Marquis

Websites:  https://thegreenfrat.com/events-from-the-60s/
Origin: Niagara Falls, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Steve Burnside and The Marquis have been kicking around the Niagara border music scene for a long time now. In fact, since rock’s formative years, the late 1950s, right to the present time. They are still a regular fixture in the area, already looking to entertain the crowds all winter long at the Dunn St. Grill, Dunn St., Niagara Falls.

In an interview a few years back, I asked him what has kept the band going for such a long time.

“I attribute it to not losing sight of who and where we really are,” he said. “We watch our audience and try to learn things that this age group of over 40 will find entertaining. We are always accessible.”

1958 – The Marquis are formed; tour extensively, making stops at various local dance halls. This leads to being discovered by US blues artist Jimmy Ray.

1960 – Record Hop Blues/Shortenin’ Bread, released as an acetate single by Audiodisc.

1961-1964 – Played backup on many studio recordings.

1963 – Toured with The Orlons (South Street) and Freddy Cannon (Palisades Park) among others.

1965 – Band recruited Lynda Brick.

1966 – The Marquis recorded Rockin’ Crickets, a standout cover single so well crafted, it could beat the original (1959) by The Hot-Toddys as the best version ever made. Steve Burnside explained to me how the record ended up being made:

“The flip side of Rockin’ Crickets is Get Her Out Of There, a sort of Junior Walker sounding tune; a vocal duet with Lynda Brick and myself. Dave Hall played saxophone in a style that was hip at the time. Many radio stations played Get Her Out Of There as the A-side. We worked at Arc Records in Toronto from about 1963 to 1965, and released Dancin’ Party, produced by Tony DiMaria with the flip, Treat Me Right, produced by our own Mike Addario. Also, we recorded our first album ever, at Arc Records produced by Dick Dale and The Del-Tones. After all the work, Bob had a disagreement with Arc and the album was never released. Because of the amount of recording we’d already done, the sax player Dave Hall, Mike Addario and myself bought an Ampex recording equipment and decided to record Rockin’ Crickets ourselves. It was recorded in the lounge at the Four Winds Motel in Sault Ste. Marie on a Sunday afternoon in 1966. The Canadian Artists Records label was owned by The Marquis. We did our own distribution, we contacted by mail and phoned hundreds of record stores across Canada and New York. It was a full-time job. We mailed 45s directly to the stores ... money came directly to us (for a change).”

1967-1969 – As a result of shows with Canadians Gordon Lightfoot and Rich Little, The Marquis landed their first U.S. tour.

1970-1995 – Played all over the US; forever refining their sound.

1998 - Rockin’ Crickets was re-released in Europe, prompting anew interest for The Marquis.

1999 – Steve Burnside and the Original Marquis recorded the CD, Even The Blues, for the Prospect label. Tracks include Something You Got penned by Chris Kenner.

2003 – CD The Blues Collection was released.

2004 – CD I Just Ain’t No Good At All was released.

2007 – CD Story Teller Of The Blues was recorded. Steve Burnside presented with the Muddy Waters Entertainer of the Year Award from Blue Beat magazine.

2012 - 10th anniversary of The Steve Burnside Summertime Blues; a series of free concerts in Niagara Falls.

2015 – Still rocking and playing the blues to much success.

Note: Not to be overlooked, the original 1959 driving force behind Rockin’ Crickets belongs to Bill Pernell (originally from Belleville, Ontario) on sax and on the flip, Shakin’ And Stompin, a great up-tempo dynamite side, featuring Big John on vocals. Actually, Big John Little (born near Niagara Falls, Ontario), with his band The Rockers were The Hot-Toddys.

Andrew Merey is a Whitby resident who’s interested in music and movie history. He has contributed articles to This Week since 2003. You can reach him at amerey@rogers.com .

Lynda Michaels (Inverary, Ontario): lead vocals, mellotron
Chuck Lee (Welland, Ontario): vocals, bass
Stephen Burnside (Toronto, Ontario): vocals, guitar
Michael Shalek (Massachusetts, USA): drums, percussion
Walt Sokil (Welland, Ontario): vocals. piano, synth, harmonies