Milkwood (band)
| Milkwood | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, United States |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | March 1969–November 1969 |
| Past members |
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Milkwood was an Anglo-Canadian rock band formed in Toronto in March 1969 by former Influence guitarist Louis McKelvey with future Celine Dion backing singer Mary Lou Gauthier and English multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Tomlinson, who’d worked previously with future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre in The Motivation, The Penny Peeps and Gethsemane.
Milkwood was the brainchild of Louis McKelvey (born on October 31, 1943, in Killorglin, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland), who formed a tentative line up after he left Montreal group, Influence in late 1968. Through his previous band, McKelvey had befriended former King Curtis sideman, drummer Ron Frankel (born in April 1947 in Montreal), who had previously played in The Soul Mates (and with his wife Mary Lou Gauthier) in the lounge band, Five of a Kind before joining King Curtis & The King Pins in early 1968.
In July, McKelvey returned to England for six months and reunited with his colleague drummer/singer Malcolm Tomlinson (born on June 16, 1946, in Isleworth, Middlesex, England), from early 1960s band, Jeff Curtis & The Flames. Tomlinson was currently playing with Gethsemane (featuring future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre), and had recently done a BBC radio session with Elton John.
When Gethsemane split up in December, Tomlinson returned to Toronto with McKelvey in January 1969 to put together Milkwood.
Adding ex-Five Bells bass player Ron Blackwell (born on July 27, 1948, in Montreal), the band played at the Penny Farthing in Toronto in early May. According to Cashbox, Jimi Hendrix popped in one night and caught the group. He reported seeing a great band with two drummers. On May 25, Milkwood performed at the Rock Pile with The Kensington Market Band and Grand Funk Railroad.
Milkwood had sent a four-track demo to Polydor Records in late April and, according to Billboard, the label signed the band before it had played a single show.
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