Copperpenny

Copperpenny
Origin Kitchener, Ontario
Genres Rock
Years active 1965–1978
Labels Columbia Records
RCA Records
Sweet Plum, London Records
Capitol Records
Associated acts Major Hoople's Boarding House
Members Kenny Hollis (vocals)
Rich Wamil (vocals, keyboards, clavinet)
Bill Mononen (guitar)
Bill (Dal) Dalrymple & Ron Hiller (bass)
Blake Barrett (drums)
Notable instruments
[Clavinet, Bass, Guitar, Drums]

Copperpenny was a Canadian rock band from Kitchener, Ontario. They were formed in 1965 by Kenny Hollis and Rich Wamil, and were originally known as the Penny Farthings to reflect the British Invasion. Not long after their formation they adopted Copperpenny as their new moniker, after a B-side by Toronto band The Paupers.[1]

In 1968, the release of "Nice Girl" on Columbia Records garnered moderate success. They soon switched to RCA and enjoyed a minor hit with "Stop (Wait A Minute)." However, it was not until their move to Sweet Plum Records, a division of London Records, where they would enjoy their first major success.

"You're Still The One" was the band's first mainstream hit and the follow-up, 1973's "Sitting on a Poor Man's Throne," was recorded in Dearborn, Michigan, with Richard Becker.

Copperpenny continued to record as they toured throughout the United States with headlining acts such as Led Zeppelin, Bob Seger, The Guess Who and Uriah Heep.

1975 saw them sign on with Capitol Records. They made several appearances on television shows such as "Keith Hampshire's Music Machine". Copperpenny even had a short-lived variety show that launched the career of an unknown magician named Doug Henning.

During this period, they had continued success with the singles "Disco Queen," "Good Time Sally" and "Suspicious Love." They toured Canada in support of the "Fuse" album opening for the Swedish band Blue Swede. Their touring line-up included Mark Stephen Gendel on guitar, Bill Mair on bass and Jim Minas on Drums.

Fuse was their final record, and by the time it was released most of the original members had already left the band. Rich Wamil supported the effort as Rich Wamil & Copperpenny, but the remaining band split up in the late '70s.

Co-founder Kenny Hollis went on to have a successful solo career with the single "Goin' Hollywood". He would later become PR manager at Lulu's Roadhouse in Cambridge, Ontario, with several Copperpenny reunion shows throughout the 1980s. Hollis died on July 12, 2002 after suffering a heart attack.

Ron Hiller spent 1979-1981 in a Toronto-based contemporary gospel music band called Sonlight. They did the local Toronto church scene, and Kitchener-Waterloo, as well as summer gigs in Muskoka, Ontario. Hiller subsequently earned his teaching degree (B.Ed.)and, since 1989, has maintained a full-time career as children's recording artist, performer, and educator, RONNO.

The other members now have families and took regular day jobs.

Band members

circa 1968-1969[2]

1970 to 1972

1973

1975

1975 (Touring Band)

Donald K. Donald Tour Schedule (1975) BLUE SWEDE (Blablus) & Copperpenny - Capitol Records

Discography

LPs

Year Title Label
1970 Copperpenny RCA Victor
1973 Sitting On A Poor Man's Throne Sweet Plum
1975 Fuse Capitol Records

References

  1. ↑ http://www.canadianbands.com/home.html
  2. ↑ http://www.canadianbands.com/home.html

External links

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