry," prompting his friend, Fritz Richmond, to suggest the name...
at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens.
The group’s live reputation began to spread and in early 1967, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's manager, Albert Grossman
Albert Grossman
Albert Bernard Grossman was an American entrepreneur and manager in the American folk music scene and rock and roll. He was most famous as the manager of Bob Dylan between 1962 and 1970.-Biography:...
, convinced Finkelstein to sell his interests in the group. Grossman re-negotiated the MGM contract and signed the band to its associate label Verve Forecast. The group’s debut single with Mitchell, "If I Call You By Some Name" was released and reached #31 on Canada’s RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
chart, the band’s biggest hit.
The single was followed by a well-received appearance at New York’s Cafe Au Go Go
Cafe Au Go Go
The Cafe au Go Go was a Greenwich Village night club located in the basement of 152 Bleecker Street. The club featured many well known musical groups, folksingers and comedy acts between the opening in February 1964 until closing in October 1969. Originally owned by Howard Solomon who sold the club...
from February 21-March 5, 1967 supporting Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
. The group remained in the city to cut its debut album with Rick Shorter, played another concert opening for Jefferson Airplane at Hunter College, in New York City, and then set out for a series of concerts on the West Coast including several appearances at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium
The Fillmore
The Fillmore Auditorium is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California, made famous by Bill Graham. Named for its original location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it lies on the boundary of the Western Addition and the Pacific Heights neighborhoods.In 1968,...
and the Monterey International Pop Festival on June 16.
Debut Album
Back in Toronto in late summer, MGM issued the single "Magic People", which was followed by an album of the same name. MGM then sent the group on a $40,000 promotional tour where they played 17 US cities in a month. The tour included an appearance at New York's Cafe Au Go Go opening for CreamCream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
, scheduled for September 28-October 1 (but cut short due to faulty equipment) and headlining at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit with The MC5 in support on November 3–5, 1967.
In November 1967, The Paupers' debut album, "Magic People", peaked at US #178, but its modest success was overshadowed by Denny Gerrard’s departure in early 1968. His replacement was bassist/vocalist Brad Campbell from Marion’s previous group The Last Words. Around the same time, The Paupers also added (for live purposes) former BTB4 keyboard player Peter Sterbach, who quit after a month.
In January 1968, a final single was lifted from The Paupers’ debut album, "Think I Care", but it failed to chart. Prokop started to grow restless and was soon drawn into the lucrative session world; he duly appeared on Peter, Paul & Mary’s single "I Dig Rock And Roll" and Richie Havens’ album "Something Else" amongst others.
The band continued to play high profile dates and on February 24 supported The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Soft Machine at the CNE Coliseum in Toronto. This was followed by a second US tour.
Breakup
During July, the group added John Ord (born April 3, 1945 in London, England) from The Fraser Loveman Group and The Nuclear Tricycle on keyboards, who debuted with the band at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit early the following month.Internal problems, however, continued to dog the band. Following a final date at New York’s Electric Circus
Electric Circus
Electric Circus, aka EC, was a Canadian live dance music television program aired on MuchMusic and Citytv. It aired from September 16, 1988 until December 12, 2003....
running from August 29-September 1, Prokop left to form Lighthouse
Lighthouse (band)
Lighthouse is a Canadian rock band formed in 1968 in Toronto which included horns, string instruments, and vibraphone; their music reflected elements of rock music, jazz, classical music and swing...
, while Campbell joined Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
's Kozmic Blues Band. The band’s second album "Ellis Island" was released in the aftermath of the group’s break up. A final single, Mitchell’s "Cairo Hotel" (later recorded by McKendree Spring
McKendree Spring
McKendree Spring is a progressive folk-rock band, active mainly in the early 1970s. The band consisted of Fran McKendree , Fred Holman , Dr. Michael Dreyfuss , Martin Slutsky . Christopher Bishop replaced Holman on bass as of the 1973 release Spring Suite...
), was released simultaneously, but failed to chart.
Playing to pay off debts
In October, a new line-up of The Paupers featuring Mitchell, Beal, Ord, and original bass player Denny Gerrard (who’d played with McKenna Mendelson MainlineMcKenna Mendelson Mainline
McKenna Mendelson Mainline is a seminal Canadian blues band, working the same English club circuit as the then up and coming bands Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin...
in the interim) was formed to pay off the existing debt. Roz Parks (born April 15, 1945 in Picton
Picton, Ontario
Picton is an unincorporated community located in Prince Edward County in southern Central Ontario, Canada. It is the county seat and largest community. Picton is located at the south-western end of Picton Bay, a branch of the Bay of Quinte, which is along the northern shoreline of Lake Ontario...
