Little Caesar and the Consuls
Little Caesar and the Consuls | |
---|---|
Also known as | The Consuls |
Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | Rock |
Years active | 1956 | –1971
Website |
www |
Past members |
Bruce Morshead Ken Pernokis Tom Wilson Gary Wright Norm Sherratt Gene MacLellan Robbie Robertson Steve Macko Vic Wilson Peter DeRemigis Wayne Connors Paul Denyes Tommy Graham Mike Hollman Sandy White John Bradley Bob Olliffe |
Little Caesar and the Consuls are a Canadian rock music group, originally active in Toronto from 1956 to 1971, originally as simply The Consuls. In 1959 the five-piece group split in two, with three members (Robbie Robertson, Gene MacLellan and Peter Deremigis) forming The Suedes, and Bruce Morshead and Norm Sherrat, after a time, putting a new band of Consuls together. The new group soon added Little Caesar to their name, supposedly after a number of fans commented that lead singer Bruce Morshead resembled Edward G. Robinson in the film Little Caesar.[1]
The core of the group was pianist Morshead, guitarist Ken Pernokis, bassist Tom Wilson, drummer Gary Wright (who'd replaced Chuck Connors in the early 1960s) and saxophonist Norm Sherratt.
The group recorded several Canadian hits, including "If ... (I Found A New Girl)" and covers of "My Girl Sloopy" and "You Really Got a Hold On Me", which reached #1 on the RPM charts in 1965, making them only the second Canadian group (after Chad Allan and the Expressions) to top that chart.
Morshead left the band in 1966. The band continued with new vocalist Steve Macko before breaking up in 1971.
There have been several incarnations of the group; reuniting in 1973, 1976 and 1986.
In 1993, Norm Sherratt, Tom Wilson, Steve Macko, Vic Wilson (saxophones), Tony Crivaro (vocals & guitar) and Gary Wright (drums) joined up and recorded a reunion album, Since 1956.
In later years Norm Sherratt, Tony Crivaro, Sam Carothers (bass), Walter Taylor (keyboards) Sonny Milne (drums) and Doug Dixon (vocals & guitar) held forth at shows, adding Russ Strathdee on sax in 2013.
Currently the lineup includes Walter Taylor (keyboards), Sam Carothers (bass), Phil Strong (drums) and Russ Strathdee (sax), with Martin Damsell on Lead vocals and guitar.
Discography
Albums
- 1965 Little Caesar and the Consuls
- 1993 Since 1956
Singles
- 1959 "I'm Happy" / "Runaway" [as The Consuls]
- 1963 "If ... (I Found A New Girl)"
- 1963 "Something's Funny, Something's Wrong"
- 1964 "Sea Cruise"
- 1964 "Heartaches"
- 1965 "My Girl Sloopy" - #3 - August 1965
- 1965 "You Really Got a Hold On Me" - #1 - December 1965
- 1966 "You Laugh Too Much" - #9 - April 1966
- 1966 "1000 Miles Away" - #58 - July 1966
- 1966 "Personality"
- 1966 "Mercy Mr. Percy" - #38 - December 1966
- 1967 "My Love For You" - #88 - May 1967
- 1976 "Hang On Sloopy"
References
External links
- Little Caesar and the Consuls official website