Randy Bachman facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Randy Bachman OC OM
Bachman in concert in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Randolph Charles Bachman
Born	(1943-09-27) September 27, 1943 (age 82) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Died	Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
Genres	Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter radio personality
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1960–present

Randolph Charles Bachman (born September 27, 1943) is a famous Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as a founding member of two very successful rock bands: the Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Randy Bachman wrote and sang many hit songs, including "Takin' Care of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". He also had a career as a solo artist and hosted a popular radio show called Vinyl Tap. In 2016, he was honored by being inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.

Randy Bachman: A Canadian Rock Legend

Early Musical Journey

Randy Bachman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His parents were Karl (Charlie) Bachman and Anne (Nancy) Dobrinsky. Randy started showing musical talent at a very young age. When he was just three, he won a singing contest on a radio show. By age five, he began learning the violin through the Royal Toronto Conservatory system.

He continued playing the violin until he was 12. Even though he couldn't read music, Randy discovered he could play any song just by hearing it once. He called this special ability "phonographic memory." When he was 15, Randy saw Elvis Presley on TV, which inspired him to learn guitar. He learned three basic chords from his cousin and started practicing. Over the next two years, a talented musician named Lenny Breau taught Randy a special way of playing guitar called finger picking. Breau also introduced him to the music of Chet Atkins.

In 1959, Randy had a memorable encounter with the legendary guitarist Les Paul. Randy was too young to get into Paul's concert, but he helped him set up and pack away his equipment. Les Paul even taught Randy a guitar trick, showing him his version of "How High the Moon." Randy was a good student at first, but once he discovered the guitar, it became his main focus. He continued his education but eventually chose to pursue his passion for music.

Starting with The Guess Who

In 1960, Randy Bachman and Chad Allan started a band in Winnipeg called Al and the Silvertones. The band changed its name several times, eventually becoming the Guess Who by 1962. In 1965, the Guess Who had a number one hit in Canada with their song "Shakin' All Over". This song also became popular in the United States.

In 1966, Chad Allan left the band, and Burton Cummings became the main singer. Between 1966 and 1968, the Guess Who released many popular songs in Canada. Their big international breakthrough came in 1969 with the hit song "These Eyes", which Randy Bachman co-wrote with Burton Cummings. The band then released three successful albums: Wheatfield Soul (1969), Canned Wheat (1969), and American Woman (1970). Randy wrote or co-wrote most of the band's songs during this time.

In early 1970, their song "American Woman" reached number one on the US charts. This was a huge achievement for a Canadian band. The song talked about the band's experiences touring in big American cities. Randy Bachman left the Guess Who at the peak of their fame. He decided to leave because of differences in lifestyle choices among band members and because he wanted to spend more time with his family. He also had some health issues that made touring difficult.

Forming Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO)

Before leaving the Guess Who, Randy Bachman recorded a solo album called Axe in 1970. The next year, he formed a new band called Brave Belt with Chad Allan. Randy's younger brother, Robbie Bachman, played drums for Brave Belt. Fred Turner later joined on bass and vocals. This led to a change in the band's sound, and Chad Allan eventually left.

With a new lineup, including Randy's brother Tim Bachman on guitar, the band signed a record deal with Mercury Records. They changed their name to Bachman-Turner Overdrive, often called "B.T.O." for short. Their first album, Bachman–Turner Overdrive, was released in May 1973.

Bachman in 1974.

In December 1973, BTO released their second album, Bachman–Turner Overdrive II. This album brought them even more success with hits like "Takin' Care of Business" and "Let It Ride". In 1974, their third album, Not Fragile, reached number one in both Canada and the United States. It featured the popular songs "Roll On Down the Highway" and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet". With "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," Randy achieved the rare feat of having a number one hit in America with two different Canadian bands.

BTO continued to have hit songs throughout the mid-1970s with albums like Four Wheel Drive and Head On. These albums included hits such as "Hey You" and "Take It Like a Man". In late 1976, during the recording of their sixth album, Freeways, some disagreements arose within the band. Randy Bachman officially left the band in March 1977. The other members continued to record and tour as BTO.

Solo Work and New Bands

After leaving Bachman–Turner Overdrive, Randy Bachman released another solo album called Survivor. He then formed a new rock band called Ironhorse, which released its first album in 1979. This album included the single "Sweet Lui-Louise," which was popular in both Canada and the US. Later, Randy teamed up with Fred Turner again to form a band called Union, releasing one album in 1981.

Randy faced financial challenges during this period due to personal matters and investments in musical projects that didn't succeed as planned.

Reunions and Continued Success

In 1983, Randy Bachman rejoined the Guess Who for a reunion tour across Canada with Burton Cummings and other original members. After this, he rejoined Bachman-Turner Overdrive with Fred Turner and Tim Bachman. This reformed BTO released a new album in 1984 and a live album in 1986. They even opened for the famous band Van Halen on their tour. Randy left BTO again in 1987.

BTO reformed once more in 1988 with its popular lineup from the mid-1970s. They toured until 1991, when Randy departed again. In 1992, Randy released his solo album Any Road. This album featured personal songs like "Prairie Town," which remembered his childhood in Winnipeg.

