Randy Bachman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randy Bachman
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Bachman in concert in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Randolph Charles Bachman |
| Born | September 27, 1943 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, radio personality |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Associated acts | Chad Allan, the Guess Who, Ironhorse, Brave Belt, Bachman–Turner Overdrive, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Bachman & Turner |
Randy Bachman is a famous Canadian musician. He is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He helped start two very popular bands: The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Randy wrote and sang many hit rock songs like "American Woman", "Takin' Care of Business", and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet". He also made music on his own and was part of other bands like Brave Belt and Ironhorse. Randy hosted a weekly music show on CBC Radio called Vinyl Tap. In 2016, he was added to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
Contents
Randy Bachman's Early Life
Randy Bachman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on September 27, 1943. His parents were Karl and Anne Bachman. When he was three, Randy won a singing contest. At five, he started learning to play the violin at the Royal Toronto Conservatory. He played the violin until he was 12. He found he could play any song just by hearing it once. He called this his "phonographic memory."
When Randy was 15, he saw Elvis Presley play guitar on TV. This inspired him to learn guitar. He learned three chords from his cousin. Then he started practicing on a special guitar called a Hawaiian dobro. At 16, Randy met Lenny Breau, who taught him how to play guitar using a style called finger picking. Breau also showed him the music of Chet Atkins.
In 1959, Randy wanted to see Les Paul play in Winnipeg. He was too young to get in, so he helped Paul set up before the show. After the show, he helped Paul pack up. Randy asked Les Paul to teach him a guitar trick. Paul taught him a part of the song "How High the Moon".
Randy was a good student until he started playing guitar. He focused on music instead of school. He finished Grade 9. He had to repeat Grade 10 and 11. He later studied business administration but did not finish college.
Randy Bachman's Music Career
The Guess Who
In 1960, Randy Bachman and Chad Allan started a band in Winnipeg called Al and The Silvertones. By 1962, they changed their name to Chad Allan and the Expressions. Later, they became The Guess Who. In 1965, The Guess Who had a number one hit in Canada with "Shakin' All Over". This song also reached No. 22 in the US.
In 1966, Chad Allan left the band. Burton Cummings became the main singer. Between 1966 and 1968, The Guess Who mostly played in Canada. They released many hit songs there. In 1969, their song "These Eyes" became a hit around the world. Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings wrote this song together.
The Guess Who released three successful albums: Wheatfield Soul (1969), Canned Wheat (1969), and American Woman (1970). These albums made them very famous. Randy wrote or co-wrote most of their songs during this time.
In 1970, the song "American Woman" reached No. 1 in the US. This was the first time a Canadian band had a number one hit there. The song talked about the problems they saw while touring in big American cities. Randy Bachman left the band soon after "American Woman" became a hit. He left because his beliefs were different from the other band members' lifestyles. He also wanted to spend more time with his family. He was also having some health issues that made touring difficult.
Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive
Before leaving The Guess Who in 1970, Randy Bachman recorded a solo album called Axe. In 1971, he started a new band called Brave Belt with Chad Allan. Randy's younger brother, Robbie Bachman, played drums for Brave Belt. Fred Turner joined Brave Belt on bass and vocals. The band's sound became heavier, and Chad Allan left.
With only three members, Brave Belt added Randy's other brother, Tim Bachman, as a second guitarist. They signed a record deal and changed their name to Bachman-Turner Overdrive, often called "B.T.O." They released their first album, Bachman–Turner Overdrive, in May 1973.
In December 1973, they released their second album, Bachman–Turner Overdrive II. This album was very successful. It had hits like "Takin' Care of Business" and "Let It Ride". In 1974, their third album, Not Fragile, reached No. 1 in Canada and the US. It included the hits "Roll On Down the Highway" and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet". With "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", Randy had a rare achievement: a number one hit in the US with two different Canadian bands.
The band continued to have hit songs in the mid-1970s with albums like Four Wheel Drive and Head On. These albums included "Hey You", "Take It Like a Man", and "Lookin' Out For No. 1". In 1976, during the making of their album Freeways, there were disagreements in the band. Randy Bachman left the band in March 1977. The other members continued to play as BTO.
Later Years and Reunions
After leaving Bachman–Turner Overdrive, Randy released another solo album called Survivor. Then he formed a new band called Ironhorse. Their first album in 1979 had the hit song "Sweet Lui-Louise". In 1981, Randy formed a band called Union with Fred Turner. They released one album. Randy later shared that he lost a lot of money during this time due to personal challenges and bad investments in music projects.
Randy Bachman rejoined The Guess Who in 1983 for a reunion tour in Canada. After that, he rejoined Bachman-Turner Overdrive with Fred Turner and Tim Bachman. They released an album in 1984 and toured. Randy left the band again in 1987. Bachman-Turner Overdrive reformed again in 1988 with the popular lineup from 1974-1977. They toured until 1991, when Randy left again. Randy returned to The Guess Who for a special show in Winnipeg in 1999.
