East African Fair

Websites:  http://citizenfreak.com/artists/96895-inferno-5-plus-1
Origin: Sudbury, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

East African Fair – From Sudbury to Yorkville: A Pop-Rock Evolution
East African Fair emerged in 1968 as a continuation of Inferno 5 Plus 1, one of Northern Ontario’s most celebrated garage rock bands. As their sound evolved from raw garage energy to polished pop-rock, the band rebranded following the departure of guitarist Lance Whitman, with members Randy Larocque (guitar and vocals), Dave Powers (keyboards and vocals), Dominic Fragomini (bass), and Rick Panas (drums and vocals). Their manager, John Loweth, emphasized the direct lineage between the two groups:

“Later we changed the name to East African Fair and did pretty well with our second record, Lovin Every Little Thing You Do Girl (after Lance left) which was a totally different style (more Herman’s Hermits) than the Stones style of the first release. Then we moved to the big city of Toronto. We did lots of auditions and things and played in trendy Yorkville where you just had to be if you wanted to be anywhere in Canada at that time of 1967. The national CTV show After Four was interested in replacing the current group Robbie Lane and Disciples and said they would use us as the featured band next season, they suggested a name change and the remainder of the group now led by Randy LaRocque became York Lane. A major booking agent booked the group in southern Ontario and upper New York state, but unfortunately several band members became homesick and discouraged due to lack of money, and went home, leaving just Randy and myself. I think we were just inches away from stardom.”

East African Fair’s sole single, released on Villa Record Productions, featured two Randy LaRocque-penned tracks:

“Lovin’ Every Little Thing You Do” – a catchy, British Invasion-style pop song, reminiscent of Herman’s Hermits, but distinguished by an eerie, carnival-like organ that adds a slightly darker tone.
“I Won’t Stare” – a slow, haunting ballad, blending moody organ, reverb-drenched guitar, and obsessive lyrics — a uniquely original piece that hinted at the band’s experimental edge.

Despite charting at #21 on CHNO in Sudbury, East African Fair never recorded a full album. Their brief tenure in Toronto’s Yorkville scene, and close brush with national TV exposure on CTV’s After Four, mark them as one of Canada’s great “almost famous” pop-rock bands of the 60s.

Produced by Villa Record Productions and written by R. LaRocque, their music endures as a snapshot of ambition, talent, and the vibrant transitional moment between Canada’s garage and pop-rock scenes.
-Robert Williston

Randy Larocque: guitar, vocals
Dave Powers: keyboards, vocals
Dominic Fragomini: bass
Rick Panas: drums, vocals

Written by R. LaRocque
Produced by Villa Record Productions