|
|
The McKenna Gibson Band is a Canadian hard rock / electric blues band based in Toronto and formed by slide guitarist Mike McKenna (b. April 15, 1946) and singer/songwriter Luke Gibson (born Oct 5,1946). Both musicians have long standing professional tenures on the Toronto music scene dating back to the early 1960’s with roots in Toronto’s Yorkville era. McKenna and Gibson were founding members of Luke & The Apostles, a band which, during the period from early-mid 60s, helped formulate what was to become known as “the Toronto Sound”. The Apostles also provided the training ground for a number of musicians who went on to play in several notable Canadian 1970s bands including McKenna Mendelson Mainline, Kensington Market and The Modern Rock Quartet (The MRQ). The late 70s and 80s found Gibson pursuing a solo career garnering a recording contract with the Canadian label True North Records. McKenna in turn went on to form McKenna Mendelson Mainline and later Diamondback, a short lived effort featuring a number of Toronto notables, and later to play with Downchild (Blues Band), and in the late 1990s fronting “Mike McKenna and Slidewinder”.
While McKenna and Gibson played together occasionally at various rock and roll revival concerts, both musicians took a hiatus from the music scene. In 2008 McKenna reformed the original Diamondback Band with musicians Mike Fonfara (Crowbar, Lou Reed), Scott Cushnie (Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic tour) and Peter McGraw on vocals (cast member of the original Toronto production of Hair). Gibson often appeared as a "special guest" when the reformed Diamondback band played. The Diamondback reunion was however short lived but led to McKenna and Gibson discussing putting a new band together with new material and playing on a regular basis again. In 2009 the McKenna-Gibson Band was formed with Mike Mckenna on lead, slide guitar and vocals and Luke Gibson on lead vocals, guitar and harmonica. The lineup was finalized with David Martin on drums and percussion; Bill Miller on bass; and Frank Sedlak on keyboards, vibes and backup vocals. The band made it’s debut at Toronto's Black Swan Tavern on December 12, 2009 to a standing room only crowd. The band’s set list comprises a mix of vintage 60’s and 70’s Mainline and Apostles' material, classic blues, and new original material penned primarily by Luke Gibson. They now play frequently on the Toronto / Central-South Western Ontario blues / rock and roll circuit. There has been considerable interest and support from local radio stations and a CD of new, original material is planned for 2011.
|
|
|
