Liner Notes: Revealing Chats With Canada's Retro Music Makers

Don Schmid is the drummer with the iconic Canadian band The Northern Pikes, recipients of 4 gold albums, a double platinum album and inductees into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In this chat with Dan Hare, Don shares: the bands origins in Saskatoon, SK. and how that helped define their distinct sound; why they were initially viewed as a novelty; the business of making music videos; how...

Nova Scotia native Cindy Church is one of the best singers in Canada. She has been nominated for two Juno Awards and several from the Canadian Country Music Association. Besides her stellar solo career Cindy is known for her time with Great Western Orchestra and as part of Quartette (with Sylvia Tyson) and currently Lunch Allen’s (with Murray McLauchlan, Ian Thomas and Marc Jordan). In this chat w...

Bob Buckley has a diverse career as a composer, arranger, performer, producer, recording artist and conductor. He and his band Straight Lines had a number one single with  ‘Letting Go’ which also won him a gold record. He has conducted and arranged for major artists such as Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams, and Aerosmith and has scored numerous award-winning shows for Disney, ABC, FOX, CBS, CBC and othe...

Vancouver based Tom Locke spent most of his career in digital visual media post-production but his passion is music. Tom is a walking encyclopedia of music from the ‘50s-‘70s and curates ‘Moments In Time,’ a 5 minute walk down musical memory lane that airs on Treasure Island Oldies radio show. ‘Moments in Time’ is now in book form and features rock and roll history in bite-size stories and song cl...

Perhaps Martha and the Muffins are best known for the 1980 hit ‘Echo Beach’ which won a Juno award for Single Of The Year. But there is so much more to this bands musical landscape. Founding members Martha Johnson and Mark Gane share the journey with host Dan Hare including: how the band got it’s name; their alternative and diverse musical style; the dirty side of the record biz; how Daniel Lanois...

Frank Troiano, brother of and road manager for Domenic Troiano, and Canadian music expert Mark Doble, are co-authors of the book DOMENIC TROIANO--HIS LIFE & MUSIC! In this chat with Dan Hare the two share excerpts from the amazing life of guitar virtuoso and acclaimed musician Domenic Troiano including: Dom's collaborations with a veritable who’s who of musicians such as Robbie Lane, The James Gan...

Howie Vickers was the lead singer with the late ‘60s west coast band The Collectors. He chats with show host Dan Hare about that heady experience including: opening for The Doors, Buffalo Springfield, The Allman Brothers and other well-known acts at San Francisco’s famous music venue The Filmore; why the band spent 2 years in California; the eclectic sound of The Collectors music; the only song th...

Shari Ulrich is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been winning hearts with her music for over four decades. In this chat with Dan Hare she talks about: why she moved to Canada as a young woman and why she stayed; her days the legendary bands Pied Piper and Hometown Band; her hit song ‘Fear of Flying’; her solo career and JUNO awards; writing music for Sesame...

Keith Brown, author of the book 'Truly Unfamous', and former president of Aquarius Records shares fascinating tales of those heady days of the 1970s as tour manager for Donald K. Donald Productions and working with countless Canadian acts such as April Wine, and The Stampeders and International legends Led Zeppelin, Phil Collins and others. He also shares with Dan Hare: hitchhiking to and from Woo...

Jazz and pop violinist, composer and studio musician Lenny Solomon may be best known as the co-founder of the Juno award-winning folk-pop group Myles and Lenny. In this revealing chat with Dan Hare Lenny shares the highs and lows of that experience including why the duo broke up. He also talks about: his musical upbringing and his famous father; hanging out with Mick Jagger; which member of The Wr...

Professional musician/saxophonist Johnny Ferreira has a long association of recording and touring with Colin James and Long John Baldry and has written several courses and books on how to play a saxophone. He has also toured with such heavyweights as The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Robert Plant and others. In this chat with Dan Hare Johnny shares: why he started playing sax in high school; how he conn...

As a producer, session musician, epic keyboard player, writer of film and TV scores, coach, teacher, songwriter, multi-platinum award-winner and multiple Grammy nominee John Capek is well established in the world of music. In this chat with Dan Hare John talks about: the influence of boogie woogie on his piano playing; his formative years living in Australia; his Bohemian lifestyle and nature; how...

