The venture, not surprisingly, was less than successful and Bob King soon returned to his country roots. He enjoyed a brief stay as part of Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper’s Clinch Moun- tain Clan, performing on their daily radio show aired out of Wheeling, West Virginia. Then he returned to his home in Ottawa, signing a recording contract with Rodeo Records, which would yield a steady stream of hits records, including favourites like Hey Mam, Josephine, Let’s Make A Fair Trade and The All-Canadian Boy.
THE HAPPY WANDERERS In 1955, Ottawa-based promoter Ken Reynolds (1929-2011) invited Bob King to join a cross-Canada Wilf Carter tour that he was managing. When the tour ended Ken Reynolds was offered the position of Entertain- ment Manager at Ottawa radio station CFRA. The position required that Reynolds create a band to promote the radio station in the Ottawa Valley... The Happy Wanderers evolved, with original band members to include Bob King, Ward Allen (of Maple Sugar fiddle tune fame), “Papa” Joe Brown (who would later become patriarch of the Ottawa-based Family Brown act); the guitarists Ken Davidson and Vince Lebeau and emcee/square dance caller Ken Reynolds. Other members of The Happy Wanderers who would come and go during the group’s existence included Lynn Strauff, Wally Young, Joe Pino, Champ Johnson, fiddle legend Graham Townsend, and drum- mer Ron Sparling, who would later go on to perform and manage Family Brown, as well as own and operate the nationally-acclaimed Laurie Ann Entertainment Agency. For the next decade The Happy
Wanderers were a noon-hour staple for Ottawa Valley radio listeners. Most every segment of the show would open with a raucous version of the country standard Company’s Comin’ delivered infectiously by Bob King. In addition to their radio show The Happy Wanderers also performed at
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www.bounder.ca BOUNDER MAGAZINE 23
It’s Our Annual Music Edition
Coming this December Bounder will publish Our Annual Music Edition, full of great reading and fantastic photos.
For more info call Brian Warren 613.277.2257
Plus, all of our regulars will be back with their stories. Make sure you book your ad space early!
Advertising deadline… November 11th, 2016 Publishing date… December 2th, 2016
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