The 2000s
Randy continued to play with The Guess Who on tours. In 2000, he appeared as himself on The Simpsons TV show. The show's creator, Matt Groening, is a big fan of the band.
In 2001, Randy received an honorary music degree from Brandon University. He also won three SOCAN Classic Awards for his songs. In 2005, he received the Order of Manitoba, a high award in his home province. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame with The Guess Who in 2001. In 2002, The Guess Who received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. In 2003, Randy left The Guess Who with Burton Cummings to form a new project called Bachman Cummings.
In 2004, Randy helped Kalan Porter with his album 219 Days. Randy also released an album of jazz songs called Jazz Thing.
In 2005, Randy started hosting his radio show Vinyl Tap on CBC Radio One. He played classic rock music and shared stories about famous musicians he had met. The show ran for 16 seasons. On July 2, 2005, Randy performed at the Canadian part of the Live 8 concert. In 2008, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Randy continued to tour with his own band and the Bachman-Cummings Band. He also had a show called "Every Song Tells A Story," where he played unplugged and shared the stories behind his famous songs. Randy and Fred Turner released a new Bachman & Turner album in 2010. They then started a two-year world tour.
The 2010s
Randy Bachman was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame again in 2012, this time as a solo artist. In 2015, he received SOCAN's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014, he released a video of his "Every Song Tells A Story" performances.
In 2015, he released an album called Heavy Blues with his new band, Bachman. The album was inspired by classic blues rock and featured other musicians like Neil Young and Peter Frampton. In 2018, Randy released a tribute album to George Harrison. Randy and Fred Turner continued to tour as Bachman & Turner until Fred retired in 2018.
The 2020s
In April 2020, Randy Bachman appeared on a Canadian TV show called "Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble". He thanked front-line workers and played a short, funny version of "Taking Care of Business."
In 2023, Randy announced that his younger brother Robbie Bachman had passed away. He also shared that his brothers Gary and Tim Bachman had died since the pandemic began.
Randy Bachman's Guitar Style
Randy Bachman has said that his early violin lessons influenced how he plays guitar. He said his guitar solos are often smooth and slow, like violin melodies.
He has mentioned that guitar players like Lenny Breau, Leslie West, Wes Montgomery, and Hank Marvin influenced his playing.
Randy Bachman's Personal Life
Randy Bachman has six children with his first wife, Lorayne Stevenson. His son, Tal Bachman, is a musician known for his 1999 song "She's So High". His daughter Lorelei Bachman is also a writer and musician. Randy later married Denise McCann, and they had one child. They lived on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
Randy has worked to improve his health. He realized his weight was causing back and knee pain, making touring hard. He made changes to his diet and exercise. He also had a successful shoulder operation in 2007.
Randy Bachman has 26 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.
Images for kids
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Bachman in concert in 2009
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Bachman in 1974.
Discography
Solo Albums
- 1970 Axe
- 1978 Survivor
- 1992 Any Road
- 1993 Bob's Garage
- 1996 Merge
- 1998 Songbook
- 2001 Every Song Tells A Story
- 2004 Jazz Thing
- 2006 Bachman-Cummings Songbook
- 2006 The Thunderbird Trax
- 2007 Jazz Thing II
- 2007 Jukebox
- 2008 Takin' Care of Christmas
- 2010 Bachman & Turner (with Fred Turner)
- 2014 Vinyl Tap Every Song Tells A Story
- 2015 Heavy Blues
- 2018 By George By Bachman (a tribute to George Harrison)
Chad Allan & The Expressions
- 1965: Shakin 'All Over'
- 1965: Hey Ho (What You Do To Me)
- 1966: Chad Allan & The Expressions
The Guess Who?
- 1966: It's Time (The Guess Who album)
- 1968: A Wild Pair
The Guess Who
- 1969: Wheatfield Soul
- 1969: Canned Wheat
- 1970: American Woman
- 1970: Born in Canada
- 1976: The Way They Were
- 1984: Together Again
- 1984: Reunion
- 2000: Running Back Thru Canada
Brave Belt
- 1971: Brave Belt
- 1972: Brave Belt II
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- 1973: Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- 1973: Bachman-Turner Overdrive II
- 1974: Not Fragile
- 1975: Four Wheel Drive
- 1975: Head On
- 1977: Freeways
- 1984: Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Ironhorse
- 1979: Ironhorse
- 1980: Everything is Gray
Union
- 1981: On Strike
Bachman Cummings
- 2006: The Thunderbird Trax
- 2006: Bachman Cummings Songbook
- 2007: Jukebox
Bachman & Turner
- 2010: Bachman & Turner
- 2010: Forged In Rock
- 2010: Rolling Along
- 2012: Live At Roseland Ballroom, NYC
Collaborations
- 1997: Ringo Starr And His Third All-Starr Band Volume 1 by Ringo Starr
- 2004: 219 Days by Kalan Porter
See also
In Spanish: Randy Bachman para niños
- Canadian rock
- Music of Canada
