Mike Levine (musician)

Last updated

Mike Levine
Birth nameMichael Stephen Levine
Born (1949-06-01) 1 June 1949 (age 74)
Origin Toronto, Ontario
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Bass, keyboards, clavinet, piano, percussion
Website triumphmusic.com

Michael Stephen Levine (born 1 June 1949) is the bassist and keyboardist for the Canadian hard rock band Triumph. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Levine was born in Toronto, Ontario. [3] He attended Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute in Scarborough.

Career

In 1970 Levine helped to bring back together the band Motherlode, which had broken up after releasing one hit single and a couple of less popular recordings. They toured around northern and western Ontario before disbanding once again. [4]

Levine played bass in the Toronto blues band Abernathy Shagnaster's Wash and Wear Band with guitarist Fred Keeler, keyboardists Peter Young and drummer Gil Moore. [5] After the band's first single was recorded, Keeler and Young left; Levine and Moore recruited guitarist Rik Emmett, and the three founded the heavy metal band Triumph in 1974.

Although he did not sing lead on any of Triumph's music, Levine contributed backing vocals, bass, keyboard work, as well as songwriting. [6] [7] He also produced much of the band's early work, and performed on all of the band's ten studio albums. [8]

Live, he also contributed much onstage banter with the audience, often smoking a large cigar during performances as well as wearing local sports team jerseys (especially NHL teams). On 1 October 1985, responding to a challenge by corporate sponsors, Levine travelled across Canada, visiting eight radio stations from Halifax to Vancouver in one day to promote Triumph's double album Stages. [9]

After Triumph disbanded in 1993 Levine continued to merchandise the band's recordings and songs; [10] [11] he then went into business and began living part-time in Jamaica. [12]

Levine also serves on the board of directors and advisory board for the Musicians' Rights Organization Canada.

Levine was also a contestant on the Christmas Eve 1996 episode of Wheel of Fortune.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Guess Who</span> Canadian rock band

The Guess Who was a Canadian rock band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1965. The band found their greatest success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, under the leadership of singer/keyboardist Burton Cummings and guitarist Randy Bachman, with hit songs including "American Woman", "These Eyes", and "No Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph (band)</span> Canadian rock band

Triumph were a Canadian hard rock band formed in 1975 that was popular in the late 1970s and the 1980s, building on its reputation and success as a live band. Between its 16 albums and DVDs, the band has received 18 gold and nine platinum awards in Canada and the United States. They were nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including the "Group of the Year Award" in 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1987. They were inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rik Emmett</span> Musical artist

Richard Gordon Emmett is a vocalist, guitarist, and member of the Canadian hard rock band Triumph.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Rodeo</span> Canadian country rock band

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garth Hudson</span> Canadian multi-instrumentalist

Eric "Garth" Hudson is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist best known as the keyboardist and occasional saxophonist for rock group the Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He was a principal architect of the group's sound, described as "the most brilliant organist in the rock world" by Keyboard magazine. With the deaths of Richard Manuel in 1986, Rick Danko in 1999, Levon Helm in 2012, and Robbie Robertson in 2023, Hudson is the last living original member of the Band.

<i>Whites Off Earth Now!!</i> 1986 studio album by Cowboy Junkies

Whites Off Earth Now!! is a 1986 studio album by Cowboy Junkies. It was the band's debut album, and is composed almost entirely of rock and blues covers. Only one song, "Take Me", is an original song by the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gil Moore</span> Canadian musician

Gil Moore is a Canadian musician. Born in Toronto, Moore was the drummer and co-vocalist of the power trio Triumph. Before Moore was in Triumph he was in a band called Sherman & Peabody which also featured Buzz Shearman of Moxy and Greg Godovitz of Goddo.

Harlequin is a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba that formed in 1975. The band is best known for the hit singles "I Did It for Love", "Thinking of You", "Superstitious Feeling", and "Innocence".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myles Goodwyn</span> Canadian rock musician (1948–2023)

Myles Francis Goodwyn was a Canadian musician. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter of the rock band April Wine. He released 16 studio albums with April Wine, and four albums as a solo artist. Goodwyn led the group from its inception and garage band roots to its multiplatinum sales peak. He received the National Achievement Award at the 2002 SOCAN Awards, an ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame as a member of April Wine.

