Crack of Dawn
Crack of Dawn | |
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| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Years active |
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| Members | Rupert Harvey Carl Harvey Alexis Baro Carl Otway Michael Dunston Bela Hajmann Trevor Daley Charles Sinclair Alvin Jones |
| Past members | Glen Ricketts Grant Gabriel Jackie Gabriel Jacek Sobotta Mark Smith Dwight Gabriel James (Jay) McGee George Flint Gary Steed Andre King |
| Website | crackofdawnband |
Crack of Dawn is a Canadian band from Toronto, Ontario, which formed in the mid-1970s,[1] performing R&B, funk, and soul music. The band is noted as the first Black Canadian band to sign with a major record label.[2][3]
History
Crack of Dawn was formed in Toronto in the mid-1970s by Grant Gabriel, his sister Jackie Gabriel (both originally from Springhill, Nova Scotia), Trevor Daley, Rupert Harvey, Mark Smith, Alvin Jones, and Carl Otway.[3][4] When the Gabriel siblings left shortly after, the band added four new members: Harvey's brother Carl Harvey, lead singer Glen Ricketts, Jacek Sobotta, and Dwight Gabriel.[1] Later on, Smith was briefly replaced by Andre King.[4] Crack of Dawn gained a reputation for its live shows in the city's club scene, and while rehearsing in the Little Jamaica district one day, they were discovered by American producer Bob Gallo.[5] After meeting with Gallo, the group signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1975.[6]
In 1976, the group released its self-titled debut album, Crack of Dawn. The album spawned the hit single "It's Alright (This Feeling)", which peaked at #45 on Canada's RPM Singles Chart.[7] Crack of Dawn supported the album with a countrywide tour and released three additional singles: "The Key", "Keep the Faith", and "Boobie Ruby". The following year, the band broke up after Columbia record executives convinced Ricketts to pursue a solo career, and attempted to convert the band from a horn section to a rhythm section.[2]
In 1980, Dwight Gabriel relaunched Crack of Dawn as a four-man group, adding three new members: James (Jay) McGee, George Flint, and Gary Steed.[4] McGee had previously recorded several hip hop singles under the stage name Mr. Q.[8]
A new album, Horizons, was released the following year by TTR Records, however, it was only distributed in the Netherlands.[4] The band released the single "If You Want to Groove" before disbanding in 1982.
Crack of Dawn reunited for a concert at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre in 2012.[2] The group began working on a new album shortly after, with a lineup consisting of previous members Otway, the Harvey brothers, Daley, and Jones, as well as newcomers Alexis Baro, Bela Hajmann, Charles Sinclair, and lead singer Michael Dunston.[2] In 2017, the group released the Spotlight album through Ford Street Records.
Legacy
Crack of Dawn has the distinction of being the first Black Canadian band to sign with a major label, having joined Columbia in 1975. After the band's first break up, many members began solo careers or joined other groups. Rupert Harvey had a solo career under the stage name "Ojiji" and co-founded the reggae band Messenjah and Carl Harvey became lead guitarist for the ska and reggae band Toots and the Maytals.[2] Ricketts began a solo career in R&B, though he later relocated to Jamaica and switched to reggae, recording under the stage name "Glen Ricks". Ricketts's son Glenn Lewis saw mainstream success as a neo soul singer in the early 2000s.[9]
Discography
- Crack of Dawn (1976)
- Horizons (1981)
- Spotlight (2017)
References
- ^ a b Bush, John. "Crack of Dawn – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ a b c d e Infantry, Ashante (11 October 2012). "Crack of Dawn, Canada's R&B pioneers, shine once more". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ a b Goldfine, Scott (14 February 2018). "Crack of Dawn – Spotlight (2018)". SoulTracks. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ a b c d Bedard, Mike; Herron, Dennis. "Crack of Dawn". CanadianBands.com. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ "Crack of Dawn". HarbourfrontCentre.com. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ Wilson, Douglas. "Crack Of Dawn – 'Spotlight'". SkopeMag. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 25, No. 9 May 29, 1976". RPM. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ Michael Rancic, "Finding Mr. Q". Hazlitt, March 17, 2021.
- ^ Hogan, Ed. "Glenn Lewis – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
