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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGUESS WHO, TheCanadian rock group. Original lineup: Randy Bachman (b 27 Sep. '43), guitar; Garry Peterson (b 26 May '45), drums; Bob Ashley, bass; Chad Allan, vocal; all b Winnipeg. Formed early '60s as Allan and the Silvertones; later Reflections, then Expressions; sometimes with singer Carol West on stage but not on records on various Canadian labels. Changed name to Guess Who because Quality label hoped to pass them off as British; top 40 hit with cover of Johnny Kidd's 'Shakin' All Over' on Scepter label USA '65. Toured with Dick Clark that year; Allan left to continue studies, replaced early '66 by Burton Cummings (b 31 Dec. '47, Winnipeg). CBC-TV show Where It's At from '67, Allan as host on initial series. Recorded NYC '68 with producer Jack Richardson: USA hits on RCA 'These Eyes', 'Laughing', LP Wheatfield Soul, all million- sellers '69. Lineup on LP: Bachman, Cummings, Peterson, Jim Kale (b 11 Aug. '43, Winnipeg), bass. Top ten single 'No Time' followed by two-sided no. 1 'American Woman'/'No Sugar Tonight' all '70; also played White House that year. Bachman quit, formed Brave Belt with Allan, later Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Lineup '71: Kale, Peterson, Cummings (vocals, sax, piano), guitarists Greg Leskiw, Kurt Winter (b 2 April '46, Winnipeg; d there 14 Dec. '97). More personnel changes, top 40 hits followed: 'Hand Me Down World', 'Share The Land' '70; 'Albert Flasher', 'Rain Dance' '71; gap till '74: 'Star Baby', 'Clap For The Wolfman', 'Dancin' Fool'. Other RCA LPs incl. Canned Wheat Packed By The Guess Who '69; American Woman, Share The Land '70; So Long, Bannatyne '71; Rockin', Live At The Paramount '72; Artificial Paradise (package incl. sham competition), Road Food '74; recruited ex-James Gang guitarist Domenic Troiano; Flavours '74; Power In The Music, Born In Canada '75, as well as compilation albums. Continued on club circuit; All This For A Song on Hilltak label '79. Songwriter Cummings had fairly successful solo career: top 40 singles 'Stand Tall' '76, 'You Saved My Soul' '81, LPs on labels incl. Hilltax. |