Parkview Tavern Chatham Ontario

Venue: Parkview Tavern (AKA Bear)
City: Chatham Ontario Canada
Year: 1980’s & 90’s
Address: 35 William St N

Notes: Located downtown across from Tecumseh Park. A popular small bar in Chatham for many many years until it was finally demolished for existing beyond its years.The Parkview featured cover bands every weekend along with the odd original band. The Popcorn band was a regular feature there. The club had a laid back appeal that was popular with the college scene, as well as the 40 something classic rock kids of the 70’s.

Send us your pics & info to:

Email us:
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com
_______

Hero 1980 Band

Band: Hero
Home: Chatham Ontario
Year: 1980
Style: Rock Jazz Band

Members:
Bob Wilson – Bass
Paul Delong – Drums
Steve Fowler – Guitar
(Note: Bob and Steve are from Chatham)

  The band was just recently formed (1980) when Bob and Paul realized the band Troiano was about to come to an end due to musical differences.
  The group chose the name ‘Hero’ based on Steve Fowlers old high school dance band from when he was 16. That band only lasted three months, but the spirit lived on.
  At Age 26, Bob is a seasoned musician having played locally at age 18-19 with Friends and Quadrant.
In 1978, Bob joined Troiano, and later Kim Mitchell.

Steve (25) also played in Quadrant, and then went to Toronto to join up with ‘Warner Brothers’ recording artist Garnet Ford. Halfway through 1979, he also paired up with another great local guitarist (Tom Lockwood) to become Lockwood-Fowler Band.

  The band is completely instrumental and has no intentions of hiring a front man. The skill level of the members could blow away any rock band out there today.

_______

Anyone with pics, please email us, or leave a comment at the bottom of the page with a return email address.

Cassandra Vasik 1980

Cassandra Leigh

The Tommy Hunter Show

Stage Name: Cassandra Leigh
Performer: Country Singer
Current Band: Destiny
Home Town: Blenheim
Year: 1980

Real name: Sandra Leigh Vasicek

   In October 1980, Cassandra (20) was a guest singing star on the Tommy Hunter Show that aired on the CBC Channel nine. She was quickly invited back. Her first live appearance ever was when she was eight years old in the folk choir at St. Mary’s Church in Blenheim.
  She has also performed on the Country Jamboree Show and the Ronnie Robbins show. Other high lights include performing on the broadcast of Opry North Show (Toronto) and won the London FM 96 Talent Hunt.
  Cassandra is currently in her final year of college in music related studies. She is also honing her song writing skills as she prepares to do music as a profession.

In 1991, Cassandra released her first album on the Epic Record label. She would become known as Cassandra Vasik. She enjoyed a great music career through the 1990’s including a few more records on a major label, as well as winning two Juno Awards.

_________________________________

Harvest circa 1980

 

Live

Band

Tony

Click on the above pictures to enlarge them.

Band: Harvest
Home: Chatham Ontario
Circa: 1980
Formed: 1979

Genre: popular rock songs of the day along with some older material (60s, 70s).

Members:
Tom Lockwood – guitar
John McMahon – drums
Marc Haslip  – Bass/vocals
Ray Violot – keyboards/guitar/vocals

The above pictures are circa 1979-81.
Ray and Marc joined after ‘Maple Shade’.
Around this time, Tom became a guitar teacher at Musical Strings ‘N’ Things.
The original guitar player in Harvest was Tony Bandoni. Tom Lockwood replaced Tony in 1980.
The band is made up of some of the top players in town. The roots of the band was made up of “Maple Shade”.

_____________________________

Wild Country (1980)

Click to enlarge

Band: Wild Country
Year: Circa 1980
Home: Chatham Kent
Style: Country

Members (L-R)
Dan Beaulieu – Guitar, Vocals
Eugene Beaulieu – Bass
Mark – Drums

They were the house band at the Recess in Tilbury for a little while.

 ____________________________

Melody Ramblers (1980)

Click To Enlarge

Band: Melody Ramblers
Home: Chatham Kent Area
Year: 1980

Members (L-R)
Dan St.Pierre – Guitar
Larry St.Pierre – Drums
Brad Preston – Guitars – Vocals
Rene Brousseau – Bass

Notes: Michelle Wright just left the band to go on the road. The Melody Ramblers were one of the best, if not the best local band to see live. They had the sound, harmonies and the right song selection that made them a very popular band.

____________________________________________