by Richard Skelly » Fri Feb 09, 2018 1:02 am
Good old Quality Records. Not content to simply be a “shadow label” like REO, releasing US hits of the day from American indies, Quality committed to signing and/or distributing domestic artists. The Guess Who? (aka Chad Allan and The Expressions then Reflections) was the most famous Quality deal. Plenty of second-tier acts followed, including The Jury, a beloved Garage-rock band from Winnipeg.
Emerging from the cringeworthy-named Chord U Roys, Terry Kenny (lead guitar), Bruce Walker (vocals) and Ray Stockwell (drums) linked with Roland Blaquiere (bass) and George Johns (rhythm guitar) to form The Jury. Initially, they released singles on London Records. By 1966, when Quality came calling, drummer Stockwell was gone...replaced by Kenny Hordichuk. Please Forget Her got released in the US on the Port label, an imprint of New York-based Jay-Gee Records.
No evidence on Google that The Jury worked the single with American concerts. But it’s quite possible the boys emulated The Guess Who by performing in nearby states like North Dakota and Minnesota. Along the way, they opened concerts for Johnny Cash, Peter & Gordon and Manfred Mann, to name a few. On the skillfully presented montage for this YouTube play, it’s obvious The Jury reassembled for at least one ‘Peg Rock reunion—the one attended by Neil Young who sits with a Jury member in a photo.
Post-Jury, second guitarist George Johns seems to have the biggest profile. Hanging up the six-string, he switched to radio. After stints at CKY Winnipeg, CKOM Saskatoon, CKSO Sudbury and CFRA Ottawa, Johns took his programming expertise to the American heartland. Landing at KVIL Dallas in the early ‘80s, he reportedly co-created the continent’s first successful Adult Contemporary format. He oversaw the format’s syndication and remains a radio-industry consultant.
Terry Kenny apparently became a tv engineering tech with CTV Winnipeg. In late 2007, he made headlines protesting the network’s mandatory forced retirement policy at age 65 while national anchor Lloyd Robertson was continuing to host in his senior years. A few years back, Bruce Walker ran a classified ad in Manitoba Music. Stating he had “started writing and playing once more,” Walker invited would-be collaborators to get in touch.