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| Denise McCann |
| Denise McCann was born on December 16, 1948 in the small midwestern town of Clinton, Iowa. Growing up in a musically inclined family she had her first taste of performing in the local church, like many a great diva. Her love of music and performing led to acting and singing in her high school drama department.
Upon graduation Denise up and moved to California to escape the harsh midwest winters and in pursuit of fame and fortune. Landing in southern California in 1967 she was inspired by the radical hippie movement. Her first job of note was as a backing vocalist at the first Monterey Pop Festival. For five years she struggled as a folk artist in the dingy coffeehouse circuit. By 1972 she had joined her first band, Cat Mother And The All Night News Boys. After two years of unsuccessful touring with the band she decide to move to Vancouver B.C. Her reasons for moving may have had to do with her offer to headline at the folk lounge, The Egress. Denise had taken to songwriting as an artistic outlet and to doing session and jingle work for additional income. She joined her second band during this period and toured extensively with the Vancouver rock band Hot Crackers. She was married to and divorced from former Chessman (Terry "Seasons In The Sun" Jacks and former lead of The Poppy Family's old band) Guy Sobell. By 1975 Denise had made a local name for herself and established some inside contacts. This led to a record deal on Polydor, McCann released an unsuccessful rock single in 1976 called "It Still Hurts." A Polydor sales rep recognized the potential of another tune McCann had written, called "Tattoo Man," and suggested she rework it from a rock tune to a disco number. "Tattoo Man" was a huge club hit, while radio and press dubbed McCann the Disco Queen after the record pioneered the Canadian disco movement with a Top 20 showing on the charts. In the U.S. the record went to number one in some cities and had an overall showing of number ten on the club-play singles list. The original 12" single was released on Polydor but an up and coming label purchased the single and tracks for American distribution. The Butterfly released album was pressed on blue vinyl and featured a remix of "Tattoo Man." Her Canadian follow-up, "I Don't Wanna Forget You," was also a nominal success for the Polydor label. It hit number 25 on Billboard's club-play singles list here in the States and propelled sales of the album. Her American follow-up was "Midnight Madness." The Butterfly 12" single was released as a promo-only item. Perhaps that move caused it's quick demise as a club track? |
| Her 1979 follow-up, "I Have Destiny," was also a treat. As with all Butterfly Records releases it was pressed on lively red vinyl. The 12" single of the title track backed with "I Like The Look" was her lowest charter. The album peaked at number 54 on Billboard's LP charts and quickly disappeared. The album, in retrospect, has some very fine material. Of particular note is the "Falling In Love Again Suite" ("Falling In Love Again"; Computer Breakdown"; "Can't Help Myself"; "The Boys In The Backroom" and "Falling In Love Again (Reprise).")
Despite it's red vinyl and her prior success, the album didn't sustain her American career, it was coming to an end. |
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| In an attempt to shed the 'disco' tag she had acquired, McCann became the first vocalist for former Chilliwack member Brian McCloud's hard rock outfit The Headpins. By the time the group finally landed a record deal Denise had been replaced by Darby Mills. She then put together her own touring band called Denise McCann And The Dead Marines. Denise picks up the story here: "Randy Bachman and I met for the first time on stage at the legendary Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver just before Christmas, 1981, we were both there to perform at a charilty fundraiser for the children's empty stocking fund. I was singing with my last band, The Night Train Revue, a Motown tribute band. I did all the Martha Reeves and Supremes tunes, etc., Kenny McColl did all the guy tunes like Marvin Gaye and Smoky Robinson stuff." The two fell in love and married in 1982. The happy couple still live in British Columbia. Having exchanged e-mails with Denise she also shared the following information with me: "I have written a number of songs with Randy, we've been married now over 20 years and often go on songwriting trips together, to work with other writers all over the world, including recently to England and Sweden. We still perform together on occasion, I duoed with him in July 2003 at some folk festivals in Sudbury and Fort Erie (Niagara Falls) Ontario." Denise also wrote: "So where did you get the autographed copy of Tattoo Man? Well do I remember spending many a cramped hour signing dozens and dozens of those to be sent to radio and club DJs all over the U.S. - were you one of those? I currently have a chick band (well, considering our ages, more like an old hen band) playing celtic-style music as well as originals. We are called Rose Hip Jam and our website is www.rosehipjam.com if you'd like to hear some song bites. Oh, and by the way, I don't play the viola. I did notice the odd coincidence of another professional musician who shares my name, but alas, it's not me. I only play guitar, mandolin, bodhran, hurdy-gurdy, mountain dulcimer and piano. No stringed instruments! Thanks for including me in your museum, it's nice to know that some people still remember my music. I have a few other hobbies, as you will note in my signature... " Denise McCann Beck www.rosehipjam.com Basketmaker, songwriter, gardener, willow grower British Columbia We're so proud and happy to include such a classy lady in The DiscoMuseum. Our thanks to her for the great songs, the autographed album and the e-mails. Our best to her in the future! |
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