I was asked to join brothers Bill & Rollie Hardie, formerly of Willie and the Walkers, when they formed a new group called Shinto. The band played around Alberta, and had an old 1947 Brill bus for travel. It was equipped with bunks and a table, as well as lots of room for gear.
When the Brill gave up, it was replaced by a similar blue school bus which we called "Earl". We drove it to New Jersey where we played for a week at Tony Mart's in Ocean City. My wage for the "tour" was Bill's Fender Precision bass, which was grey/green at the time.
After Shinto, Will MacCalder (who later became a founder of Powder Blues) reformed The Walkers with drummer Rollie Hardie, guitarist Steve Palmer, and myself on bass.
I painted the Fender with a British flag design. (Later stripped it down to the bare wood finish, but it was fun at the time)
At this point I was also enrolled at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in a program called "Radio & TV Arts".
Joined a dance group called "Patch" later in 1971.
Rick Francis - lead vocals
Gordon Belsher - bass & vocals
Ken Brenzan - drums
Henry Laliberte - lead guitar & vocals
(missing from photos: Rick Lundquist - keys)
December 30, 1972
married Charlene Drouin
Continued playing with "Patch" at clubs in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan through 1973 and into 1974.
L to R - Doug Anderson (guitar, vocals), Rick Dubord (keys, vocals), Rick Francis (lead vocals), Ken Brenzan (drums), Gordon Belsher (bass, vocals)
Visited Prince Edward Island for the first time in 1974. I was on the Island about 15 minutes when I said to Charlene "someday, I want to have a Prince Edward Island licence plate on my van!"
Joined the tour band for Buddy "Party Doll" Knox in October of 1974. Started in Moosomin, Saskatchewan & toured across Canada through to April 1975. Learned a lot about professionalism from Buddy. What a great guy!
L to R Ric Kokotovich (drums),
Brian Tripp (guitar & vocals),
Jocelynne Lamereux (vocals),
Don Johnston (keys),
Gordon Belsher (bass & vocals)
Back to "Patch" 1975-1978
Very popular dance band in Edmonton
Gordon Belsher - bass & vocals
Rol Hardie - drums
Rick Francis - lead vocals
Rick Dubord - keys & vocals
Doug Anderson - guitar & vocals
Moved to Prince Edward Island in August 1978 to start a new life in Guernsey Cove.
