Boulevard (band)

Boulevard (BLVD)
Origin Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Genres Hard rock, Arena rock
Years active 1983–1991, 2014-
Labels MCA Canada
Members Mark Holden
Dave Corman
David Forbes
Andrew Johns
Cory Curtis
Randall Stoll
Past members Randy Gould
Randy Burgess
Jerry Adolphe
Tom Christiansen

Boulevard is a Canadian band (originally called BLVD) formed in 1983 in Calgary by Mark Holden (saxophone/vocals). The band dissolved in 1991. They reunited in 2014 and played at Firefest in Nottingham, England. The band has also started to write new songs for an upcoming record, due out in 2016. They released a DVD, "Live from Gastown" in December 2015.

History

In 1983, Mark Holden, co founder of the new Thunder Road Studio in Calgary, Alberta. Shortly thereafter, he started a studio project called Modern Minds using studio players in Calgary at the time. In 1984 he asked Andrew Johns to join as Keyboard player/ lead vocalist while redoing some of the old demos. Meanwhile an offer from CBS records in Germany signed the band. The band then travelled to Germany to make a video for the first single "Rainy Day In London", and perform on 'Ronny's Pop Show' and 'Bananas' both widely viewed TV shows. "Rainy Day in London" topped out at #45 on the Billboard Charts in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The band was then assembled which included Randy Gould on guitar, Jerry Adolphe on drums, Hans Sahlen on bass and Andrew Johns on keyboards and lead vocals. The group remained in Calgary until it ended up inking a deal with MCA records in 1988 and consequently moved to Vancouver Canada to procure management with the Bruce Allen talent agency where Randy Burgess replaced Hans on bass and vocals.

Their self-titled debut album was recorded at Ocean Sound in Vancouver by producer Pierre 'Baz' Bazinet and was mixed by notable rock producers Bob Rock and Mike Fraser. The album produced four singles with videos for "Never Give Up" and "Far From Over", and the band had good exposure by touring Canada opening for Glass Tiger. The band also opened for BOSTON on its final leg of the Third Stage tour… ending up in Seattle WA, the home of new lead singer David Forbes. David had crossed paths with both Mark Holden and Andrew Johns in unrelated circles and was a great fit for the band and brought his powerful voice to the "already vocal heavy" band. All members sang "live". In day of samplers and tape it was a surprise to hear this "studio" band actually sound better "live"..

By 1990, Boulevard had revised their lineup with Thom Christiansen on bass (formerly of Idle Eyes, later to play with Econoline Crush, Josh Kelly) and Randall Stoll on drums.(Randall later moving on to play with k.d. lang and Tom Cochrane. They recorded Into the Street at Venture Studios in Vancouver with John Punter and released two singles in Canada. The band broke up by 1991.

In 2013 singer David Forbes came back in the music scene taking part as guest to "Charming Grace", an AOR all star project founded by members of Shining Line and Wheels Of Fire, officially released the same year by Avenue Of Allies Music.

The band were invited to play at Firefest in 2014, and did a phenomenal concert, in front of many diehard fans. By many considered to be one of the finest concerts ever at Firefest.

Today the band are David Forbes (vocals), Dave Corman (guitars), Andrew Johns (keyboards), Mark Holden (saxophone), Randall Stoll (drums) and Cory Curtis (bass)

Discography

Albums

Singles

DVD's

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/9/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.