Whiskey Jack Music - 30-Year History

The early years (1970's)

The Tommy Hunter years (1980's)

The Stompin' Tom Connors years (1990's)

Bach in the Saddle (2008)

The Early Years (1970's)

January 1977: Their first professional gig, at Toronto's York University. An encore, misguided vanity, and raw youthful enthusiasm led them to believe they were better than they really were. Soon, they were on the road; a PA system, an agent, and 6-nighters in "sit with your back to the wall beer halls" coast to coast.

February 1979: Into Maxim Recording Studio to produce the first album, UPTOWN. Two hit singles, Southbound Passenger Train and Ride Away, gained them notoriety thanks to CFGM radio and their affiliates.

March 1980: Began their first tour of the nation, with the first of many television appearances - Café Hibou, CBC Ottawa. Countless festivals, concerts, and radio performances to promote the album.

The Tommy Hunter Years (1980's)

April 1981: Taped their first year of their own Tommy Hunter Show segment, the Ol' Back Porch (CBC-TV and The Nashville Network); little did they know it would run in Canada and the U.S. for the next 5 years. Then a coast-to-coast drive to make their first appearance on The Alan Thicke show (CTV).

May 1982: Television feature performance on CBC's Winners. Another appearance on The Alan Thick Show. Nominated for Most Promising New Band at the Academy of Canadian Country Music. Started work on album number two, One More Time, produced by Juno Award-winning producer Chad Irschick.

June 1983: Gaining popularity with a third appearance on Peter Gzowski's Morningside (CBC), a live radio feature with country all star, Mac Wiseman, and a headlining performance at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

July 1984: A U.S. tour with live shows and TV performances including Nashville Tonight and Fire On the Mountain (The Nashville Network).

August 1985: Their 5th coast-to-coast tour, a concert at the Edmonton Folk Festival, and the release of their third album, Whiskey Jack - "the black album". Again with Chad Irshick producing, and featuring performances by many of Canada's finest musicians.

The Stompin' Tom Connor Years (1990's)

October 1993: The boys are thrilled to be asked to record an album with Canadian icon Stompin' Tom Connors -"Dr. Stompin' Tom Eh?" - which results in a national tour and a nationally broadcast performance (CBC-TV) on Parliament Hill for Canada Day celebrations.

Recent History (2000's)

March 2002: Long-time friend and vocalist extraordinaire, Arlene Zock joins Whiskey Jack, taking their signature stellar vocal arrangements to new heights!

December 2002: They share the stage with yet another Canadian icon, Maureen Forester, at a Christmas party at the historic Ben Wicks Pub, where they perform on the 3rd Saturday of every month to packed houses for the next three years.

May 2003: After a year of fooling around at Ben Wicks every month, along comes harmonica man Howard Willett, and the band takes on a whole new dimension.

July 2003: Stompin' Tom Connors invited Whiskey Jack to have some fun and perform at a BBQ at his home near Toronto.

Summer 2004: Bob McNiven once again hits the road across Canada on a 2-month tour with Stompin Tom Connors. He comes home to a sold out show at Massey Hall, and an appearance on the Conan O'Brien show, viewed by untold millions around the world. Bob's head is now slightly bigger.

Fall 2004: Whiskey Jack welcomes the formidable Michelle Josef, drummer extraordinaire, back to the Jack Pack. Then comes Steve Klodt, master of the accordion, or stomach Steinway as they say in the biz. Could a bagpipe be next?

January 2005: Whiskey Jack launches their re-mastered compilation CD Skin & Bones (to order your copy, please contact us). At the spectacular launch party in Toronto's venerable Hugh's Room, Whiskey Jack auctioned off a private performance by the band, with proceeds to The Children's Miracle Network. Combined with a portion of their CD sales, their fundraising efforts netted $3500 for the cause. All heads now slightly bigger.

April 2005: Whiskey Jack celebrates 3 years of playing monthly at Ben Wicks Pub, with the best audiences in town. 28 years in show business and they're still having more fun than they deserve.

August 2005: Whiskey Jack drove to a clandestine location to play music with world famous banjoist, Steve Martin. Upon arrival, they discover that he does not have a capo and all tunes must be played in the key of "G". They also discover that apparently, he does a bit of acting on the side. We bet that he does not forget his make-up or his script.

February 2006: After a short hiatus, Whiskey Jack returned with a performance at the 70th birthday celebration for Stompin' Tom Connors, a private affair hosted by Tom's lovely wife Lena and his son, Tom Jr. Tom's home bar features a regulation size billiard table and a monster Wurlitzer juke box full of quality Canadian material. Tom performed with the band (started with Sudbury Saturday Night) and it turned into a bit of a reunion reminiscent of the Kic (Keep It Canadian) It Tour in 1993 when Whiskey Jack was Tom's back up band.

