Red Lake, Ontario, Canada
|
Originating
from Red Lake, Ontario (near the Manitoba border), Mark Paradis (drums/bgrd
vocals), John Maciejewski)guitar/vocals), and Don Wilson(bass), traveled
throughout Canada's midwest and on a tour east, came to roost in the city
of Sherbrooke, Quebec, in September of 1968, They took on a new member,
Raymond Cloutier, and began working toward a solid foundation that could
spring them into a successful career.
The
popularity of the group spread throughout Quebec. They were fortunate to
appear with groups like the Vanilla Fudge and Tommy James and the Shondells.
At each performance, their style, termed by a newspaper reviewer as
"an evolution of Classical rock", gained them fans and wide acceptance. |
| Don
Wilson was born March 8,1951. He was raised in Red Lake and is the son
of an early pioneer family. His Grandfather, Augustine Dupont was
one of the prospectors to travel from Mattawa to Red Lake, Ontario in 1926
and his mother Clem (nee Dupont) Wilson was one of the first women to inhabit
Red Lake during the Red Lake Goldrush of 1926. She traveled with her family
to Red Lake in 1927 at the age of 17. Here she met Don's father Earle Wilson
whom was the manager of the Patricia Transportation Company.
He began playing guitar at
an early age. He and his friend John (Jan) Maciejewski
formed a band and while still only in grade 8 they began playing at dances
at the High School.
They
later played at the Polish Hall, Curling Rink and Rainbow Lanes.
In
1969 a contest was held at the site of the Expo '67 facility in Montreal
, Quebec, Canada. The best bands from each province competed in this contest
and the Souls of Inspyration won 1st prize.
First
prize was the making of an album and a 2 week engagement at the Award winning
Canadian Pavillion, at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan.
After
Japan, they returned to Quebec for a time but they left for home because
of the political tension and the October crisis (Front de Libération
du Québec The Front de Libération du Québec ,Quebec
Liberation Front, commonly known as the FLQ, was a separatist group .In
October 1970, two cells of the Front de Libération du Québec
(FLQ), a revolutionary organization promoting an independent and socialist
Quebec, kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross and Quebec Justice
Minister Pierre Laporte. Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau declared
martial law and armed forces were sent into Quebec to help the police and
the federal government invoke the War Measures Act, temporarily suspending
civil liberties. Chronology
of the October Crisis, 1970, and its Aftermath.
The
band disbanded shortly after their return to Ontario.
Don
went on to marry and have two beautiful children.
During
the 70's he was involved in a terrible car accident involving a moose which
left him partially disabled.
He
now lives quietly in his home town of Red Lake and teaches guitar
and still plays at local festivals.
|
Don - Earle Sr.- Clem Wilson
Clem - Earle Sr. Wilson
Earle Wilson Sr.
Don Writes: "Dad became
completely paralized when I was in grade 4, I think. But she (mom, Clem)
never left his side. Brought him home . She quit work, stayed home.. She
never left his side. We were taught what love & marriage really should
be.
I was doing good in school.
Started playing guitar at about 7 or 8 years old. Then a friend Jan Maciejewski
also played guitar. He was much better than I was & my brother had
a bass which I used and became a bass player.
Jan
and I formed a band, S.O I. So I left town. Jan and I moved to Sask first
then to Quebec where a contest was held that all best bands in each Canadian
Province came to compete at Expo 67. We won first prize. 1st prize was
a free album & a 2 week trip to entertain in the Canadian Pavillion
at Expo '70 in Japan.
Japanese
people were great to us Canadians.
Then
came back, we were living in Quebec at the time. Had to leave because of
F.L.Q propoganda! Where English people were not welcome, so we left.
Shortly
after I left the band, got married and had 2 children. Had a bad accident
and am partly disabled."
Please Visit Donelda
Dupont's website to learn more about the history of this family and
read about Clem's recollection of the trip from Mattawa to Red Lake,
Ontario in 1927.
Clem's Story.
|
