The Stampeders (sometimes shortened to Stampeders) are a Canadian rock trio consisting of lead guitarist and vocalist Rich Dodson, bassist Ronnie King and drummer Kim Berly.[1][2][3]

The Stampeders
The Stampeders in 1971, left to right, Ronnie King (bass), Rich Dodson (guitar, vocals), Kim Berly (drums)
Background information
OriginCalgary, Alberta, Canada
GenresRock, Folk rock
Years active1964 (1964)–1977 (1977), 1992 (1992)–present
LabelsMWC, The Marigold Label
MembersRich Dodson
Kim Berly
Past membersRonnie King (deceased)
Len Roemer
Brendan Lyttle
Race Holiday
Van Louis
Gary Scrutton
Bob Allwood
Doug Macaskill
Roy Vansprang
Ian Kojima
David Norris-Elye
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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Formed in Calgary, Alberta, in 1964 as the Rebounds,[4] the band had five members: Rich Dodson, Len Roemer, Brendan Lyttle, Kim Berly, and Race Holiday. They renamed themselves The Stampeders in 1965 and Len Roemer was replaced with Ronnie King and Van Louis. In 1966, they relocated to Toronto and became a trio in 1968 when Lyttle, Louis, and Holiday left.

The Stampeders scored a hit in 1971 with "Sweet City Woman", which won Best Single at the Juno Awards, reached No.1 on the RPM magazine charts, and No.8 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.[5] Written by Dodson, the track stayed in the Billboard chart for 16 weeks and the disc sold a million by September 1971, and the R.I.A.A. granted gold disc status.[4] The Stampeders also won Juno Awards for Best Group, Best Producer (Mel Shaw), and Best Composer (Dodson) that year.[6] The band signed with Polydor Records for US distribution.[7]

By 1975 the band had toured extensively in the United States and appeared on television shows.[8] In 1976 they had another Canadian hit with "Hit The Road Jack", featuring Wolfman Jack. In Canada they produced seven top 10 hits.

Dodson left the group in 1977. Berly and King recruited new members for the LP Platinum (1977). Berly then departed, leaving King to bring in three new members for the LP Ballsy (1979), and the band broke up shortly thereafter. The hitmaking trio reunited at the Calgary Stampede in 1992. They released a new album in 1998 titled Sure Beats Working.

On November 21, 2011, The Stampeders received the Lifetime Achievement Award from SOCAN at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto.[9] In 2015 the band received SOCAN Classic Awards for their songs "Monday Morning" and "Wild Eyes."[10]

They continue to tour Canada playing fairs, festivals, casinos, and theatres.[11]

On March 4, 2024, original member and bassist Ronnie King died at the age of 76.[12][13]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album Chart Positions CRIA
CAN US
1971 Against the Grain (retitled Sweet City Woman in the U.S.) 10 172 Gold
Carryin' On 16  — Gold
1973 Rubes, Dudes & Rowdies 15
From the Fire 12
1974 New Day 23
Backstage Pass 33
1975 Steamin 22
1976 Hit the Road 15
1977 Platinum
The Best of the Stampeders Gold
1979 Ballsy 71
1985 Greatest Hits Volume 1
Greatest Hits Volume 2
1988 Over 60 Minutes With...The Stampeders (Greatest Hits)
1998 Sure Beats Working
2001 Over 70 Minutes With...The Stampeders (Greatest Hits)
2011 Live at the Mae Wilson

Singles

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Year Single Chart Positions Album
CAN
CAN AC CAN Country AUS[14] US
[15]
1965 "House of Shake" Non-album single
1967 "Morning Magic" 23
1968 "Be a Woman" 51
1969 "Crosswalk" 95
1971 "Carry Me" (released January 23, 1971)[16] 2 1 11 Against the Grain
"Gator Road" 28
"Sweet City Woman" 1 1 1 32 8
"Devil You" 8 61 Carryin' On
1972 "Monday Morning Choo Choo" 9 2
"Wild Eyes" 2
"Carryin' On" 20
1973 "Johnny Lightning" 48 Rubes, Dudes & Rowdies
"Oh My Lady" 12 2 115
"Minstrel Gypsy" 6 3
1974 "Running Wild" 18 From the Fire
"Me and My Stone" 27 6
"Ramona" 18 New Day
1975 "Hit the Road Jack" 6 92 40 Steamin'
"New Orleans" 35
1976 "Playin' in the Band" 23 Hit the Road
"Sweet Love Bandit" 39
"San Diego" 71
1979 "Got My Mojo Working" 48 Ballsy
1984 "Baby with You" 26 Over Seventy Minutes with the Stampeders
1996 "Oh Belinda" 47 Sure Beats Working
1997 "Hometown Boy" 39

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CANOE – JAM! Music – Pop Encyclopedia – Stampeders". Jam.canoe.ca. Archived from the original on December 29, 2004. Retrieved August 25, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "STAMPEDERS – About". STAMPEDERS. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "Stampeders members – Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 303. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  5. ^ Adam White & Fred Bronson (1988). The Billboard Book of Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-8285-7.
  6. ^ "The Stampeders", The Canadian Encyclopedia, November 22, 2011 Archived May 3, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Stampeders to Polydor in US". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 13, 1971. pp. 54–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  8. ^ "Stampeders in 33-city Tour". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 13, 1975. pp. 1–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  9. ^ "2011 SOCAN AWARDS | SOCAN". Socan.ca. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  10. ^ "SOCAN Awards Gala: A Night To Remember". FYI Music News, June 23, 2015
  11. ^ "Interview With Rich Dodson". Classicbands.com. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  12. ^ Rickard, Kelli. "Stampeders bassist Ronnie King dead at 76". 97.3 The Wave. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "Stampeders bassist Ronnie King dead at 76; musician co-founded one of Calgary's most successful bands". Calgary Herald. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 290. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 847. ISBN 978-0-89820-188-8.
  16. ^ Billboard January 23, 1971 {retrieved January 11, 2018}
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