Mercey Brothers | |
---|---|
Origin | Hanover, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | Country |
Years active | 1957 – 1989 |
Labels | Columbia Harmony RCA MBS |
Website | www.merceybrothers.com |
Members | Larry Mercey Ray Mercey Lloyd Mercey |
The Mercey Brothers were a Canadian country music group active from 1957 to 1989. The brothers were seven-time Juno Award winners for "The Top Country Group" and were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
All three Mercey brothers were born in Hanover, a small town south of Owen Sound, Ontario. [1] [2] Larry Mercey, the eldest of three, was born on December 12, 1939; Ray was born on November 21, 1940, and Lloyd, the youngest, was born on December 12, 1945.
The Mercey family grew up to music in their household at an early age. Larry Mercey sang on the radio station CKNX Barn Dance in 1956, in the neighbouring town of Wingham, Ontario.
Larry and Ray formed a country music group in 1957, singing and playing the guitar (Larry) and bass (Ray). They called their group The Mercey Brothers and patterned their music and their image to resemble the Everly Brothers, a harmony duo popular in the United States at the time.
Larry and Ray placed second in CBC Television's Talent Caravan in 1960 and later went on to sign with Chateau Records in 1961. They made their first chart appearance with "Just the Snap of Your Fingers" that same year.
Lloyd Mercey joined the group as a singer and drummer in 1966 when he was twenty years old, and together they called themselves The Mercey Brothers. After signing with Columbia Records, they released four RPM chart-topping singles, including "Whistling on the River". [3] In 1968, they released the singles "Uncle Tom", "What’s a Guy to Do?", and "The Great Snowman" under their self-titled album The Mercey Brothers.
Singles "Who Drinks My Beer When I’m Gone" and "Ordinary Peeping Tom" came out under albums titled My Song For You (Columbia) and The Mercey Brothers (Harmony) in 1969.
The Mercey Brothers signed with RCA Records in 1970 and released a string of singles which received radio play. [4] At the 1970 Juno Awards, they were named "Best Country Group or Duo". They went on to win this award for the next four years in a row (1970–1974), [5] and again in 1976.
In 1971, The Mercey Brothers toured England for the first time and made an appearance on BBC television. Their hit singles on the RCA album Have Mercey, were "Hello Mom" and "Who Wrote the Words". They also hosted a television show, The Mercey Brothers Show. [6]
In 2021, Larry Mercey wrote a book titled Have Mercy: My First 60 Years Making Music [7] in which one of his recollections is the band's first dates played in Saulte Ste Marie, Ontario. [8]
Ray Mercey left the band in 1980 to spend more time with his family. To fill in for Ray's absence, the others brought in bass player Gord Ogilvie and lead guitar Darrell Scott. Over the next few years, artists Dann Peer, Gord Heins, John Dymond, and Eric Mahar filled in for the band. In 1989 the Mercey Brothers disbanded; they were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame that same year. [9]
In 1973, The Mercey Brothers opened their own recording studio called Mercey Brothers Recording Studio. That gave them more control over their music and general sound of the band. Their studio was in Elmira, Ontario between 1973 and 1980. They also started their own Record Label, MBS (Mercey Brothers Sound) during this period. MBS signed on names such as Terry Carisse, Marie Bottrell and Joan Kennedy. [10]
Year | Album | Chart Positions | |
---|---|---|---|
CAN Country | CAN | ||
1968 | Mercey Brothers | — | — |
1969 | My Song for You | — | — |
1970 | Mercey Brothers | — | — |
Naturally | — | — | |
