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Rocky Wiseman |
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Name: |
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Rocky Wiseman |
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rockywiseman@yahoo.ca |
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Email: |
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Rocky's Music Page |
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Click here to link to a page of musical samples of Rocky's work.... |
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portrait by Rostotski Photo
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Drummer |
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Intro: |
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Other than regular groups, Rocky played with many other artists and projects. Among them: Bo Diddly, Big Mama Thorton (orig. Hound Dog), Valdy, Kathrine MacKinnon, Dinah Kristy, Joyce Hahn, Marina Piccinini (N.Y. Floutist), John Nugent, Jeff Johnson, Mary Lou Collins, Peter Palmer and Mary Lou Farrell, Jimmy Thompson, Anna McGoldrick, Wray Downes (Jazz Piano, Toronto), Skip Beckwith, Don Palmer, Harry Hibbs, Joan Morrissey, Cory & Trina, John White, Avril Baker, Bruce Moss, Sanderlings, MUN Choir with Don Cooke, Cantebury Singers, Ralph Walker and Buddy Wasisname. Studio work included albums for Phyllis Morrissey, Peter Narvaez, Square Penny and WGB.
CBC was second home to Rocky for a number of years. Some of the shows included: Nightcap and Tonight at 8 with Joan Morrissey and Hockey Night in Canada's Bob Cole doing M.C.chores, Up and Coming, Back Home Again, Newfoundland Country, Kinda Kountry, Canadian Express, Points East-West, Up at Ours (Mary Walsh), Beth, Come All Ye, Songs We Sang, Step to Stardom, Shirley Newhook, Soiree 88, Jacinta Cormier plus a number of TV specials such as: Christmas, Easter, Valentine, St. Patrick's Day and Janeway Telethons. Jingles were also included in the busy schedule but to a lesser degree. Kim Stockwood, Rene Marquis, Bob MacDonald and Anne Devine were the performers. Rocky was also involved in church music. He was a regular member of the band at the Worship Center, St. John's, where he met the group, Square Penny from Ireland. Besides the Worship Center, they played as guest musicians for the Harvesters, Full Gospel Business Men's and other meetings across Newfoundland and Labrador. |
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Born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland, Rocky was turned on to Rythym and Blues in the early 1950's, through the Armed Forces radio station VOUS at Pepperrell Airforce Base. At the same time, the great Alan Freed hosted a show on WINS radio in New York that could be picked up on the old family Zenith radio with ease. Rocky became a faithful listener and from that moment on decided that music would be his life's path. |
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Influences |
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Many artists have had a strong influence in Rocky's musical career. First and foremost, drummer, Earl Palmer and producer, composer and arranger, Dave Bartholomew. Others would include Little Richard, Fats Domino, Nappy Brown, Larry Williams, Clyde McPhatter, The Spiders, Don and Dewy, Plil Upchurch, Hughy Smith, Bill Doggett, Ike and Tina, Jimmy Smith, Doug Riley and vocalists from Sun Records.. |
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His Start |
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A visit to radio station VOCM brought Rocky face to face with a new group called The Ravens, who were rehearsing for an upcoming gig. Curiosity got the better of him and he asked if he could sit in with them. Something must have gotten their attention because a few weeks later Rocky was invited to join the group as their drummer. The Ravens eventually became one of the hottest groups in Newfoundland, especially on the American Bases.
TV and record companys began showing an interest in the group. Following lead singer Paul Ryan's move to the U.S., the group recorded Young Blood with lead vocalist Paul Rumsey. They appeared on CBC's Frank's Bandstand, a national tv show aired in Halifax, N.S. They also received an honorable mention in J.R Smallwood's book of Newfoundland. |
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A move to Edmonton, Alberta, in 1993 brought a whole new musical scene into Rocky's life. Very soon calls were coming in to play Jazz, Blues, Newfie, Gospel and choir music. He is presently a member of Rollanda Lee's High Society Dixieland Band. During time off from this group, he finds time to play with some of the top Edmonton artists. Among them are Dianne Donovan, Sue Moss, Maureen O'Shaugnessy, Kennedy Jensen, Rhonda Withnal, Elsie Osbourne, Audri Kairen, Sheryl Fisher, Sherry Somerville, Brian Chan, Barbara Leah Moyer and instrumentalist such as P.J. Perry, Amos Garrett, Colin Linden, Richard Bell (former keyboard player for Janis Joplin), Charlie Austin, Bill Emes, Andrew Glover, Bob Tildsley, Bob Cairns, Jim Head, Mike Rud, Dave Babcock, Kent Sangster, Mike Lent (bassist for K.D. Lang), John MacPherson (Edmonton symphony), John Taylor (Edmonton symphony), Bob Miller (Tommy Bank's Band) Earl Seymoure and Gary Boweman. |
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Movin on |
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Following The Ravens demise, Rocky went on as drummer for many other groups. These included such groups as: Ollie Smith Trio, Sons of Music (Glen Greening), Greenback (Alec Wells), Haywire (Race Hanlon), Don Butler Trio, Rick Hollett, Minnie White, Gunther (Jim Oulton),
Wonderful Grand Band (a founding member), the 1981 Apache award-winning group, Island Jazz (Jeff Dyer), Bob MacDonald Band, Jim Duff Big Band, Ed Goff Band and The Newfoundland Symphony and Paul Bradbury. |
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Some regular venues for Rocky are The International Jazz Festival, accompanying Grant MacEwan music students, Talk of the Rock (Bob Porter), and Spirit of the Atlantic (Barry Davis and Mel Petite). He also recorded with a Columbian choir called Nufsed, Spirit of the Atlantic and Talk of the Rock. |
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My Favorite Links: |
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My Current Favourite Album: |
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You are visitor # |
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Spirit of the Atlantic |
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"Goin' Up Yonder"
The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir |
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Sandy Morris Music |
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