Dakus, Wes & the Club 93 Rebels

Websites:  https://citizenfreak.com/artists/93687-dakus-wes
Origin: Mannville, Alberta, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Wes Dakus – Canada’s Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer
Wes Dakus (April 2, 1938 – August 18, 2013) was a groundbreaking Canadian guitarist, bassist, bandleader, producer, and entrepreneur. As the frontman of Wes Dakus and The Rebels, he helped define Canada’s early rock and roll sound, becoming a household name across the Prairies and laying the foundation for Alberta’s rock scene. His influence spanned decades, from his days tearing up the stage with raw instrumentals to his visionary work behind the studio glass. Often dubbed “Edmonton’s answer to Elvis” and remembered as the city’s original Mr. Cool, Dakus brought swagger, style, and serious talent to Canadian music.

Early Years & The Birth of The Rebels
Born in Mannville, Alberta, Wes Dakus grew up in a musical family where kitchen jam sessions were commonplace. He initially played steel guitar in a country outfit, but the explosive energy of Bill Haley & His Comets inspired him to pivot to rock 'n' roll. In 1957, he formed a nine-piece “rock ’n’ roll orchestra,” soon streamlined into Wes Dakus and The Rebels. The name was a tribute to The Rebels motorcycle club, who acted as security at the band’s early dances.

By the late ‘50s, the band was a mainstay on Alberta’s teen dance circuit, crisscrossing the Prairies to perform at community halls, agricultural fairs, and iconic venues like Peggy’s Pavilion on Lake Simcoe. The Rebels became the house band for CJCA Radio, also known as The Club 93 Rebels, and their sharp matching suits — custom-designed through Dakus’s own short-lived clothing line — helped cement their image.

Chart Success & Norman Petty Sessions
The Rebels signed with Quality Records in 1960, releasing the rockabilly-tinged “El Ringo” and the Latin-flavored “Las Vegas Scene.” Their big break came via New Mexico rockers The Fireballs, who directed them to Norman Petty, legendary producer for Buddy Holly. Starting in 1964, the band made annual trips to Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico, cutting a series of acclaimed singles and two albums.

Their 1965 LP, The Wes Dakus Album – With The Rebels (Capitol Canada), included cult classics like “Hoochie Coochie Coo,” “Manipulator,” and “Lobo Ferocious Dog.” A 1967 follow-up on Kapp Records (U.S.), Wes Dakus’s Rebels, featured more genre-spanning material, with rave-ups like “We’ve Got a Groovy Thing Goin’” and “She Ain’t No Angel.” Despite near-hits like “Come On Down”, commercial breakthrough eluded them — though they were RPM’s Top Instrumental Group from 1964–1966, precursor to the Juno Awards.

Behind the Glass: Sundown Recorders & Vera Cruz
After stepping back from live performance in 1966, Dakus launched Spane International, a booking agency that helped bring acts like Crowbar and Five Man Electrical Band to Western Canada. In 1972, he founded Sundown Recorders in Edmonton, a studio that recorded Bobby Curtola, Hoyt Axton, Gary Fjellgaard, Fosterchild, One Horse Blue, and more. Dakus also ran Vera Cruz Records and co-owned Molten Records with Randy Bachman, salvaging gear from Petty’s famed Clovis studio to continue producing in Edmonton.

Lasting Influence & Super Oldies Reissues
In his later years, Dakus remained active in music and semi-retired to British Columbia in 1995. His final public appearance came at the Alberta Rock Reunion in 2006. He passed away in Vancouver in 2013, following a battle with brain cancer, leaving behind a pioneering legacy.

Wes Dakus’s contributions have been preserved and celebrated through three definitive CD reissues from Shawn Nagy’s Super Oldies label, which remastered his Clovis sessions, rare singles, and unreleased material. These reissues introduced Dakus’s music to a new generation, earning critical praise and reaffirming his place in Canadian rock history.

Legacy
From the sock hops of the 1950s to the studios of the 1980s, Wes Dakus was a relentless force of musical energy and innovation. He helped shape Alberta’s rock scene, inspired artists like Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, and remains a Canadian rock 'n' roll icon, celebrated for his twangy instrumentals, entrepreneurial drive, and unwavering passion for music. His legacy continues to echo through Canada’s musical landscape — loud, proud, and unmistakably Rebel.
-Robert Williston