, Ontario, Canada) from Edward Bear
Edward Bear
Edward Bear was a Toronto based Canadian pop-rock group, formed originally in 1966 by Larry Evoy and Craig Hemming. The third member to join was Paul Weldon. The band signed with Capitol Records in 1969. Most of their chart successes were in the early 1970s before disbanding in 1974. Their band...
and Magic Circus
Magic Circus
Magic Circus was one of the most famous nightclubs in Mexico City. Opened in 1982. Located in Rodolfo Gaona #3 Lomas De Sotelo Mexico.This club was the symbol of status and snob during the late 80's and early 90's Celebrities, Rock and Pop concerts with Artists as Soda Stereo, as well as upfront...
completed the line up, which debuted at the Night Owl in Toronto on October 26–27 and continued to play locally to positive reviews.
Gerrard, however, soon left followed by Mitchell in April 1969. The remaining members brought in James Houston (born May 25, 1946 in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
), who had previously played with Parks in the Magic Circus, and bass player Mel O'Brien, and returned to the local club scene. Later that year, the Houston-led line up returned to the Night Owl for a show running from August 7–8 but broke up later that month.
Post-Paupers
Mitchell briefly embarked upon a solo career, playing the folk circuit in Ontario and then worked as a producer for the likes of McKenna Mendelson MainlineMcKenna Mendelson Mainline
McKenna Mendelson Mainline is a seminal Canadian blues band, working the same English club circuit as the then up and coming bands Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin...
and Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
. Gerrard joined Luke & The Apostles
Luke & The Apostles
Luke & The Apostles was a 1960s blues group from Toronto known for their 1967 hit "Been Burnt". Band members included Canadian guitarist Mike McKenna, Luke Gibson, Peter Jermyn, Jim Jones, and Pat Little...
briefly before forming Jericho in March 1970. Beal worked as a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and manager, and was last heard of working at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
CNIB is a volunteer agency and charitable organization dedicated to assisting Canadians who are blind or living with vision loss, and to provide information about vision health for all Canadians...
, producing a talking book series. Ord's band backed Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
in the summer of 1969. Houston formed his own eponymous band, Houston, and worked with Parks and Gerrard in Tranquillity Base.
Singles
- "Never Send You Flowers"/"Sooner Than Soon" (Red Leaf 65002) 1965
- "If I Told My Baby"/"Like You Like Me" (Red Leaf 65003) 1965
- "For What I Am"/"Free as a Bird" (Roman 1103) 1965
- "Long Tall Sally"/"Sooner Than Soon" (Roman 1111) 1966
- "If I Call You By Some Name"/"Copper Penny" (Verve Folkway 5033) 1966
- "Simple Deed"/"Let Me Be" (Verve Forecast 5043) 1967
- "Magic People"/"Black Thank You Package" (Verve Forecast 5062) 1967
- "One Rainy Day"/"Tudor Impressions" (Verve Forecast 5056) 1967
- "Think I Care"/"White Song" (Verve Folkway 5074) 1968
- "Cairo Hotel"/"Another Man’s Hair on My Razor" (Verve Forecast 518007) 1968
- "South Down Road"/"Numbers" (Verve Forecast 518 908) 1968
Albums
- Magic People (Verve Forecast FTS-3026) 1967
- Ellis Island (Verve Forecast FTS-3051) 1968
Sources
- "...It's the Toronto Sound", Toronto Daily Star, April 1, 1967, page 27
- Toronto's Paupers come home", Toronto Daily Star, September 16, 1967, page 24
- "Ellis Island: a whole new world", Toronto Telegram's After Four section, October 19, 1968, page 5
- Toronto Telegram's After Four section on Thursdays lists live dates
- Notes from Underfoot review of Cafe Au Go GoCafe Au Go GoThe Cafe au Go Go was a Greenwich Village night club located in the basement of 152 Bleecker Street. The club featured many well known musical groups, folksingers and comedy acts between the opening in February 1964 until closing in October 1969. Originally owned by Howard Solomon who sold the club...
concert by Richard GoldsteinRichard Goldstein (writer born 1944)Richard Goldstein is an American journalist and writer. He wrote for the Village Voice from June 1966 until 2004, eventually becoming executive editor. He specializes in gay and lesbian issues, music, and counterculture topics....
for the Village Voice March 9, 1967