Leigh Ashford was a Canadian rock group formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and which existed between 1966 and 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian blues</span>

Canadian blues is the blues and blues-related music performed by blues bands and performers in Canada. Canadian blues artists include singers, players of the main blues instruments: guitar, harmonica, keyboards, bass and drums, songwriters and music producers. In many cases, blues artists take on multiple roles. For example, the Canadian blues artist Steve Marriner is a singer, harmonica player, guitarist, songwriter and record producer.

Grant Smith & The Power were a popular Canadian rock-soul outfit from the 1960s that had a hit with a cover of Jackie Edwards' "Keep On Running" and was also a training ground for musicians who went on to the likes of McKenna Mendelson Mainline and Motherlode.

Porkbelly Futures is a Canadian blues music group based in Toronto, Ontario. The latest lineup of the band included lead singer Paul Quarrington (1953-2010),; guitarist/harmonica player Stuart Laughton, bass player Chas Elliott and vocalist Rebecca Campbell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Lear</span> Musical artist

Graham Lear is an English-born Canadian rock drummer, best known for his time with Gino Vannelli, Santana and REO Speedwagon. He was born in Plymouth, United Kingdom.

Motherlode was a Canadian pop rock group formed in 1969 in London, Ontario. The group scored some success in the US with their single, "When I Die", which hit #1 in Canada and #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. The group didn't have a bass guitarist. William Smith would play the bass notes on his keyboard. They did however use bass players on their studio recordings.

The Cameo Blues Band is a Toronto-based blues band, originally formed in 1978. It is particularly notable for its association with several of Canada's leading blues singers, including Richard "Hock" Walsh, Tony Flaim and Chuck Jackson, all of whom were also associated with the Downchild Blues Band.

The Walk were a Canadian alternative rock band. Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, the band was formed in 1987 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Allan, guitarist/keyboardist Jason Frederick, bass guitarist Eric Forget and drummer James Prudhomme. They disbanded in 1996.

Mississauga Music Walk of Fame was established in 2012 by late Councillor Jim Tovey in Memorial Park in Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario, to recognize musical talent that have their origins in the Ontario city. It was launched during the Southside Shuffle music festival.

Kenny Marco is a Canadian guitarist who has been a member of historical Canadian rock groups such as Grant Smith & The Power, Motherlode and Dr. Music. He was also a member of Blood, Sweat And Tears.

Brian Wray was a veteran Canadian musician and musical arranger. He had been a member of three major Canadian bands, Natural Gas in the late 1960s, Motherlode and Truck in the early 1970s. He also worked with Lisa Hartt, Freedom North, Moe Koffman, David Johannesson and other artists. In later years he moved more towards the jazz genre.

References

  1. ↑ Prato, Greg. "Biography: Triumph". Allmusic . Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  2. ↑ "Canada’s Walk of Fame Announces 2019 Inductees". Cashbox Canada, 19 Jul 201
  3. ↑ "Eddie Trunk has the magic power to reunite Triumph on Trunk Nation". Sirius FM, Andy Burns, 29 March 2017
  4. ↑ "Motherlode group is reformed for recording". RPM Weekly, 5 December 1970. pages 8-9
  5. ↑ "Loose Blues News". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  6. ↑ "Triumph". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 7 February 2006
  7. ↑ "Triumph: The Sport of Kings (remaster)". Sea of Tranquility, review by Pete Pardo, 4 April 2005
  8. ↑ "Triumph to Be the Focus of New Documentary". Exclaim!, By Calum Slingerland, 19 Aug 2019
  9. ↑ "Maple Briefs". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 42. 19 October 1985. p. 79. ISSN   0006-2510.
  10. ↑ "Alessia Cara, Triumph Honoured At Canada's Walk Of Fame". FYI Music News, 25 Nov 2019 by David Farrell
  11. ↑ "Triumph". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 7 February 2006
  12. ↑ "Regrouped Triumph tests the waters". The Globe and Mail, PERRY LEFKO, 5 June 2008
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.