The Mynah Birds were a short-lived R&B band based in Toronto in the 1960's. Although the band did not itself ever release an album, it is famous as one of the earliest efforts of a number of musicians who went on to be hugely successful. Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ...

The Mynah Birds grew out of a 1964 group called the Sailorboys, fronted by Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, February 1, 1948 in Buffalo, New York; died August 6, 2004) and also including guitarist Ian Goble, drummer Rick Cameron and bass player Nick St Nicholas (born Klaus Karl Kassbaum, September 28, 1943 in Hamburg, Germany). Over its short lifespan, the group featured a surprisingly large number of artists, in many different configurations. Its most memorable lineup included James, Rickman Mason, John Taylor, Neil Young, and Bruce Palmer (who went on to form Buffalo Springfield with Young). Earlier members include Goldie McJohn, who like Nick St Nicholas, was later in Steppenwolf. 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr; February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004) was an American funk and soul musician, who worked as a singer, keyboardist, bassist, record producer, arranger, and composer during his long career. ... Neil Percival Kenneth Robert Ragland Young (born November 12, 1945) is a singer/songwriter who grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... Bruce Palmer (September 9, 1946 – October 1, 2004) was a Canadian musician most famous for playing bass guitar in the influential folk-rock band Buffalo Springfield. ... Buffalo Springfield album cover Buffalo Springfield was a short-lived yet highly original and influential folk-rock group that served as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. ... Goldie McJohn (born May 2, 1945) is a Canadian musician, best known as the keyboard player for the rock group Steppenwolf. ... Steppenwolf Gold album cover Steppenwolf was a 1960s and 1970s rock n roll band, best known for the hits Born to Be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride. Due to the German background of the bands leader John Kay, they were named after the novel Steppenwolf by author Hermann Hesse. ...

Early years

An early line up comprising James, St Nicholas, Cameron and guitarist Frank Arnel recorded "the Mynah Birds Song" for Columbia Records in late 1964 for a prospective single. However, the track was not deemed strong enough and a new track "the Mynah Birds Hop" was recorded to grace the a-side. The second track saw James, St Nicholas and Arnel joined by second singer, Jimmy Livingston (born February 28, 1946 in Toronto, Canada; died June 1, 2002) , keyboard player Goldie McJohn (born John Goadsby, May 2, 1945) and drummer Richie Grand. The single was released in Canada only in early 1965 but flopped. Soon afterwards, James and new bass player Bruce Palmer (born September 9, 1946 in Toronto, Canada; died October 1, 2004), who had been swapped for St Nicholas in Jack London & The Sparrows, put together a new version with drummer Rickman Mason (born December 2, 1945 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada) and guitarists Tom Morgan (born Tom Catherwood, July 4, 1944 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada) and John Taylor (born John Yachemac, June 12, 1946 in Welland, Ontario, Canada; died September 27, 2002). Morgan was replaced by Neil Young in January 1966. Sixties “Toronto British invasion” band, Jack London & The Sparrows are best known for containing future Steppenwolf members, Jerry Edmonton, Goldy McJohn and Nick St Nicholas and future Buffalo Springfield member, Bruce Palmer. ...

Sign to Motown Records

The Mynah Birds signed a seven-year deal with Motown Records in 1966, becoming the first predominantly white group on the label. They recorded a number of tracks, and their first album was in the works when Rick James was arrested, having deserted the Navy prior to forming the Sailorboys. Motown shelved their recordings, which have never been released. Young and Palmer promptly left the band. Motown redirects here. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...

Several of the remaining members continued to perform as the Mynah Birds throughout 1966, but did not make any recordings.

James put together a short-lived line up of the band in the summer of 1967 with bass player Neil Lillie aka Neil Merryweather (born December 27, 1945 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) but the group broke up soon afterwards. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Canadian rock singer, bass player and songwriter Neil Merryweather has recorded and shared the stage with a who’s who of rock, every one from Steve Miller and Dave Mason to Rick James and Wilson Pickett. ...

After leaving The Mynah Birds in early 1965, Jimmy Livingston joined The Just Us, which evolved into Livingstone's Journey through The Tripp. The Just Us were a short-lived Toronto R&B band from the mid Sixties, which later morphed into The Tripp and then Livingstone’s Journey. ...

Sources

• Misty Lane, issue 20: http://crea.html.it/sito/NOWSOUND/4.htm