The Hometown Band
{{About|the Canadian band|the Irish band|Hometown (band)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = The Hometown Band
|image =
|caption =
|background = group_or_band
|alias =
|origin = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|
|genre = Rock, progressive rock
|label = A&M Records
|associated_acts = Valdy
|past_members = Doug Edwards
Geoff Eyre
Robbie King
Claire Lawrence
Eddie Patterson
Shari Ulrich
|}}
The Hometown Band was a Canadian folk music group. They are best known as the backup band for Valdy.
History
The Hometown Band was founded in 1975 by Claire Lawrence, a former member of The Collectors and Chilliwack, as the back-up group for Canadian folk artist Valdy. The band comprised Shari Ulrich (lead vocals, flute, fiddle), Geoff Eyre (drums, vocals), Robbie King (organ, piano, keyboard bass), and Doug Edwards (guitar, keyboards, bass).[https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/local-arts/the-garage-no-funs-david-matychuk-delights-in-being-out-of-step "The Garage: No Fun's David Matychuk delights in being out of step"]. Vancouver Sun, Tom Harrison November 14, 2016
Their first LP Flying was released in 1976, and produced two hit singles, the title track and "I'm Ready" (both written by the Pied Pumkin's Joe Mock.)
In 1977 Eddie Patterson joined the group, and they recorded a second album, titled The Hometown Band.
The group toured with Valdy in 1977,{{cite magazine|author=Martin Melhuish|title=Juno 1977 |magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76|date=23 April 1977|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=76–|issn=0006-2510}}[http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/V/Valdy.html "Valdy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312201227/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/V/Valdy.html |date=2017-03-12 }}, The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, via Jam! Canoe. and continued to tour in 1978.{{cite magazine|author=David Farrell|title=Cross Canada Tours Spark Concert Scene|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JSUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT91|date=27 January 1979|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=91–|issn=0006-2510}} That year the band won the Juno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year",[http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/shari-ulrich-at-millennium-place-on-may-11/Content?oid=2142119 "Shari Ulrich At Millennium Place On May 11"]. Pique News, By Nancy Hyndman, May 03, 2002
The band's second album failed to produce a radio hit, and the band broke up soon after.
Following the band's breakup, Shari Ulrich embarked on a successful solo career, as well as playing in several other groups (Ulrich Henderson Forbes; Bentall Taylor Ulrich; The High Bar Gang; The Luckies as well as solo performances. She continues to tour and record.
The Hometown Band reunited with Valdy in 2016 for a 40th anniversary tour.[http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/music/hometown-band-deciding-whether-it-will-play-more-shows-1.2316168 "Hometown Band deciding whether it will play more shows"]. Mike Devlin / Times Colonist, August 4, 2016{{cite web|title=Valdy & the Hometown Band - 40th Anniversary Reunion|url=http://www.islandmusicfest.com/performers/valdy-the-hometown-band-40th-anniversary-reunion/|website=Island MusicFest|accessdate=18 April 2017}}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Album |
| 1976
| Flying |
| 1977
| The Hometown Band |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.canadianbands.com/Hometown%20Band.html Canadian Bands biography]
- [http://pnwbands.com/hometownband.html Pacific Northwest Bands - The Hometown Band, Vancouver, B.C.]
- [http://www.mocm.ca/Music/Artist.aspx?ArtistId=96642 Museum of Canadian Music - Hometown Band]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hometown Band, The}}
Category:Canadian rock music groups
Category:Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year winners