Collectors
Formed in Vancouver, Canada in 1961 and originally known as the C-Fun Classics. The original line-up — Howie Vickers (vocals), Brian Russell (guitar), Claire Lawrence (saxophone), Glenn Miller (bass) and Gary Taylor (drums) — recorded locally with some success before unveiling a new name, the Collectors, with the single Looking At A Baby in 1967. By this point Russell and Taylor had been replaced by Bill Henderson and Ross Turney. The Collectors were then drawn towards US west coast venues where they established a positive reputation for their complex arrangements, soaring harmonies and extended improvisations. Their debut album, THE COLLECTORS AKA NEW VIBRATIONS FROM CANADA admirably displayed such diverse talents. The group's second album, GRASS AND WILD STRAWBERRIES, was a loosely framed concept album. Although their imaginative use of time signatures and woodwind garnered critical plaudits, this was not transferred into sales, and the Collectors' career trickled out with two non-album singles. The departure of Vickers prompted an internal rethink and the remaining quartet ditched the name and emerged as Chilliwack in 1971.