Awards, Radio, and Later Projects

Randy Bachman continued to tour with the Guess Who in the early 2000s. In 2000, he even made a guest appearance as himself on the popular TV show The Simpsons, alongside his former Bachman–Turner Overdrive bandmates. The show's creator, Matt Groening, is a big fan of the band.

In 2001, Randy received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Brandon University. He also won three SOCAN Classic Awards that year. In 2005, he received the Order of Manitoba, a high honor 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, Canada's top award for performing arts. By July 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 debut album, 219 Days. Randy also released an album of jazz songs called Jazz Thing. In the summer of 2005, Randy began hosting a popular radio show called Vinyl Tap on CBC Radio One. On the show, he played classic rock music and shared stories about his experiences with famous artists. The show ran for 16 seasons, with its final episode on July 1, 2021.

On July 2, 2005, Randy performed at the Canadian part of the global Live 8 concert, which raised awareness for poverty. In 2008, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada. Randy continued touring with his own band and the Bachman-Cummings Band. He also created a theater show called "Every Song Tells A Story," where he shared the stories behind his famous songs. In 2010, Randy and Fred Turner released a new album as Bachman & Turner and began a two-year world tour.

The 2010s

In 2012, Randy Bachman was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame for a second time, this time as a solo artist. He received SOCAN's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. That same year, he released an album called Heavy Blues with his new band, Bachman. This album featured collaborations with other famous musicians like Neil Young and Peter Frampton. In 2018, Randy released a tribute album to George Harrison, which included one original song and a guest appearance by Walter Trout. Randy and Fred Turner continued to tour as Bachman & Turner until Fred retired in 2018.

The 2020s

On April 26, 2020, Randy Bachman appeared in a CBC television benefit called "Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble" to thank front-line workers. He played a short, fun version of "Taking Care of Business." In January 2023, Randy announced the passing of his younger brother, Robbie Bachman. In May 2023, he shared that his brothers Gary and Tim had also passed away, leaving Randy as the only living Bachman brother.

In 2021, Randy's special 1957 Gretsch guitar, which had been stolen 45 years earlier, was found in Japan. It was located using facial recognition software! Randy traveled to Japan to get his guitar back, trading it for another similar guitar with the Japanese musician who had it.

Guitar Style and Influences

Bachman playing air guitar at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

Randy Bachman has explained that his guitar playing style was influenced by his early violin lessons. He said that when he played a rock solo, he would play it like a violin, which often meant smooth, slow, and melodic lines.

He has mentioned that some of his guitar heroes include Lenny Breau, Leslie West, Wes Montgomery, George Peterson, and Hank Marvin.

Personal Life and Health Journey

Randy Bachman has six children from his first marriage to Lorayne Stevenson. His son, Tal Bachman, is also a recording artist, known for his 1999 hit 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 explored different spiritual paths during his life and later decided to leave the religion he had converted to in 1966.

Randy also faced significant health challenges due to his weight. He realized his weight was causing back and knee pain, making it hard to tour. He decided to make a big change for his health. After a medical procedure to help with weight loss, he successfully lost a significant amount of weight by 2006, reaching his health goals. In 2007, he had an operation on his shoulder to repair an injury, which he believed was caused by years of playing heavy guitars.

Randy Bachman is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism. He has 26 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Discography

Solo

1970 Axe – referred to on the cover in the release by RCA in 1975 as simply "Randy Bachman Solo Album"
1978 Survivor
1992 Any Road – referred to on the cover simply as "Bachman"
1993 Bob's Garage – live 5-track mini-album recorded for a radio show in Seattle
1996 Merge
1998 Songbook
2001 Every Song Tells A Story
2004 Jazz Thing
2006 Bachman-Cummings Songbook – a compilation that features tracks from The Guess Who, Burton Cummings, and Bachman–Turner Overdrive
2006 The Thunderbird Trax – a compilation of previously unreleased material recorded by Bachman and Cummings, collected from Bachman's tool shed in 1987
2007 Jazz Thing II
2007 Jukebox
2008 Takin' Care of Christmas – a compilation of Bachman performing classic Christmas songs, with the title track being a reworked version of BTO's "Takin' Care of Business"
2010 Bachman & Turner, with former BTO vocalist/bassist Fred Turner
2014 Vinyl Tap Every Song Tells A Story
2015 Heavy Blues
2018 By George By Bachman – a tribute album to George Harrison

Chad Allan & The Expressions

Original albums:

1965: Shakin 'All Over'
1965: Hey ... (What You Do To Me)
1966: Chad Allan & The Expressions

Compilation:

2008: Early Roots – Compilation.

The Guess Who?

1966: It's Time (The Guess Who album) – This is the only album with Chad Allan and Burton Cummings sharing the vocals.
1968: A Wild Pair – Side A is dedicated to The Staccatos, while side B features The Guess Who?

The Guess Who

Studio albums:

1969: Wheatfield Soul
1969: Canned Wheat
1970: American Woman
1970: Born in Canada
1976: The Way They Were

Live albums:

1984: Together Again
1984: Reunion
2000: Running Back Thru Canada

Brave Belt

1971: Brave Belt
1972: Brave Belt II

Bachman-Turner Overdrive