The Mynah Birds

This article is about the R&B band. For the family of passerine birds, see Myna.

The Mynah Birds
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Rhythm and blues, rock and roll
Years active	1964–1967
Labels	Columbia, Motown, Hip-O
Associated acts	Jack London & The Sparrows, Steppenwolf, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Sparrows, Sailorboys
Past members
Jimmy Livingstone Ian Goble Rick Cameron Goldy McJohn Nick St. Nicholas Rick James Frank Arnel Bruce Palmer Rickman Mason Tom Morgan John Taylor Neil Young Neil Merryweather John Klasen

The Mynah Birds were a Canadian R&B band formed in Toronto, Ontario active from 1964 to 1967. Although the band never released an album, it is notable as featuring a number of musicians who went on to have successful careers in rock, folk rock and funk.

Over its short lifespan, the group featured a large number of artists in its many different configurations. Its most memorable lineup included Rick James (who later had a solo career in funk music), Rickman Mason, John Taylor and Neil Young and Bruce Palmer, both founder members of Buffalo Springfield. McJohn and St. Nicholas would later become members of the rock band Steppenwolf. Also, a late-running 1967 version of The Mynah Birds featured heavy rocker Neil Merryweather.

History

The Mynah Birds grew out of a 1964 group called the Sailorboys, fronted by Jimmy Livingstone and also including guitarist Ian Goble, drummer Rick Cameron, organist Goldy McJohn and bass player Nick St. Nicholas.

Career

Early years

An early line-up, comprising Rick James, St. Nicholas, Rick Cameron and guitarist Frank Arnel (aka Frank Iozzo), recorded "The Mynah Birds Song" for Columbia Records in late 1964 as a prospective single. However, the track was not deemed strong enough and a new track, "The Mynah Birds Hop", was recorded for the A-side. The second track saw James, St Nicholas and Arnel joined by second singer, Jimmy "Liver" Livingstone (born February 28, 1938, Nova Scotia; died June 1, 2002), keyboard player John Goadsby, aka Goldy McJohn and drummer Richie Grand (born June 11, 1945 in Toronto, Ontario). The single was released in Canada in early 1965, but was not a hit.

Shortly thereafter, Bruce Palmer joined the band in an unusual bass-player swap: Jack London & The Sparrows gave up Palmer to get Mynah Birds bassist St. Nicholas.

James and new bass player Bruce Palmer then put together a new version of The Mynah Birds, featuring drummer Rickman Mason (born December 2, 1945 in Brantford, Ontario) and guitarists Tom Morgan (born Tom Catherwood, July 4, 1944 in Brantford, Ontario) and John Taylor (born John Yachemac, June 12, 1946 in Welland, Ontario; died September 27, 2002). After leaving The Mynah Birds in April 1965, Jimmy Livingstone joined The Muddy Yorks and then The Just Us, which evolved into Livingstone's Journey through The Tripp.

As Rickman Mason has stated that the Motown contract stipulated the group must fulfil six-months of work, so in order to honour these commitments or face being sued, Mason and John Taylor drafted in former guitarist Tom Morgan and two new musicians, singer Mark Smith and former Bunkies bass player John Klasen (b. Brantford, Canada). The Mynah Birds resumed gigging, appearing at numerous venues throughout Ontario, including a return to the El Patio in Toronto (8–10 August), a performance at the Whitby Arena (31 August) and a show at Peggy's Pavilion in Stroud (10 September) by which point, Robert Benedict had replaced Morgan on guitar.

Morgan was replaced by Neil Young in January 1966.

1966-Motown Records

The Mynah Birds signed a seven-year deal with Motown Records in 1966. They recorded a number of tracks, and their first album was in the works when James was arrested, having deserted the United States Navy prior to forming the Sailorboys. Motown subsequently shelved their recordings.

Young and Palmer left the band after James' arrest. Several of the remaining members continued to perform as the Mynah Birds throughout 1966, but did not make any recordings. James put together a new short-lived line up of the band in the summer of 1967 with bass player Neil Lillie aka Neil Merryweather. The group recorded a new version of "It's My Time" but broke up soon afterwards.

Releases

A planned single, "It's My Time" b/w "Go On And Cry", assigned the catalog number V.I.P. 25033, was withdrawn just prior to its scheduled release by Motown. It was not released until the single were included in the 2006 box set The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 6: 1966, released in a limited edition of 6000 by Universal archival label Hip-O Select.

Discography

Singles

Year	Title	Label	Notes
1965	The Mynah Bird Hop/The Mynah Bird Song	Columbia

Compilation inclusions

Year	Song	Album	Label	Notes
2006	"It's My Time"	The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 6: 1966	Hip-O	*recorded in 1966
2006	"Go On and Cry"	The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 6: 1966		*recorded in 1966

See also

• Music of Canada

References

• Chong, Kevin. Neil Young nation. p. 128-132. 2005. Greystone Books. 9781553651161. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
• McDonough, Jimmy. Shakey: Neil Young's Biography. 2003. Random House of Canada. 9780679311935. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
• Biography of Goldy McJohn. McJohn's official web-site. Retrieved 2010-12-17.

External links

• Bruce Palmer video tribute