Frank Soda, best known as a wild and talented Canadian guitarist/vocalist and songwriter for Frank Soda and The Imps, is also legendary for his high energy live shows with outrageous antics like exploding head gear. In this real, raw chat with host Dan Hare Frank shares: how he got his start in the business; why his band The Imps disbanded; who brought him to Toronto; his musical influences; what...

Liner Notes host Dan Hare continues his chat with Dusty Disc Radio's Lori Dean. In the final episode of a three part series Dan talks to Lori about his interviewing style including: his pre-chat prep practices; why his focus is more on the guest as a person and not as an entertainer; what he considers the most interesting part of his guest chats; how he creates the casual chat style of conversatio...

Liner Notes host Dan Hare continues to be special guest Dan Hare in the second of a three part interview with Dusty Disc Radio's Lori Dean. In part two of their chat Dan and Lori chat about Dan's driving curiosity and focus that led him to: acquire a Master of Divinity degree as well as degrees in English Lit and History; become a martial artist, author, commentator, public speaker and seminar lea...

For over 20 years publicist Eric Alper has been at the forefront of the Canadian entertainment industry. He is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year, and has worked with some of the biggest artists of our time including Sinead O’Connor, Ringo Starr, Murray McLauchlan, Randy Bachman, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Andy Kim and many, MANY others. Eric talks to host Dan Hare about his close relationship wi...

In this revealing chat harpman, keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter and consummate blues artist Al Foreman shares engaging details on: his connection to Tommy Chong; his work in the late '68s with the Night Train and their extensive U.S. tour; how he got into Scrubbaloe Caine and the making of the band's only record; forming the Foreman Young Band and their hit song I Wonder What You're Doin'; his v...

Mitchell Field, drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and founder of the late '70s band Hellfield, is this week's guest on Liner Notes. Mitchell talks with host Dan Hare about: starting his career as a drummer for John Lee Hooker; touring with Little River Band and Triumph; why the plug was pulled on their U.S radio play and cross-country tour; the nuts and bolts of songwriting and...

Outstanding keyboardist, vocalist and member of the '80s band Boulevard, Andrew Johns is a consummate professional. In this chat he talks with Dan Hare about: the studio project that became the Calgary band Boulevard; signing record deals in Germany and Canada; relocating the band to Vancouver; why the bands promising U.S. exposure stopped before it began; opening for Glass Tiger and Boston; getti...

Singer-songwriter Murray McLauchlan's accomplishments and skills are extensive. He has won 11 Junos, is a Member of the Order of Canada, a Governor General's Award recipient, a Doctor of Laws, actor, composer, martial artist, pilot, painter and much more. In this chat with Dan Hare Murray shares so much from his life including: what took him to New York as a young man and what brought him back to...

Music icon Andy Kim has had numerous hits including 'How'd We Ever Get This Way', 'Baby I Love You' and, of course, 'Rock Me Gently'. In 2018 and 2019 he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame respectively. In this deep and personal chat, Andy shares with host Dan Hare: his journey from the tenements of Montreal to meeting and working with Jeff Barry at the Bri...

Brian Vollmer is a rock 'n roll soldier who's seen and done it all - recording, touring, producing and performing. He's been the lead singer of the band Helix for over 45 years and the unofficial memorabilia music mogul for the past 50 years. In this chat Brian pulls no punches as he shares: the down side of touring; the ups and downs of Helix's career; the stress placed on lead singers; the insid...

Christopher Ward has written songs for Diana Ross, Wynonna Judd, The Backstreet Boys, and many others. His best-known song is the worldwide #1 hit for Alannah Myles, “Black Velvet," for which he received the Juno award for Songwriter of the Year in 1990. In this chat with Dan Hare Christopher shares: his start in radio; becoming one of the first VJs for Much Music; songwriting approaches then and...

Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jim Foster founded and fronted the late '70s band Fosterchild but is perhaps best known for his 1986 hit single 'X-ray Eyes'. In this revealing chat with Dan Hare Jim delves into: meeting, and being influenced by, Roger McQuinn of The Byrds; the Fosterchild years; his solo work and awards for 'X-ray Eyes'; co-writing with Murray McLauchlan; how his songs 'disappeare...

Winnipeg-born Marty Kramer has done it all and met everyone. He's been an eye-witness to the evolution of rock music, a driving force behind dozens of successful tribute productions and is well respected by his peers. In this chat with his friend Dan Hare Marty shares: meeting Burton Cummings and becoming The Devrons promoter at the age of 14; his extensive stints as road and tour manager for Burt...