The Churls

Canadian rock band formed 1967 in Toronto, Ontario by Robert O' Neill (vocals), Sam Hurrie (guitar), Hal Ames (guitar), John Barr (bass), and Brad Fowles (drums). By that summer they were one of the hottest bands on the Yorkville scene and they signed that winter to Glotzer and Katz Management, the same people who managed Blood Sweat & Tears. They were encouraged to play the US and spent much of early 1968 playing in New York as the houseband at both Cafe a Go-Go and The Scene, where they notably received encouragement from John Lennon and Paul McCartney and jammed onstage with Jimi Hendrix. They then headed west to Hollywood and caught the attention of A&M Records, where they recorded their self-titled debut featuring cameos from The Tijuana Brass and Leigh Ashford keyboardist Newton Garwood. The album was released in the fall of 1968 and they toured for a few months on both sides of the border then returned to A&M's Hollywood studio to record their follow up album in the summer of '69. Garwood guested on the album again and this time also co-wrote some of the material but friction between the band and label ultimately resulted in A&M dropping them. The band returned to Toronto in early 1970 and continued touring for a few months before dissolving.