Edward and Harding (Donald Edward & William Harding)

Websites:  No
Origin: Mississauga, Ontario
Biography:

Edward and Harding were friends at Gordon Graydon High School, Mississauga, Ontario, in the 1960’s. Edward was performing in The Fabulous Fables and Candy in The Soundbenders. When they finally left those bands to perform together, they formed The Change in Time and played Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones and other British invasion bands. When the folk scene arrived they dropped their electric guitars for acoustics and formed Edward and Harding. Their first gig was at a high school assembly fundraiser. They went on to do high school concerts, dances and frat parties as well as festivals opening for the likes of Lighthouse, Rush (who played their high school) and would even open for The Stampeders in Calgary when “Sweet City Woman” broke big. After high school Edward and Harding’s management got them a two album deal with Celebration/Quality Records. Their self-titled debut in 1971 yielded a minor charting hit in “Mr. Sunlight” which peaked at No.74 on the RPM Magazine Top 100 singles chart. Keyboardist Bill McLean from Graydon High School band The Freedom Sound joined in 1973. Edward, Harding and Mclean embarked on a 20 plus year career playing clubs, concerts, radio and TV. They began as a vocal trio doing a lot of Crosby, Stills and Nash and America folk material which got them noticed by an American agent who set them up touring campuses in the US where they shared stages with The Guess Who, Jerry-Jeff Walker (Mr. Bojangles), comedian David Brenner, comedian Billy Crystal and the yet undiscovered Jim Carrey at a university showcase. They discovered the vocal music of the swing era and began massing a repertoire of songs from The Mills Brothers, Glen Miller, The Andrew Sisters, etc. Edward, Harding & McLean were regulars on CBC Radio’s ‘Morningside’ (with hosts Harry Brown, Don Herron and Peter Gzowski) and regulars on the daytime variety show ‘The Bob McLean Show’. A highlight was going to Disney World to tape a CBC Superspecial with Rene Simard and Ryan’s Fancy. They also opened for female impersonator Jim Bailey at the O’Keefe Center and other opening slots for the likes of Ronnie Hawkins, Chilliwack and post-David Clayton-Thomas Blood, Sweat and Tears at the Ontario Place Forum. The show was taped for a CBC TV special in front of 10,000 people. Edward, Harding & McLean also did CBC’s first full length transcription album entitled ‘Now and Then’ and went on to produce their own self-titled album for Sefel Records in 1981. They did spots on the Canadian produced Kenny Rogers sharing the stage with Lynda Ronstadt and BB King. Edward, Harding & McLean also co-hosted CBC’s ‘Who’s New’ out of Windsor, Ontario for 13 episodes. Harding would write, perform and produce two solo albums under his real name Bill Candy – ‘Closer to the Music’ (1995) and ‘Common Ground’ (2002). Susan Aglulark also recorded one of Candy’s songs on her ‘This Child’ CD. Edward (aka Don Owen) opened a restaurant in Cobourg, Ontario called The Oasis Bar and Grill. In 2008 Edward & Harding resumed as a duo and created a show featuring the music of Simon & Garfunkel exclusively along with a number of backing musicians. The show was recorded and released as a new CD that year.

Donald Edward Owen: acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals
William Harding Candy: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, recorder, vocals
Ken McLean: keyboards
George Korenko: bass, vocals