Edward Bear

Canadian band Edward Bear was initially formed as The Edward Bear Revue in 1966 by singer and percussionist Larry Evoy and bassist Craig Hemming (although Hemming was only with the band briefly).

The band signed with Capitol Records in 1969 with a lineup of Evoy, guitarist Danny Marks and keyboardist Paul Weldon, and they released their debut album, Bearings, the same year.

Their single, You, Me and Mexico, was a Top 5 hit in Canada and charted well in the United States. Follow-up songs, You Can’t Deny It and Spirit Song, were not as popular.

Marks left the band the following year and was succeeded by guitarist Roger Ellis.

The band recorded several albums and enjoyed several chart successes in the early 1970s, including Fly Across the Sea and Masquerade. Their biggest hit came in 1973 when Last Song charted at #1 in Canada and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Close Your Eyes was a Top 5 hit in Canada and also made the charts in the US.

Edward Bear won a Juno Award in 1973 for outstanding group performance, by which time most of the band’s original lineup had left.

Evoy remained the primary songwriter and organiser, rebuilding the band twice until it finally was disbanded in 1974.

Evoy went on to a solo career, achieving a modest hit in Canada with Here I Go Again, after which he retired from live performance and began running a small recording studio.

Danny Marks continued a career as a blues guitarist and radio host.

Larry Evoy
Vocals, drums
Craig Hemming
Bass
Danny Marks
Guitar, vocals
Paul Weldon
Keyboards, vocals
Roger Ellis
Guitar, vocals
Bill Loop 
Bass
Bo Tanas 
Bass
Bob Kendall 
Keyboards, vocals
Barry Best
Keyboards, vocals
Dave Brown
Drums