Randy Bachman

Happy Birthday, Canada! up next in my salute to some of my favourite Canadian artists is Randy Bachman (pictured here with fellow Winnipeg legend Daryl B). Photo taken at CFUN/Vancouver by Dee Lippingwell. Talk about a musical prodigy: Randy won a singing contest at age 3 and by 5 he was playing the violin! Randy is quoted by John Einarson in the Winnipeg Free Press: "Winnipeg in the '60s was like that movie That Thing You Do, only multiplied by a thousand. It was so exciting and alive with music." In 1962 Randy hit it big with Chad Allan and the Expressions "Shakin' All Over". Early radio pressings of the single were simply labeled "Guess Who?" and that's where the name originated. Between 1969 and 1970, The Guess Who sold more records than the entire Canadian music industry combined. My friend Bruce Allen took an interest in Randy's fledgling band Brave Belt, which morphed into Bachman-Turner Overdrive. BTO became one of the most successful bands of the Seventies. The Guess Who and BTO deserve a place in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame! In this 1982 interview with Terry Moore, Randy reflects on his success and putting fame into perspective; the downside of music industry promotion; life after music. Randy hosts CBC and Sirius XM radio program Randy Bachman’s Vinyl Tap and he's authored two books: Vinyl Tap Stories and Tales From Beyond The Tap. Sony Music is releasing "The Bachman-Cummings Collection" limited edition box set, and Randy and Burton are planning to celebrate the music of the Guess Who and BTO with a rescheduled North American reunion tour! "Together Again - Live In Concert" kicks off next summer. They'll be at Rogers Arena here in Vancouver June 15, 2021. Check bachmancummings.ca for details. Stay up to date with Randy at randybachman.com.