The Just Us
Encyclopedia
The Just Us were a short-lived Toronto
based, R&B
band
from the mid 1960s, which later morphed into The Tripp
and then Livingstone’s Journey. The group’s personnel included Neil Merryweather
and Stan Endersby
.
player Ed Roth (born 16 February 1947, Toronto), drummer
Bob Ablack, lead guitarist
Bill Ross (born in Bel Air, California
) and Brian Hughes started out playing rock
instrumentals in a suburban Toronto band the XLs, which became Gary & The Reflections with the addition of singer Gary Muir in 1964.
In early 1965, singer Bobby Neilson (born Robert Neilson Lillie, 27 December 1945, Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
) replaced Muir and the group changed its name to The Ookpiks (after a native-designed stuffed toy owl called Ookpik that was being promoted by the Canadian government). As another Ookpiks group already existed, they briefly became The Sikusis after another stuffed toy, but were unable to get permission from the Canadian government to use the name without compensation and settled on The Just Us. Through all of this they recorded
a lone single
on the Quality record label
, which failed to sell - possibly due in part to confusion caused by the fact that some copies showed The Ookpiks, some The Sikusis and some The Just Us.
Hughes, Ross and new drummer Al Morrison soon left to join The Bossmen, a group assembled to back singer David Clayton-Thomas
. To plug the gaps, remaining members Roth and Neilson, who now went by the name Neil Lillie (and later Neil Merryweather
), brought in bassist Wayne Davis (born 28 April 1946, Toronto) and guitarist Stan Endersby
(born 17 July 1947, Lachine
Quebec
) and convinced Bob Ablack to return on drums. They also recruited a new singer, former Mynah Birds singer Jimmy Livingstone (born 28 February 1938), who Neilson had befriended in Long and McQuade’s music store where he worked in the backroom as an amplifier
and guitar repairman. (Davis and Livingstone joined from the Muddy Yorks; Davis and Endersby had played together previously in C.J. Feeny and the Spellbinders.) Rick Bell was subsequently hired away from Richie Knight and the Midknights as second keyboardist
.
The Just Us recorded an album
’s worth of material at Arc Sound during in early 1966, which subsequently disappeared with the band’s manager. Throughout this period, they played at various local clubs, such as the Gogue Inn and the Hawk’s Nest as well as the city’s high school
s.
and Lillie learnt to play the bass guitar
in two weeks to fill the spot. Around this time, an American duo
with the same name appeared on the charts and the group was forced to find a new name. They settled on The Group Therapy for one show
(opening for The Byrds
at Varsity Stadium
in Toronto on June 22), but another local group surfaced with a prior claim to this name. Shortly after a show at the El Patio on 10 September 1966, the band took on another new moniker, The Tripp
.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
based, R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from the mid 1960s, which later morphed into The Tripp
The Tripp
The Tripp was a short-lived Canadian rock band, based in Toronto from the mid 1960s, featuring Neil Merryweather and Stan Endersby and formed the link between The Just Us and Livingston’s Journey.-The Just Us:...
and then Livingstone’s Journey. The group’s personnel included Neil Merryweather
Neil Merryweather
Neil Merryweather is a Canadian rock singer, bass player and songwriter...
and Stan Endersby
Stan Endersby
Stan Endersby is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist.He comes from an acting family and began his career in the early '60s playing with Toronto bands, The Omegas and C J Feeney & The Spellbinders....
.
Origins
KeyboardKeyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player Ed Roth (born 16 February 1947, Toronto), drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Bob Ablack, lead guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Bill Ross (born in Bel Air, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) and Brian Hughes started out playing rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
instrumentals in a suburban Toronto band the XLs, which became Gary & The Reflections with the addition of singer Gary Muir in 1964.
In early 1965, singer Bobby Neilson (born Robert Neilson Lillie, 27 December 1945, Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) replaced Muir and the group changed its name to The Ookpiks (after a native-designed stuffed toy owl called Ookpik that was being promoted by the Canadian government). As another Ookpiks group already existed, they briefly became The Sikusis after another stuffed toy, but were unable to get permission from the Canadian government to use the name without compensation and settled on The Just Us. Through all of this they recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
a lone single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on the Quality record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, which failed to sell - possibly due in part to confusion caused by the fact that some copies showed The Ookpiks, some The Sikusis and some The Just Us.
Hughes, Ross and new drummer Al Morrison soon left to join The Bossmen, a group assembled to back singer David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas is a Canadian musician and singer best known as the lead vocalist for the American band; Blood, Sweat & Tears...
. To plug the gaps, remaining members Roth and Neilson, who now went by the name Neil Lillie (and later Neil Merryweather
Neil Merryweather
Neil Merryweather is a Canadian rock singer, bass player and songwriter...
), brought in bassist Wayne Davis (born 28 April 1946, Toronto) and guitarist Stan Endersby
Stan Endersby
Stan Endersby is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist.He comes from an acting family and began his career in the early '60s playing with Toronto bands, The Omegas and C J Feeney & The Spellbinders....
(born 17 July 1947, Lachine
Lachine
Lachine may refer to a number of places in the Montreal area:* Lachine, Quebec, the community* Lachine Rapids* Lachine Canal* The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site...
Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) and convinced Bob Ablack to return on drums. They also recruited a new singer, former Mynah Birds singer Jimmy Livingstone (born 28 February 1938), who Neilson had befriended in Long and McQuade’s music store where he worked in the backroom as an amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
and guitar repairman. (Davis and Livingstone joined from the Muddy Yorks; Davis and Endersby had played together previously in C.J. Feeny and the Spellbinders.) Rick Bell was subsequently hired away from Richie Knight and the Midknights as second keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
.
The Just Us recorded an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
’s worth of material at Arc Sound during in early 1966, which subsequently disappeared with the band’s manager. Throughout this period, they played at various local clubs, such as the Gogue Inn and the Hawk’s Nest as well as the city’s high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s.
The Just Us becomes The Tripp
In June 1966, Davis left to play with Bobby Kris & The ImperialsBobby Kris & The Imperials
Bobby Kris & The Imperials were a 1960s Toronto folk-rock band, that had a local hit with Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Walk On By".-Origins:...
and Lillie learnt to play the bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in two weeks to fill the spot. Around this time, an American duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with the same name appeared on the charts and the group was forced to find a new name. They settled on The Group Therapy for one show
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
(opening for The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
at Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
in Toronto on June 22), but another local group surfaced with a prior claim to this name. Shortly after a show at the El Patio on 10 September 1966, the band took on another new moniker, The Tripp
The Tripp
The Tripp was a short-lived Canadian rock band, based in Toronto from the mid 1960s, featuring Neil Merryweather and Stan Endersby and formed the link between The Just Us and Livingston’s Journey.-The Just Us:...
.
Sources
- Nick Warburton, article on Stan Endersby: http://www.classicrockpage.com/everheardof/StanEndersby.htm
- The Toronto Telegram’s After Four section for live dates
- Bill Munson, interview with Ed Roth, 1976
- Bill Munson, interview with Stan Endersby, 1978
- Bill Munson, interview with Jimmy Livingston, 1978
- Bill Munson, interview with Bob Ablack, 1979
- Nick Warburton, interview with Neil Merryweather, 2006