Not Superstitious b/w Long Ride (picture sleeve)

Tim Roland is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player and producer whose career has moved through garage rock, new wave, pop-rock and blues. Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, he began singing in the choir of the Baptist church where his father preached. He took piano lessons, learned some guitar and became increasingly interested in performing as punk, new wave and alternative music emerged during the late 1970s.

Roland formed several early bands in Medicine Hat and Calgary before moving to Toronto. There he became active in the city’s independent music scene, performing along Queen Street and developing a style that drew from rock, blues and the new alternative sounds of the period.

His earliest known release was recorded with Tim Roland and the Hoodoos. The group featured Roland on vocals and harmonica, Al James on guitar, Lonnie James on drums and a bassist credited as Lopes. Their single, ‘Not Superstitious’ b/w ‘Long Ride,’ was released by the Toronto independent label Goon Island Records.

Recorded at Nova Sound in Toronto, the single was produced by Greg Lunny and the Hoodoos. Its raw, blues-based garage-rock sound introduced Roland as both a frontman and songwriter. The Hoodoos developed a regional following, and Roland subsequently continued performing with the Tim Roland Band.

Roland established No Surrender Music as the publishing and production identity behind his solo work. In 1986, Freedom Records released ‘Saved by the Bell’ b/w ‘No Chains on Me.’ Roland produced the single and designed its picture sleeve.

Roland’s self-titled album followed on Freedom Records in 1987. Tim Roland included ‘No Time Like the Present,’ ‘Saved by the Bell,’ ‘Motorcycle,’ ‘Find Out,’ ‘Not Superstitious,’ ‘I Wanna Know,’ ‘Morning Glory,’ ‘Feel Good’ and ‘Escape.’ Roland wrote the material, sang, played guitar and produced the record through No Surrender Music.

The album broadened the sound of his earlier work through a larger studio ensemble. Contributors included guitarists Kurt Schefter and Steve Morris, bassists John Bell and Tom Lewis, drummers Howie Southwood and Terry Martell, keyboardists Steve Rosen and Nancy Walker, horn player Larry Bodner, and backing singers Barb Thomas, Judy Brown and Mick Slick. Tom Atom engineered the sessions.

‘Not Superstitious’ remained one of Roland’s central early songs. First recorded with the Hoodoos, it was revisited for the solo album and issued again in 1987 as the A-side of a Freedom Records single. That release paired a shorter version of the song with the otherwise non-album track ‘Time to Move.’

During his Toronto years, Roland also became involved in the city’s blues community. He performed with Gary Kendall of the Downchild Blues Band and with veteran blues singer Long John Baldry, experiences that strengthened the blues foundation already present in his earliest recordings.

Roland moved to Vancouver in 1989. He produced his first music video there and played with several West Coast groups, including Steele Thirsty, whose 1994 CD received praise for its songwriting. His work during this period continued the movement between independent rock, blues and singer-songwriter material that had characterized his Toronto recordings.

Roland went on to perform throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico. He later divided his time between Vancouver and León, Guanajuato, bringing his Canadian rock and blues background into contact with the musical and cultural influences of Mexico.

No Surrender Music continued as the connecting thread through Roland’s later career. In 2020, he released the digital singles ‘Tom’s Blues (Learn to Fly)’ and ‘Rich Man’s Blues.’ He has also presented performances and music commentary through Tim Roland–No Surrender Music, including the online series University of Rock and Blues.

-Robert Williston