The Razorbacks
The Razorbacks were a Canadian rockabilly band that attained moderate national popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[1] The band was known for its lively stage show,[2] and made regular appearances on The Tommy Hunter Show on CBC.
The Razorbacks | |
---|---|
Genres | Rockabilly |
Years active | 1986–1996 |
Labels | Other People's Music |
Associated acts | The Wise Guys |
Website | www.razorbacksrock.com (fan site, dead link) |
Members | Tony Kenny - vocals/guitar Jail House Joe - bass Don Dekouchay - drums Donny Cartwright (Donohue) - guitar/ vocals |
History
The Razorbacks were formed in 1986; members were singer/guitarist Tony Kenny, bassist Jail House Joe, drummer Don Dekouchay and Donny Cartwright.[3] The band began busking and performing in Toronto.[4]
By 1988, The Razorbacks were performing around southern Ontario,[2] and that year they independently released their first album Go to Town.[5] Shortly thereafter the band was signed to Warner Records, which re-released the album.[6] Singles from the album included “It’s Saturday Night,” which appeared on the RPM Country Singles chart,[7] and “So Much Fun”.[8] The band won the CASBY Award for "Most Promising Group",[9] defeating The Tragically Hip.
In December 1989, the band was featured in their own CBC Television Christmas special, It's a Razorbacks Christmas Barbeque.[10] The special, which saw the band performing original Christmas-themed music, also featured special guest Mary Margaret O'Hara,[11] who received a Gemini Award nomination for Best Performance in a Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series at the 5th Gemini Awards in 1990.[12]
The album Go to Town was re-released in 1997 with four extra tracks.[13]
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | CAN |
---|---|---|
1988 | Go to Town | 78 |
1989 | Live a Little | 84 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CAN Country | CAN | |||
1988 | "It's Saturday Night" | 30 | 68 | Go to Town |
1989 | "Times Like These" | 42 | 95 | Live a Little |
References
- Paul Myers (1 November 2007). Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories. Simon and Schuster. pp. 31–. ISBN 978-1-4165-8736-1.
- "Rockabilly Roundup with Razorbacks". The Cord, March 17, 1988, by E Beyer
- "Non-performing trio bursts into record market". Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives July 08, 1988 - Page 25
- "Razorbacks charge into the music scene". Brandon Sun, via Newspaper Archives July 28, 1988 - Page 24
- Craig MacInnis, "Tireless Razorbacks popping up everywhere". Toronto Star, January 22, 1988.
- "Razorbacks cut figure in rock". Toronto Star - Toronto, Ont. Greg Quill May 26, 1988 Page: E.4
- "Country Singls". RPM, August13, 1988
- "Hootnanny Howls in the Hills". Medicine Hat News, via Newspaper Archives. August 02, 1991 - Page 29
- "The fab CASBY'S". The Varsity. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- Alison Mayes, "The Razorbacks land on TV". Calgary Herald, October 19, 1989.
- Greg Burliuk, "Television, of all things, shows us the proper Christmas spirit". Kingston Whig-Standard, December 15, 1989.
- Stephen Nicholls, "Avonlea, E.N.G. lead Gemini nominations". Waterloo Region Record, October 24, 1990.
- " Razorbacks Go to Town". AllMusic, Review by Sean Carruthers