Boulevard (Canadian band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Calgary, Canada |
| Founder | Mark Holden |
| Headquarters | Calgary (original), Vancouver (after 1988) , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles, DVDs |
Boulevard is a Canadian musical group, initially known as Blvd, established in 1983 in Calgary by Mark Holden, who played saxophone and provided vocals. After producing two studio albums, the band dissolved in 1991. They reunited in 2014 and appeared at Firefest in Nottingham, England. Their third studio album was released in September 2017.
History
In 1983, saxophonist Mark Holden co-founded Thunder Road Studio in Calgary and launched a studio project named Modern Minds. The following year, keyboardist and lead singer Andrew Johns joined the ensemble. The band’s lineup featured Randy Gould on guitar, Jerry Adolphe on drums, Hans Sahlen handling bass duties, lead vocalist David Forbes, and Holden on saxophone.
That same year, they secured a contract with CBS Records and recorded the single "Rainy Day In London" in Germany. This track achieved a peak position of No. 45 on the charts across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Additionally, their song "Far From Over" was included on a compilation associated with Ronny's Pop Show.
Boulevard remained Calgary-based until 1988 when they signed with MCA Records and moved to Vancouver to collaborate with the Bruce Allen talent agency. At this point, Randy Burgess replaced Hans Sahlen on bass.
In 1988, the band recorded their first album, BLVD., at Ocean Sound Studios in Vancouver with producer Pierre 'Baz' Bazinet; mixing was handled by Bob Rock and Mike Fraser. The album yielded four singles, including "Never Give Up" and "Far From Over," supported by Canadian tours opening for Glass Tiger and Boston.
By 1990, the group’s lineup shifted to include Thom Christiansen on bass and Randall Stoll on drums. They produced Into the Street at Venture Studios under John Punter’s production and released two singles domestically before disbanding in 1991.
Boulevard reassembled in 2013 to perform at Firefest 2014 in Nottingham, which reignited international interest among fans. This resurgence inspired them to revisit unreleased recordings and create new material for an upcoming album.
On February 27, 2015, they recorded the DVD Boulevard - Live from Gastown in Vancouver. This release featured their Canadian top 40 hits alongside previously unperformed songs. The lineup at this time included Holden, Stoll, Forbes, Johns, Corey Curtis on bass, and David Corman on guitar.
On July 16, 2017, operating under the name 'Boulevard IV', they released the single "Life Is A Beautiful Thing," followed by the full-length album Luminescence on September 22, 2017.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Boulevard participated in remote performances aimed at raising funds for Food Banks Canada.
Discography
Albums
- Blvd (1988), MCA Records
- Into the Street (1990), MCA Records
- IV: Luminescence (2017), MelodicRock Records
Singles
- "Rainy Day in London" (1984)
- "In the Twilight" (1988)
- "Never Give Up" (1988) CAN No. 23
- "Far From Over" (1988) CAN No. 26
- "Dream On" (1988) CAN No. 31
- "Lead Me On" (1990) CAN No. 21
- "Crazy Life" (1990) CAN No. 47
- "Need You Tonight" (1990)
- "Ready to Let Go" (2025)
DVDs
- Live from Gastown (2015), Rocktopia Records