Rockin' Highliners

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Origin: Edmonton, Alberta, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, The Rockin’ Highliners burst onto the music scene in 1996, quickly becoming one of the country’s most celebrated blues bands. Fronted by charismatic vocalist Robert Tycholis, the band was formed when Tycholis, guitarist Clayton Sample, and drummer Ken McMahon decided to pursue their passion for music. They adopted the name The Rockin’ Highliners as a nod to Tiny Grimes’ “Rockin’ Highlanders” and never looked back. The Edmonton Journal once dubbed them “the nation’s hottest blues band,” and their reputation for high-energy performances soon spread far and wide.

Their debut album, Chicks, Suits & Cadillacs (1996), garnered critical acclaim and was named one of Real Blues Magazine’s Top Ten Independent Releases of the year. The follow-up, What Were You Thinking? (Square Dog Records), earned the band a Juno Award nomination for Best Blues Album in 1997, cementing their status as rising stars in the Canadian blues scene.

In 2000, The Rockin’ Highliners signed with Stony Plain Records, where they teamed up with blues legend Duke Robillard to produce their third album, Oh My!. The record was a major success, winning several awards, including the Prairie Music Award for Outstanding Rock Recording and being named Canada’s Blues Band of the Year by Jazz Report Magazine (UK).

Over the years, the band played countless festivals and prestigious events, including the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas - becoming the first Canadian band to perform at the iconic festival. They also toured extensively across North America and Europe, performing alongside acts such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Double Trouble, Blue Rodeo, and even supporting George Thorogood on a 13-city Canadian tour.

In 2003, The Rockin’ Highliners released their fourth album, Sputnik Cafe, which marked the end of their first run as a band. After a decade-long hiatus, they reunited in 2015 with a revitalized lineup featuring longtime guitarist Alex Herriot, saxophonist Dave Babcock, and keyboardist Doug Organ on Hammond organ and bass pedals. This fresh incarnation retained the jump blues and swing roots of their early sound while incorporating a broader range of influences, evolving into an even more intricate and dynamic band.

During their career, The Rockin’ Highliners performed over 300 shows per year at their peak, completed multiple cross-Canada tours, and built an international profile with regular appearances in the U.S. and Europe. Their original blend of jump blues, rhythm & blues, and rockin’ swing made them pioneers of the Canadian blues scene and cemented their place in the country’s music history.

Today, The Rockin’ Highliners continue to perform, blending the joy of playing with old friends and a renewed focus on making music for the love of it. Their story remains a testament to the enduring power of friendship, passion, and the blues.
-Robert Williston