Kensington Market (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
Area served | Canada, United States |
Key people | Keith McKie, Gene Martynec, Alex Darou, Jimmy Watson, Luke Gibson, John Mills-Cockell |
| Products | Music albums, singles, film soundtrack |
Kensington Market, often referred to as The Market, was a rock ensemble originating from Toronto, active between 1967 and 1969. Taking its name from a well-known Toronto district, the group earned recognition for its "soft, poetic rock sound," exceptional instrumental skills, and as one of the pioneering Canadian rock acts to cultivate a unique style distinct from American and British influences.
History
The formation of the band included vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist Keith McKie; Gene Martynec, who played guitar and piano and previously belonged to Bobby Kris & The Imperials; bassist Alex Darou; drummer Jimmy Watson; and Luke Gibson, formerly the lead singer of Luke & The Apostles. McKie and Darou originated from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where they performed with The Vendettas, supporting notable groups such as The Everly Brothers and The Dave Clark Five.
In 1965, The Vendettas relocated to Toronto and sought an opportunity with Ronnie Hawkins, though no collaboration ensued. Darou briefly became part of David Clayton-Thomas's lineup. The band gained momentum through performances at local venues, attracting the interest of music entrepreneur Bernie Finkelstein (who would later establish True North Records). Finkelstein facilitated the creation of Kensington Market by recruiting Martynec and Watson, with Darou rejoining. Their inaugural performance took place at the Night Owl on Avenue Road in Toronto on 4 June 1967. The Toronto Star praised them as "the most brilliant and imaginative band ever assembled in Toronto."
During 1967, Kensington Market released four singles under Stone Records: "Bobby's Birthday," "I Would Be the One," "Mr. John," and "Kensington Market." The track "Mr. John" climbed to number 76 on RPM's Canadian Top 100 chart in September 1967.
They secured the opportunity to compose the soundtrack for Don Owen's 1967 film The Ernie Game, which also featured a song by Leonard Cohen. At the 1967 Mariposa Folk Festival, Kensington Market introduced electronic instruments to the event’s lineup. Their performance caught the attention of guitarist David Rea during an impromptu jam session; Rea then reached out to American producer Felix Pappalardi (Cream (band), The Youngbloods), who offered them a contract for two albums with Warner Bros.. Following this agreement, the band performed at New York’s The Bitter End, recorded their first album, and subsequently returned to Canada to support prominent acts such as Jefferson Airplane at McMaster University.
Avenue Road
In 1968, Warner Bros. reissued "I Would Be the One" alongside a new single titled "Speaking of Dreams." Both songs were included on their debut album, Avenue Road, which was unveiled at Warner Bros.' annual convention held in Honolulu. The album received widespread critical praise; Australian journalist Ritchie Yorke described it as "arguably the finest album ever produced by a Canadian group." It achieved a peak position of number 39 on the RPM charts.
During August 1968, Kensington Market embarked on a US tour, with "I Would Be The One" reaching number 59 on the RPM singles chart. Their itinerary featured a performance at San Francisco's Fillmore West, sharing the stage with artists like Chuck Berry and the Steve Miller Band. Unfortunately, this concert marked a downturn: their performance faltered, leading to a sharp decline in morale exacerbated by emerging drug-related issues. Sales for Avenue Road fell short of expectations, in part due to Warner Bros.' minimal promotional efforts, reportedly influenced by dissatisfaction with the album's cover art.
Aardvark
During the winter of 1968, Kensington Market commenced sessions for their sophomore album, now featuring new keyboardist John Mills-Cockell. Once again under the production guidance of Pappalardi, the album Aardvark was launched in 1969, accompanied by the singles "Witches Stone" and "Help Me". Despite this, the group struggled to maintain a clear artistic direction. Consequently, their manager Finkelstein ceased his support, and by spring 1969, Kensington Market had officially disbanded.
Post break-up
Following the group's breakup, Alex Darou reportedly withdrew from public life and tragically passed away from self-starvation in the early 1970s. Watson stepped away from the music industry entirely, whereas Mills-Cockell went on to establish the band Syrinx. Martynec enjoyed a prosperous solo career, collaborating with artists such as Lou Reed and earning the Juno Award for Producer of the Year in 1981 for his work on Bruce Cockburn’s "Tokyo" and Rough Trade's "High School Confidential". Gibson released his solo album Another Perfect Day in 1972. Meanwhile, McKie shifted his focus to boat-building and issued his album Rumours at the Newsstand in 1981.
Studio albums
- Avenue Road, 1968, Warner Bros. (CD reissue 2008, Pacemaker Entertainment)
- Aardvark, 1969, Warner Bros. (CD reissue 2008, Pacemaker Entertainment)
Singles
- "Bobby's Birthday", 1967, Stone Records
- "I Would be the One", 1967, Stone Records
- "Mr. John", 1967, Stone Records
- "Kensington Market", 1967, Stone Records
- "Speaking of Dreams", 1968, Warner Bros.
- "Witches Stone", 1969, Warner Bros.
- "Help Me", 1969, Warner Bros.