Copperpenny
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada |
| Founder | Kenny Hollis, Rich Wamil |
| Defunct | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Kitchener , Canada |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Copperpenny was a rock group originating from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, established in 1965 by Kenny Hollis and Rich Wamil. The band initially operated under the name Penny Farthings, a nod to the British Invasion, but soon rebranded as Copperpenny, taking inspiration from a B-side track by Toronto’s The Paupers.
Their 1968 release "Nice Girl" on Columbia Records achieved moderate recognition. After transitioning to RCA, they scored a minor hit with "Stop (Wait A Minute)." Their breakthrough occurred under Sweet Plum Records, a subsidiary of London Records, where "You're Still The One" marked their first significant chart success. The subsequent 1973 single, "Sitting on a Poor Man's Throne," was produced in Dearborn, Michigan with the assistance of producer Richard Becker.
Copperpenny toured extensively in the United States, sharing stages with prominent artists such as Led Zeppelin, Bob Seger, The Guess Who, and Uriah Heep. In 1975, they secured a deal with Capitol Records and made television appearances on programs like "Keith Hampshire's Music Machine," which notably helped launch the career of magician Doug Henning.
During this era, singles including "Disco Queen," "Good Time Sally," and "Suspicious Love" maintained their visibility. They supported the Fuse album through a Canadian tour as the opening act for Swedish group Blue Swede, featuring Mark Stephen Gendel on guitar, Bill Mair on bass, and Jim Minas on drums.
By the time Fuse was released, most founding members had exited. Rich Wamil continued performing under the name Rich Wamil & Copperpenny until the band ultimately disbanded in 1978.
Co-founder Kenny Hollis embarked on a solo path with the single "Goin' Hollywood" and later served as PR manager at Lulu's Roadhouse in Kitchener, Ontario. Throughout the 1980s, Hollis organized several reunion concerts for Copperpenny before his passing in 2002.
Ron Hiller joined the Toronto-based gospel ensemble Sonlight between 1979 and 1981 before establishing himself as a full-time children’s performer and educator under the moniker RONNO starting in 1989.
Band members
circa 1968-1969
- Rich Wamil – vocals, keyboards
- Kenny Hollis – vocals
- Vern McDonald – guitar
- Paul Reibling – bass
- Bert Hamer – drums
1970 to 1972
- Rich Wamil – vocals, keyboards
- Kenny Hollis – vocals
- Bill Mononen – guitar
- Bill (Dal) Dalrymple – bass
- Blake Barrett – drums, percussion
- Wayne Evans – bass
- Brad Fowles – drums
1973
- Rich Wamil – vocals, keyboards
- Kenny Hollis – vocals
- Bill Mononen – guitar
- Ron Hiller – bass
- Blake Barrett – drums, percussion
1975
- Rich Wamil – vocals, keyboards
- Brian Russell – guitar
- Al Mix – guitar
- Paul Zaza – bass
- Barry Keane – drums
- Eric Robertson – keyboards
1975 (Touring Band)
- Rich Wamil – vocals, keyboards & guitar
- Mark Stephen Gendel – guitar
- Bill Mair – bass & vocals
- Jim Minas – drums & vocals
Donald K. Donald Tour Schedule (1975) BLUE SWEDE (Blablus) & Copperpenny - Capitol Records May 2–24: Various venues throughout NB, PEI, NS, and ON including Lord Beaverbrook Arena (Saint John), Halifax Forum, Ontario Place (Toronto), and Key to Bala (Bala).
Albums
| Year | Album Name | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Copperpenny | RCA Victor |
| 1973 | Sitting on a Poor Man's Throne | Sweet Plum |
| 1975 | Fuse | Capitol Records |
Singles
| Year | Song Title | Canadian Chart Ranking | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | "Beezel Bug" | — | Not Applicable |
| 1968 | "Nice Girl" | 77 | Not Applicable |
| 1968 | "Baby Gives Me Everything" | — | Not Applicable |
| 1969 | "Just a Sweet Little Thing" | — | Not Applicable |
| 1970 | "Stop (Wait a Minute)" | 67 | Copperpenny |
| 1972 | "You're Still the One" | 26 | Not Applicable |
| 1972 | "Call Me" | — | Not Applicable |
| 1973 | "Sitting on a Poor Man's Throne" | 14 | Sitting on a Poor Man's Throne |
| 1973 | "Rock 'n' Roll Boogie Woogie and Wine" | 62 | Not Applicable |
| 1973 | "Where Is the Answer" | 76 | Not Applicable |
| 1974 | "Help Your Brother" | 82 | Not Applicable |
| 1974 | "Summertime" | — | Not Applicable |
| 1975 | "Disco Queen" | 56 | Fuse |
| 1975 | "Good Time Sally" | 67 | Fuse |
| 1975 | "Suspicious Love" | 49 | Fuse |
| 1975 | "Going Down to Miami" | — | Fuse |
| 1975 | "Run Rudolph Run" | — | Not Applicable |
| 1976 | "I Love You" | — | Not Applicable |
Note: A dash (—) indicates that the single did not chart or was not issued in Canada.
External links
- Copperpenny Music – the most detailed resource dedicated to the band from Kitchener.
- Copperpenny at Jam!/The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia