| Seasoned keyboard wizard Roy Young ended off the multi-band night at Healey's on Friday, March 1, 2002, with a bang. He and his band know how to Rock 'n' Roll - and why? Because of their love for good old rock 'n' roll and the inspiration that their founding member, Roy Young, offers with his band in their spectacular renditions of Brit/Pop, Blues and American favorites from the mid-'50s to the late '60s. I was expecting (through a good tip) that Randy Bachman would be at Healey's late that night, showcasing some original acoustic stuff with someone else. When I arrived and found out Bachman was a no-show, I was ready to leave to see Jerome Godboo at Chicago's, but I stayed instead to see this high-energy keys guy in action with his dynamite band. I said to myself, "I don't know these guys, but they're incredible, the way they go at it, so I think I'll stay and hear them." Partway through the last set, someone in the audience told me, "The keyboard player played with the Beatles." This comment, regardless of the fantastic old rock 'n' roll coming from the stage, really sparked my interest to no end. I was just itching to find out more. It was even more of a rush than the time I found out Michael Fonfara, of Downchild, used to play for Electric Flag, with Nick Gravenites in the late '60s. Roy played with the Beatles in Hamburg in 1962 and was sometimes referred to as the English Little Richard, whom he was a contemporary of and knew. He was also instrumental in the hiring of Ringo Starr to play drums for the Beatles. At that time, Ringo was the drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, who often in the Pete Best years, opened for the Beatles. Roy would have been a permanent Beatle back then, being offered a position by Brian Epstein, but sadly had to turn down the invitation, due to a long three-year contract with a Hamburg nightclub. He was a Beat Brother in the house band with Tony Sheridan in Hamburg back then. In the late '60s to mid '70s, he shared bills with Black Sabbath, Argent, Rod Stewart and others and was a friend and musical peer of Jeff Beck. Roy's been living just outside Toronto for years. We just don't know who we have in our own backyard sometimes. Speaking of�.he's friends with The Who, too, and The Stones! Roy also represented Canada a few years back at a fundraiser on behalf of abused children, playing John Lennon's Steinway grand piano at the CN Tower - while getting a chance to rekindle his long-time friendship with Yoko Ono, whose generosity then significantly helped that worthy cause. Back to the music, which is what it's all about anyway. Some of the Beatles' tunes Roy and his band played were an emotional "Nowhere Man" and a very harmonic "Strawberry Fields", followed by a moving "Eleanor Rigby". Roy's extremely rousing keyboards and sheer joy of entertaining a crowd were returned tenfold with roars of applause after each energized number. His friendly rapport with, and smiles to, the audience is the positive emotional bond that keeps audiences coming back again and again. The encore, which was demanded in no uncertain terms by the determined and appreciative audience, was a rousing Blues instrumental, featuring incredibly bluesy keys by Roy, as well as intricate and melodic Blues leads and scorching chords played by his very gifted guitarist. The bass kept pumpin' while the drums gave the whole band some very cool beats to groove on. "Now And Then", a Roy original and title of his new CD, is a lyrical story of his frequent brushes with and his musical collaborations with many famous musicians over more than four memorable decades. That tune, and the other imaginative musical offerings it will have on it, is keeping me on the edge of my seat until it's released, so I can listen to it. I'm sure it will have the same vibrant energy that filled Healey's on the night Roy and his fantastic band played there. Check out his very entertaining and informative website: www.royyoung.com. It's a blast from the past to Yesterday's repast! [EDITED FOR GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX ONLY - D.D.] |
| Roy Young at Healey�s on Friday, March 1, 2002, Celebrating Canadian Music Week |
| By Joe Curtis |
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