Another band from Sault Ste Marie are (Those) Rogues, who have a fine and rare double-sider on Algoma, “Wish I Could See You Again” / “Girl”.
Members were Bryan Primeau organ and vocals, Rick Rogers guitar, Terry Davey on saxophone, Harvey Bell on bass and Mike Jargan on drums. Terry Davey left the group sometime before they recorded their 45.
In 1963 or ’64, the group recorded a whole LP worth of songs in John Holt’s basement. John Holt had about 10 acetate copies without covers made from the tape, some of which were used for promotion. Any copies John Holt had of this were lost in a house fire, and both Bryan and Terry have lost their copies. Does anyone have this lost artifact of Soo rock n’ roll?
Ivan Amirault explained to me: “The Rogues changed their name to (Those) Rogues, because at the time Mandala used to call themselves the Five Rogues.”
The single was recorded at Arc Studios in Toronto on February 26, 1967 (I’m not positive on the year), with Marshall Shapiro engineering the session. The label lists the address as Case Road. As with the Amen’s 45 the producer is John Holt, but no songwriting credits are listed. As Bryan’s son Joel mentions in the comment below, his father was the songwriter for the group for the 45.
At this point the band was regularly playing at the Sundown Room, though I’m not sure if that was in Sault Ste Marie or elsewhere in Ontario.
Notable in the article below is when Bryan describes the feeling of playing in front of an audience: “It’s like going to an LSD party, without the LSD”!
Joe Spina, program director at Cambrian College in 1966 and 1967 sent me a number of cool photos of the Rogues, some with Debbie Lori Kaye.
Thanks to Ed Nadorozy who sent in scans of the newspaper clipping and the smaller photos, and to Ivan Amirault who interviewed the late John Holt and provided me with info on their acetate and about their name change. Thank you to Joe Spina for photos of the Rogues on stage and with Debbie Lori Kaye.
Terry Davey spoke to me about the early days of the group:
The Rogues started their career playing in the Moose Hall in Thessalon in the very early 60’s. The Fireflies gave us a break to fill their spot at the Peppermint Hall in the Soo as they were taking a trip. We played there and then moved across Queen Street to play at the former Knights of Columbus Hall. As I remember we were the last group to play at the Peppermint Hall. The Fireflies had just moved their equipment into the hall when it burned down.
When I was with the Rogues we made an LP with the help of John Holt. John Holt managed the entire thing. I believe it got a little air time at CKCY radio and possibly CJIC, but hey, that was the early 60’s. I had one copy and all the other band members had a copy.
When the Rogues decided to go to Toronto I decided to stick with my job at Algoma Steel. It was a good choice!
That is me on the sax in the photo. I am not that tall. I was standing on the rails of the barstools.
Some years later I also started a group called the Bishops Court Trio with Ed Shire and Jerry Pennet. We played at the Algonquin Hotel and also the Black Knight and other places.
Is Harvey Bell still alive? He was Chief of the Ojibwa tribe for some time.
My son Kevin Davey, formally of the Soo, is making a real name for himself in Canadian music. I had taught him guitar and bass many years ago and now he really makes me proud. He now lives in Vancouver, B.C.
I am currently playing sax, sometimes bass and guitar, in our church’s Prase and Worship group.
Update May 2019: Terrence J. “Terry” Davey passed away on April 5, 2019 in Florida. See comment below for more information on Terry’s life. Thank you to Rose Davey for writing to me with this information and for sending some of the photos seen here. Thanks also to Al McGrath for help with identifying some of the musicians in the photo of the Dimensions.
After the Rogues, my dad went on the road and joined a travelling band which included Cal McQuiggan and ‘The Changes’and went all over Ontario playing for a short while. He came back into town and joind Louis Cormier and the Acadians and then after that, ‘The Sound of Evolution’ in 1970. In 1972, he joined ‘The Flipside’ and soon after that, ‘Black Dirt Road’ with Dave Leblanc and Ron Robinson. The next band that was formed was ‘Seafox’ and included Jerry Burns and Ron Clarke, and when Jerry left, Don cooke joined. ‘Seafox’ played at the “in” spot intown, at a bar called McClenaghans.
He continued playing part time after mcclehans closed in 1980(?) until about 2003.
A copy of this 45 just sold for an astounding $2,300!
my father wrote those songs. he was the keyboard player and background vocals in the band
Can you tell us anything more about the band? Who were the other members? Did you father stay in music? Any photos from this time?
Thanks!
Hi everyone. I am Terry Davey, founder of the Rogues. I was also the sax player. I did not go on the road with the Rogues as I did not want to leave my job at Algoma Steel. I am now retired, 65 years old and playing sax in a Pentecostal band in Florida. I played in numerous local bands (Salt Ste Marie). God is good….all the time. 🙂
Debbie Lori Kaye had a couple 45rpm releases here in the US, on the Columbia label.
A great girl group styled/sound 45: “The Iron Cross”
MopTopMike
Actually the early Rogues recorded an LP record back in 1963/64 with several original songs on it that each one of us wrote. It too was recorded under the administration of John Holt. (Algoma Productions). If anyone still has a copy of it and could burn it on to CD I would gladly pay for it. One of the song on it that I wrote was ‘Not Made Of Wood’.
One of my memories of the 60’s is when I and the Rogues were asked to play as a support band along side Bobby Curtola.
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/BobbyCurtola.html
We were all excited as we began to unload our equipment at the Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie. Bobby had made it in the big time but none of us had any idea of what he looked like. Anyway as we were carrying our amps, etc to the stage a young man asked if he could help so I offered him a few dollars and he worked like a Trojan. When we had all finished I thanked him and told him I was the leader of the Rogues. He introduced himself to me as Bobby Curtola!!!
