Jerry Edmonton Explained

Jerry Edmonton
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth Name:Gerald McCrohan
Birth Date:24 October 1946
Birth Place:Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Occupation:Musician
Years Active:1964–1993
Associated Acts:Steppenwolf
The Sparrows
Manbeast
Green Wheels
Steel Rose

Gerald Michael Edmonton (born Gerald McCrohan, October 24, 1946 – November 28, 1993) was a Canadian musician who was the drummer and secondary lead vocalist for the rock band Steppenwolf.[1] [2]

Early life and career

Edmonton was born in Oshawa, Ontario. Both his brother Dennis, also known as Mars Bonfire, and he changed their surnames to Edmonton during the 1960s, when they performed in a group called The Sparrows.[3] John Kay and Goldy McJohn joined this group in Toronto in 1965 and, after some more changes in personnel and relocating to California, the group was renamed Steppenwolf.[4]

When Steppenwolf temporarily broke up on February 14, 1972, Edmonton and Steppenwolf organist Goldy McJohn formed the band Seven with singer Lance Gullickson and guitarist Robin Huff. After Seven, Edmonton, and McJohn formed Manbeast with Rod Prince and Roy Cox of Bubble Puppy before Steppenwolf reconvened in 1974 for three albums before breaking up again in 1976.

Personal life

Edmonton married former Steppenwolf bandmate Andy Chapin's widow in the 1980s. Edmonton died in a car accident, crashing into a tree after failing to manoeuvre a turn, in Santa Ynez, California, on November 28, 1993.

Discography

Studio albums!Name!Year
Presenting Jack London & The Sparrows1965
Steppenwolf1968
The Second1968
John Kay & The Sparrow1969
At Your Birthday Party1969
Monster1969
Steppenwolf 71970
For Ladies Only1971
Slow Flux1974
Hour of the Wolf1975
Skullduggery1976
Live albums!Name!Year
Early Steppenwolf1969
Steppenwolf Live1970
Compilations!Name!Year
1971
Rest In Peace1972
16 Greatest Hits1973
The ABC Collection1976
Reborn To Be Wild1976
Born to be Wild – A Retrospective1991
All Time Greatest Hits1999
2000
Steppenwolf Gold2005
Singles
Release dateA-sideB-sideUS Billboard Hot 100 peakUK Singles Chart peak
1967"A Girl I Knew" (Kay/Cavett)"The Ostrich" (Kay)
1968"Born to Be Wild" (Bonfire)"Everybody's Next One" (Kay/Mekler)
  1. 2
  1. 30
1968"Sookie Sookie" (Covay/Cropper)"Take What You Need" (Kay/Mekler)
1968"Magic Carpet Ride" (Moreve/Kay)"Sookie Sookie" (Covay/Cropper)
  1. 3
1969"Rock Me" (Kay)"Jupiter Child" (Monarch/Kay/Edmonton)
  1. 10
1969"It's Never Too Late" (St. Nicholas/Kay)"Happy Birthday" (Mekler)
  1. 51
1969"Move Over" (Kay/Mekler)"Power Play" (Kay)
  1. 31
1969"Monster" (Kay/Edmonton/St. Nicholas/Byrom)"Berry Rides Again" (Kay)
  1. 39
1970"Hey Lawdy Mama" (Kay/Byrom/Edmonton)"Twisted" (Kay)
  1. 35
1970"Screaming Night Hog" (Kay)"Spiritual Fantasy" (Kay)
  1. 62
1970"Who Needs Ya" (Byrom/Kay)"Earschplittenloudenboomer" (Byrom)
  1. 54
1970"Snowblind Friend" (Axton)"Hippo Stomp" (Byrom/Kay)
1971"Ride With Me" (Bonfire)"For Madmen Only"
  1. 52
1971"For Ladies Only" (Edmonton/Henry/Kay/McJohn)"Sparkle Eyes" (Biondo/Kay)
  1. 64
1974"Straight Shootin' Woman" (Edmonton)"Justice Don't Be Slow" (Kay/Richie)
  1. 29
1975"Get Into The Wind" (Cochran/Van Beek)"Morning Blue" (Biondo)
1975"Smokey Factory Blues" (Hammond/Hazlewood)"A Fool's Fantasy" (McJohn)
1975"Caroline (Are You Ready)" (Bonfire)"Angeldrawers"
1979"Brand New Key"
1984"Good That You're Gone"

Notes and References

  1. Book: Talevski, Nick.. 151. 2006. Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. Omnibus Press. 1-84609-091-1.
  2. Web site: Canadian Goldy McJohn, founding member of Steppenwolf, has died at 72 . National Post. October 3, 2018.
  3. Web site: After 40 years, song still gets your motor running . The Star . October 3, 2018.
  4. Web site: The Story Behind Steppenwolf's 'Magic Carpet Ride' . Wall Street Journal . October 3, 2018.