This was followed by engagements at Mitzi's Sister (April 13th), King Street Arts Centre (April 14th), Cranberries Restaurant (April 29th), Mitzi's Sister (July 6th), and Plein Air Garden Concerts (affectionately referred to as "Garden Salon Concerts") in the award winning "Pavilion of the Sky" (August 9th).

May 2006: Whiskey Jack released their latest CD, WhiskeyJackMusic.com. Please see the press kit, look at the release concert poster, view photos from the release concert, and order the new CD by contacting us.

Hall of Fame Award: Steve Fruitman, long time host of the radio program Back To The Sugarcamp on CIUT-FM has inducted Whiskey Jack into the The 2006 Porcupine Awards Hall of Fame. Also inducted is Willie P. Bennett, Gwen Swick, David Bradstreet and Mendelson Joe so we're in very good company.

Christmas 2006: Whiskey Jack was instrumental in the collection of over 100 toys for the Woodgreen Community Centre Toy Drive. Thanks to Bob McNiven, Arlene Zock, Randy Morrison and Sam Carothers for donating their time and assisting me with this worthy cause. The proceeds from the CD sales that day were also donated.

February 2007: As Whiskey Jack approaches their 30th anniversary as one of Canada's premier music groups, Bob, Arlene and Duncan (and many special guests of course) continue to delight audiences with engagements at Speak Music at the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (January 1st) and and Dora Keogh's Traditional Irish Pub (February 23rd).

January 2008: As a celebration of Whiskey Jack's 30th year, a special concert was held on January 19th. The show was produced by Toronto's premier folk club, Acoustic Harvest, was at the beautiful, historical St. Nicholas Anglican Church.

March 2008: To help celebrate Earth Hour, Whiskey Jack performed, power free, at a candle lit home concert in downtown Toronto.

March 2008 & June 2008: Whiskey Jack stuck out their proverbial necks and perform a musical high wire act. They joined with the Gala String Quartette for a natural union of musical styles, enhanced by cellos and violas etc. Each group performed separately but combined forces for a few numbers. This was so much fun, they did it again in June (see the poster and press release for the June event "Bach ... in the Saddle Again).

September 2009: The Northern Ontario Country Music Association invited Whiskey Jack to perform in Echo Bay Ontario (a short drive east of downtown Sault Ste. Marie). The concert and dance were in support of the Annual Northern Ontario Country Music Awards. Click here to see the poster for the show (or click on the small poster image).

Also, in September and for the umpteenth consecutive year, Whiskey Jack hosted the “funniest” square dance in the City of Toronto at an event is sponsored by Friends of Riverdale Farm and the Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts. Each year, renowned square dance callers Al and Renia Calhoun teach and lead all levels of dancers into the unknown of “dosey do and allamand left”.

September 2009: Whiskey Jack hosted the grand kick-off of the 2009 CIBC Run For the Cure at Commerce Court hosted by Erin Davis from CHFI. Click on the picture to see Whiskey Jack in action.

January 2010: Whiskey Jack, along with friends Russell deCarle of Prairie Oyster and Caitlin Hanford of Quartette, MC for the evening Ted Bisaillion, comedian, entertainer and sometime auctioneer, and vocal illusionist Mark Crocker and his pal, Chester, helped ArtsCan Circle's fundraiser. ArtsCan Circle sends teams of volunteer musicians & artists to remote Northern Indigenous Communities to engage youth in music & art workshops.

December 2010: Whiskey Jack performs a very clean show at Toronto's greenest laundry in "An Eco Laundry & Cafe Christmas Show". There is no laundry like this anywhere in Toronto. They've won many awards for using less water and less fuel. They even make their own eco-friendly soap. Click here to see the poster.

February 2011: Whiskey Jack for a family friendly square dance to benefit Reaching out Through Music which provides musical and social opportunities for children aged 6-14 in Toronto's St. Jamestown community, by offering private and group instruction in piano, violin, voice and guitar at minimal cost. Click here to see the poster.

October 2011: To celebrate her life and raise some much needed funds for the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital, Whiskey Jack performed with Arlene's other band, the George Lake Big Band and her musical partner Mark Ripp. The show was at Christ Church Deer Park and was hosted by Erin Davis of 98.1 CHFI.

For more Whiskey Jack stories and photos, visit Duncan's Blog.