A disk jockey from CKCY asked me if his daughter could sing in our band and I said she could come to a practice. When we first met her I was amazed at this wonderful voice coming form such a small lady. She was about 5′-0″….but could she sing!
While she was with us we played in some very large places such as the Sudbury arena, the Soo Gardens and the Lakehead arena as some examples.
After about a year or so she left us to sing on the CBC Tommy Hunter show.
“Wish I Could See You Again” is easily at the top of my list of “greatest 60s garage songs of all time” – what an INCREDIBLE song.
I had no idea this was a Canadian band – what a pleasant surprise!
My son informs me that there was a person appearing as me at the Rock and Roll Revival held in Sault Ste. Marie on the 8th of December/07.
I would like to assure everyone reading here that it most certainly was not me as I could not afford the fuel to run my private jet. 🙂
In any event, I was already booked for that same weekend here in Florida.
terrydavey@hotmail.com
Terry Davey is quoted as asking about Harvey Bell. I live on Manitoulin Island and there’s a Harvey Bell in Wikwemikong well-known for his drumming (First Nations). I don’t know his age so can’t confirm if he’s the Harvey Bell in the Rogues Photos. It may be a strong possibility though.
Harvy is alive and doing well. He is on the Garden River council and is one of the most respected elders there. He is still as quiet as ever, until he has to give a speech or presentation.
I am so happy to know that Harvy is doing well. I respect him very much. His old friend, Terry Davey.
Dennis MacGregor, Guitar Player for the Rogues when they went on the road, passed away peacefully at the Sault Area Hospital with his family by his side on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 in his 67th year. Beloved husband of 43 years to Rose. Loving father of Samantha MacGregor (Todd Mitchell) and Sarah MacGregor (Joachim Toelke). Proud Morfar of Emma, Meghan and Soren. Dear brother of Sandra Ordiway (John), Janice MacGregor and Marion Caple. Dennis will be sadly missed by his mother Eileen MacGregor (late James) and by his aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Friday, November 18, 2011 from 11 am until time of the memorial service in the chapel at 1 pm. Mrs. Helen Smith officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Parkinson’s Society would be appreciated by the family. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at http://www.arthurfuneralhome.com.
Hello Mr. Davey
do you know where Rick Rogers is? He is my uncle I believe. thank you
Jennifer Morrison
Rick Rogers is alive and well and still lives in the Soo.
Hi – is there any contact details for Rick please – trying to locate members of the band – thankyou 🙂
Hi I was wondering if Mike Jargon is still with us ??
Hi Warren Parker here . I was a DJ on CKCY in 1968/1968 aka Warren J
Worked with Dave Carter ,Harry Wolfe ,Ronald Thomas Robinson
J Lee Smith , Russ Hilderly and many others . I knew and worked with
John Holt and did location recordings for CKCY . Sorry to hear of his passing
Norman Blakely was competion on CJIC
Norman worked in Niagara and passed away a few years back
I believe it was the summer of 1967 while I was at CJNR Blind River
we put on a teen dance in Elliot Lake with Those Rogues
The 45 was out and it got a lot of airplay promoting the dance .
Still have my cherished copy
Gone are the Great days of AM radio …Gone is 920 and 1050
730 and 1340 in Blind River /Elliot Lake
Glad to read news of a great era in the Soo
Terrence J “Terry” Davey of Homosassa, Florida, passed away April 5, 2019, at Seven Rivers Hospital in Crystal River, Florida.
Terry was born November 2, 1942 in Cornwall, England to Edwin and Peggy (Trembath) Davey. He moved from Canada to Homosassa, in 2001. He was a retired Metallurgist in the Steel Industry. Terry was a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church in Crystal River, Florida.
Survived by his wife, Linda Rose Davey, also his children, Christine, Kevin, and Collin Davey. Three grandchildren, Michael, Julia, and Andrew.
His brother, Gary and wife Kathy, and two sisters, Patritia Steadman, and Annette Gagnon.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 1st Assembly of God in Crystal River, 11:AM until Service time at 1:PM.
Burial will follow at Hills of Rest Cemetery at Floral City, FL.
I am stunned! in going thru my archive boxes, I have some key fotos, and copy of the 45rpm ..but until i found this site, I could not remember the band names. As a promoter/mgr from the (now) Cambrian College in 1966-7, I booked the ‘hwy 17E’ venues for the Rogues with Debbi Lori Kaye. happy to post fotos, if this 74yr old knew how…also worked at CJIC 1967-70. I live in Brampton and have lived/worked here since university in 1973.
Also another band I mgr. ‘The Sound Sett’. all students from the college, and N. Ont.
Hello Joe Spina,
I am Rose, Terry Davey’s widow. I would love to see any of your photos of the Rogues. I hope you can get someone to help you post a few.
Hi Rose – hope you are good – I am writing to find out if it would be possible to reissue this beauty of a 45 over here in the UK – don’t know how people know it here, but we would love to make sure the memory carries on and reaches a new audience!
Do you think it would be possible?
It would be on lovely heavy black vinyl on our label – Solution Records http://www.solutionrecords.co.uk
Many thanks, Adam & Paul
Hi Adam. Just by chance, and because I love to reminisce, I came to reread about my dear Terry Davey again. I’m seeing your question about the record. Terry lost his copy in his move from Canada to Florida. I for one, would love to have a copy. I do not know for sure who you would need to get permission from, or even if you need to.
I do hope you are successful in a reissue.
Sincerely,
Rose Davey
Hi – trying to locate any members of the band – just been turned onto the 45 and love it!