Friday, February 24, 2012

Artist: Terry Black, Album: The Black Plague, Song: Dry Bones

"Cmon children, let's swing them dry bones."  Terry Black was a singer from Vancouver, British Columbia.  He was a teen sensation who was discovered singing on a local television show and signed immediately to ARC Records.  His first international single was a song called, Unless You Care, which was written and produced by American songwriter, P.F. Sloan.  Sloan has penned some legendary songs over the years including Barry McGuire's number 1 hit, Eve Of Destruction, as well as Johnny Rivers' Secret Agent Man.  Black's song was a major hit on both sides of the border and it featured unknown back up singers, Glenn Campbell ("Rhinestone Cowboy") and Leon Russell ("Out In The Woods").  Black had a string of successful singles throughout the sixties and two albums were released as well.  The Black Plague was his first in 1964.  Dry Bones is a traditional song and I believe it was released as a b-side to his very first single, Sinner Man.  It's a great tune that reminds me a bit of The Dave Clark Five ("Over And Over", "Little Bitty Pretty One") and you can check it out on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_j5us4Y4Ds).  Black would move to Hollywood, California for a short period of time in the hope of expanding his act to movies.  However, he eventually returned to Canada and in 1969, joined the cast of the Toronto production of Hair!  He met his wife, Laurel Ward, shortly thereafter and the two would record as part of the band, Dr. Music, as well as Black & Ward throughout the seventies.  Sadly, Black passed away from complications related to Multiple Sclerosis in 2009 at the age of 60.  The album, The Black Plague, was re-mastered and re-released by Unidisc and is available for download from Itunes.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!