The Stampeders
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Headquarters | Calgary , Canada |
Key people | Rich Dodson, Ronnie King, Kim Berly |
| Products | Rock music |
Number of employees | 3 (definitive trio) |
The Stampeders are a Canadian rock group that originated in Calgary, Alberta, in 1964, initially performing under the name the Rebounds. The definitive trio features lead guitarist and singer Rich Dodson, bassist Ronnie King, and drummer Kim Berly. Following multiple early personnel shifts and a move to Toronto in 1966, they solidified as a trio by 1968.
Their major success arrived in 1971 with the single "Sweet City Woman", penned by Dodson. This track climbed to No.1 on Canada's RPM charts, reached No.8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and achieved RIAA gold certification after selling one million units. That same year, The Stampeders earned Juno Awards for Best Group, Best Producer (Mel Shaw), and Best Composer (Dodson). They also secured U.S. distribution through Polydor Records.
By 1975, The Stampeders had completed extensive tours throughout the United States and made television appearances. Their 1976 single "Hit The Road Jack", featuring Wolfman Jack, peaked at No.40 on the U.S. Billboard chart. Throughout their career, they amassed seven top 10 hits in Canada.
Dodson exited the band in 1977; Berly and King brought in new musicians for the albums Platinum (1977) and Ballsy (1979). The group disbanded in 1980 but reunited in 1992 with the original lineup for a special performance at Calgary's Olympic Saddledome during the Calgary Stampede. In 1998, they released Sure Beats Working, which included fresh material alongside reimagined versions of earlier songs.
The Stampeders were honored with SOCAN's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 and received Classic Awards in 2015 for their songs "Monday Morning" and "Wild Eyes". They continue to perform at Canadian fairs, festivals, casinos, and theatres.
Original bassist Ronnie King passed away in March 2024 at age 76. Following his death, Dave Chabot joined as his successor, and the band remains active with live performances.
Band Members
- Current lineup
- Rich Dodson – guitars, vocals (1964–1977; July 1992–present)
- Kim Berly (Kimberly Meyer) – drums, vocals (1964–1978; July 1992–present)
- Dave Chabot – bass (April 2024–present)
- Former members
- Race Holiday (Al Meyer) – vocals (1964–late 1968)
- Len Roemer – guitars (1964–early 1965)
- Brendan Lyttle – bass (1964–late 1968)
- Ronnie King (Cornelius Vas Sprang) – guitars, vocals (early 1965–late 1968); bass, vocals (late 1968–1980; July 1992–March 4, 2024, his passing)
- Van Louis (Emil Van Sprang) – vocals (early 1965–late 1968)
- Doug Macaskill – guitars (1977–1978)
- Gary Scrutton – guitars, vocals (1977–1978)
- Ian Kojima – saxophones, flute (1977–1978)
- David Norris-Elye – saxophones (1977–1978)
- Gibby Lacasse – percussion, drums (1977–1978)
- Bob Allwood – guitars, vocals (1978–1980)
- Gary Storin – guitars, vocals (1978–1980)
- Roy Van Sprang – drums (1978–1980)
Timeline
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id:voc value:red legend:Vocals id:wi value:gray(0.5) legend:Wind_instruments id:g value:green legend:Guitars id:b value:blue legend:Bass id:dr value:orange legend:Drums id:alb value:black legend:Album id:bar value:gray(0.95)
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layer:back color:alb at:01/09/1970 at:01/07/1972 at:01/03/1973 at:01/10/1973 at:01/07/1974 at:01/07/1975 at:01/07/1976 at:01/09/1977 at:01/07/1979 at:01/07/1998
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Albums
| Year | Album Title | Chart Rankings | CRIA Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | US | |||
| 1971 | Against the Grain (known as Sweet City Woman in the United States) | 10 | 172 | Gold |
| Carryin' On | 16 | — | Gold | |
| 1973 | Rubes, Dudes & Rowdies | 15 | — | — |
| From the Fire | 12 | — | — | |
| 1974 | New Day | 23 | — | — |
| Backstage Pass | 33 | — | — | |
| 1975 | Steamin' | 22 | — | — |
| 1976 | Hit the Road | 15 | — | — |
| 1977 | Platinum | — | — | — |
| The Best of the Stampeders | — | — | Gold | |
| 1979 | "Ballsy" | "71" | "—" | "—" |
Singles
| Year | Single Title | CAN | CAN AC | CAN Country | AUS | Billboard Hot 100 (US) | Album |
|---|
See also
External links
- The Stampeders – Official site
- The Stampeders – Biography on CanadianBands.com
- Entry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- Stampeders at Discogs