Jackson Hawke
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Tim Ryan, Bob Yeomans |
| Headquarters | Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Jackson Hawke was a Canadian pop rock ensemble primarily active between 1976 and 1978, recognized chiefly for the track "You Can't Dance," which gained international prominence through a cover by England Dan and John Ford Coley.
History
Formed in 1974 by Tim Ryan and Bob Yeomans—who had been collaborators since 1963 and were represented by Canadian promoter Bernie Finkelstein—Jackson Hawke hailed from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Prior to this, Ryan and Yeomans had performed together in the Canadian garage outfit The Amen.
The band's initial roster consisted of Ryan (lead vocals, guitar), Yeomans (guitar), Gene Falbo (bass), and Chris Castle (drums). Subsequent additions included guitarists Garry Holt and JP Hawkins, along with drummers Bob Clarke (formerly with The Amen) and Bucky Berger, who later joined acts such as Rough Trade, Chilliwack, and Raffi. Between 1976 and 1978, Jackson Hawke enjoyed considerable visibility in Canada, releasing two albums and three singles under CBS Records, while collaborating with Canadian publicist Gino Empry.
Their debut single in 1976 featured "You Can't Dance" paired with Van Morrison's "Into The Mystic." This song achieved global acclaim when England Dan and John Ford Coley covered it in 1978; Ricky Nelson also released a successful version. The 1977 single "Set Me Free" attained number 54 on Canadian charts and climbed to number 11 on Toronto’s CHUM Chart.
Tim Ryan maintained a solo career both before and following his time with Jackson Hawke. He represented Canada at the Tokyo World Song Festival in 1973 and received a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1984. Additionally, he found success composing commercial jingles.
In December 2007, members of The Amen and Jackson Hawke reunited for the "18 Forever" festival held in Sault Ste. Marie, honoring the city’s influential music scene from the 1960s.
Tim Ryan died at age 67 on June 2, 2016, in Toronto following heart surgery. Bob Yeomans passed away on January 22, 2022, in Sault Ste. Marie.
Discography
- 1976 Forever (CBS)
- 1977 Jackson Hawke (CBS)