1971 | Have Mercey | — | 68 |
1972 | Mercey Brothers Country | — | — |
1973 | Mercey Brothers | — | — |
1975 | Did You Hear My Song | — | — |
Best of the Mercey Brothers | — | — | |
1976 | Homemade | — | — |
Mercey Brothers Radio Show | — | — | |
1977 | Comin' on Stronger | 4 | — |
1980 | Command Performance | — | — |
1982 | Mercey Brothers | — | — |
1984 | Latest and Greatest Volume 1 | 26 | — |
1985 | Love Is the Reason | — | — |
1988 | Latest and Greatest Volume 2 | — | — |
1990 | 30 Greatest: Their Hits and More | — | — |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAN Country | CAN AC | CAN | |||
1966 | "Whistle on the River" | 1 | — | — | The Mercey Brothers(1968) |
1967 | "Uncle Tom" | 1 | — | — | |
1968 | "Absent Minded Me" | 27 | — | — | |
1969 | "Who Drinks My Beer When I'm Gone" | 1 | — | — | My Song for You |
"Ordinary Peeping Tom" | 3 | — | — | ||
1970 | "My Song for You" | 2 | — | — | |
"Goodbye" | — | — | 75 | ||
"Pickin' Up the Pieces" | 4 | — | — | ||
"Old Bill Jones" | 1 | 18 | — | The Mercey Brothers(1970) | |
1971 | "Knocking Down the Hard Times" | 36 | 26 | — | |
"Hello Mom" | 1 | 1 | 36 | Have Mercey | |
"Who Wrote the Words" | 1 | 1 | — | ||
"The Day of Love" | 35 | 20 | — | Non-album song | |
1972 | "Kentucky Turn Your Back" | 3 | 3 | — | Mercey Brothers Country |
"The Day of Love" (re-release) | 41 | 33 | — | Non-album song | |
1973 | "It's So Easy to Please Me" | 4 | — | — | Mercey Brothers Country |
"Meant to Be with Me" | 19 | 39 | — | The Mercey Brothers(1973) | |
"Our Loving Times" | 6 | — | — | ||
1974 | "I Heard Bells" | — | 21 | — | |
"California Lady" | — | 25 | 77 | Did You Hear My Song | |
1975 | "Did You Hear My Song" | 9 | — | — | |
1976 | "Lovin' You from a Distance" | 12 | 19 | — | Homemade |
"Old Loves Never Die" | 20 | 41 | — | ||
"If I Believed in Myself" | 18 | 23 | — | ||
1977 | "Jamie" | 20 | — | — | |
"You Know It Felt Good" | 23 | — | — | ||
1978 | "Home Along the Highway" | 31 | — | — | Comin' on Stronger |
"Comin' on Stronger" | 10 | — | — | ||
1979 | "Stranger" | 9 | — | — | |
"Hell Bent for Mexico" | 13 | — | — | Command Performance | |
"I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head" | 15 | — | — | ||
1980 | "Your Eyes Don't Lie to Me" | 27 | — | — | |
"Makin' the Night the Best Part of My Day" | 48 | — | — | ||
1981 | "Sweet Harmony" | 20 | 22 | — | |
"The Same Eyes That Always Drove Me Crazy" | 24 | — | — | The Mercey Brothers(1982) | |
1982 | "Maybe It's Love This Time" | 8 | — | — | |
"I've Already Left You (In My Mind)" | 12 | — | — | ||
1983 | "The Day That You Walked In" | 29 | — | — | |
"Anytime Down" | 32 | — | — | ||
1984 | "Leader of the Band" | 9 | 21 | — | Latest and Greatest Volume 1 |
"Love at Last Sight" | 8 | — | — | Love Is the Reason | |
1985 | "You Lifted Me High Enough" | 10 | — | — | |
"Love Is the Reason" | 7 | 13 | — | ||
1986 | "Take a Little Chance on Love" | 6 | — | — | |
"Pretty Diamond Ring" | 8 | — | — | ||
1987 | "Heroes" | 9 | — | — | |
"Raised by the Radio" | 8 | — | — | Latest and Greatest Volume 2 | |
1988 | "Straight to Your Heart" | 14 | — | — |
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as the Hip, were a Canadian rock band formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1984, consisting of vocalist Gord Downie, guitarist Paul Langlois, guitarist Rob Baker, bassist Gord Sinclair, and drummer Johnny Fay. They released 13 studio albums, one live album, one EP, and over 50 singles over a 33-year career. Nine of their albums have reached No. 1 on the Canadian charts. They have received numerous Canadian music awards, including 17 Juno Awards. Between 1996 and 2016, the Tragically Hip were the best-selling Canadian band in Canada and the fourth best-selling Canadian artist overall in Canada.
Sarah Harmer is a Canadian singer, songwriter and environmental activist.
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian country rock band formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have released 16 full-length studio albums, four live recordings, one greatest hits album, and two video/DVDs, along with multiple solo albums, side projects, and collaborations.
Treble Charger is a Canadian rock band formed in 1992 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Greig Nori, vocalist and guitarist Bill Priddle, bassist Rosie Martin and drummer Richard Mulligan. They began with a melodic indie rock style but evolved into more of a pop punk band after signing to a major label in 1997. They disbanded in 2006 and reunited in 2012. Between 1996 and 2016, Treble Charger was among the Top 150 selling Canadian artists in Canada.
The Sadies are a Canadian rock and roll / country and western band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Dallas Good, Travis Good, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky. Dallas and Travis are the sons of Margaret and Bruce Good, and nephews of Brian and Larry Good, who are members of the Canadian country group The Good Brothers.
The Age of Electric is a Canadian rock band founded in 1989 with members from Lanigan and Regina, Saskatchewan. The members are Todd Kerns (vocals/guitar), Ryan Dahle, John Kerns (bass), and Kurt Dahle.
Terrance Victor Carisse known as Terry Carisse, was one of Canadian Country Music's most awarded, decorated and popular singer-songwriters. His awards include the Canadian Country Music Association's Male Vocalist of the Year Award which he has won six times, and still holds this record. He was nominated four times for a Juno Award. In 1989 he was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, Terry Carisse was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Carroll Anne Baker CM is a Canadian country music singer and songwriter.
Murray Edward McLauchlan, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and harmonica player. He is best known for his Canadian hits "Farmer's Song," "Whispering Rain," and "Down by the Henry Moore".
Sylvia Tyson, is a Canadian musician, performer, singer-songwriter and broadcaster. She is best known as part of the folk duo Ian and Sylvia, with Ian Tyson. Since 1993, she has been a member of the all-female folk group Quartette.
Quartette is a Canadian country-folk group consisting of Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick and Sylvia Tyson. Each of the four members also records as a solo artist in addition to their work as a group.
Colleen Susan Peterson was a Canadian country and folk singer, who performed both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Quartette.
The Carlton Showband is a Canadian musical group of the Irish genre. Formed in Brampton, Ontario in November 1963, the band initially named themselves the Carlton Danceband in reference to Toronto's Carlton Street where Maple Leaf Gardens was located.
The Good Brothers are a Canadian country, bluegrass and folk music group originating from Richmond Hill, Ontario. The band's core members are Brian Good (guitar), his twin brother Bruce Good (autoharp) and younger brother Larry Good (banjo).
Myles and Lenny were a Canadian folk-pop music group based in Toronto, Ontario. most active during the 1970s.
Alabama was a Canadian band of the early 1970s. Band members were Buster Fykes, Hector McLean, Rick Knight, and Len Sembaluk. The band performed a mix of Progressive Rock, cajun, country and soul music, including songs written by Fykes and Knight.
Family Brown was a Canadian country music band founded in 1967 by Joe Brown, along with his son Barry and daughters Lawanda and Tracey (vocals), as well as Dave Dennison (guitar) and Ron Sparling (drums). Between 1967 and 1990, the band charted several singles in both Canada and the United States. The band also won eighteen Canadian Country Music Association awards, the most received by any artist. After disbanding in 1990, Barry and Tracey Brown and Randall Prescott formed the group Prescott-Brown in 1991.
Larry Mercey is a Canadian country music artist. best known as the lead singer of the 6-time Juno Winning Mercey Brothers band.
Black Light Orchestra was a Canadian disco band, active in the late 1970s. The band's core members were producers Michel Daigle and Dominic Sciscente, and singer Patrick Norman, along with several studio collaborators.
Garfield was a Canadian progressive rock band based in Toronto, Ontario in the late 1970s, fronted by vocalist and songwriter Garfield French, and including Walter Lawrence on guitar and electric cello, Paul O'Donnell on guitar, harmonica and banjo, Jacques Fillion on keyboards, Dennis French on drums, Chip Yarwood on flute and keyboards, and Maris Tora on bass guitar. The band received a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Group at the Juno Awards of 1977.