Canadian country music
Country music has a long history in Canada. The genre evolved out of the diverse musical practices of the Appalachian region of the United States. Appalachian folk music was largely Scottish and Irish, with an important influence also being the ...
group active from 1957 to 1989. The brothers were seven-time Juno Award winners for "The Top Country Group" and were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Early life
All three Mercey brothers were born in Hanover, a small town south of Owen Sound, Ontario.
Larry Mercey
Larry Mercey (born December 12, 1939"The Mercey Brothers" '', the eldest of three, was born on December 12, 1939; Ray was born on November 21, 1940, and Lloyd, the youngest, was born on December 12, 1945.
The Mercey family grew up to music in their household at an early age. Larry Mercey sang on the radio station CKNX Barn Dance in 1956, in the neighbouring town of Wingham, Ontario.
Band history
Formation
Larry and Ray formed a country music group in 1957, singing and playing the guitar (Larry) and bass (Ray). They called their group The Mercey Brothers and patterned their music and their image to resemble the Everly Brothers, a harmony duo popular in the United States at the time.
Larry and Ray placed second in CBC Television's Talent Caravan in 1960 and later went on to sign with Chateau Records in 1961. They made their first chart appearance with "Just the Snap of Your Fingers" that same year.
Trio
Lloyd Mercey joined the group as a singer and drummer in 1966 when he was twenty years old, and together they called themselves The Mercey Brothers. After signing with Columbia Records, they released four RPM chart-topping singles, including "Whistling on the River". In 1968, they released the singles "Uncle Tom", "What’s a Guy to Do?", and "The Great Snowman" under their self-titled album The Mercey Brothers.
Singles "Who Drinks My Beer When I’m Gone" and "Ordinary Peeping Tom" came out under albums titled ''My Song For You'' (Columbia) and ''The Mercey Brothers ''(Harmony) in 1969.
The Mercey Brothers signed with RCA Records in 1970 and released a string of singles which received radio play. At the 1970 Juno Awards, they were named "Best Country Group or Duo". They went on to win this award for the next four years in a row (1970–1974),Richard York. "Canada's Juno Awards: An Appraisal". Billboard '. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.; 7 April 1973.
ISSN
An International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is an eight-digit serial number used to uniquely identify a serial publication, such as a magazine. The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title. ISSNs ...
&nbs 0006-2510 p. 56–. and again in 1976.
In 1971, The Mercey Brothers toured England for the first time and made an appearance on BBC television. Their hit singles on the RCA album ''Have Mercey'', were "Hello Mom" and "Who Wrote the Words". They also hosted a television show, ''The Mercey Brothers Show''.Dallas Williams. Shania Twain: On My Way '. ECW Press; 1997. . p. 53–.
In 2021, Larry Mercey wrote a book titled ''Have Mercy: My First 60 Years Making Music'' in which one of his recollections is the band's first dates played in Saulte Ste Marie,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
Ray Mercey left the band in 1980 to spend more time with his family. To fill in for Ray's absence, the others brought in bass player Gord Ogilvie and lead guitar Darrell Scott. Over the next few years, artists Dann Peer, Gord Heins, John Dymond, and Eric Mahar filled in for the band. In 1989 the Mercey Brothers disbanded; they were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame that same year."Mercey keeps his music country" James Reaney, ''The London Free Press'', December 1, 2011
Mercey Brothers sound
In 1973, The Mercey Brothers opened their own recording studio called Mercey Brothers Recording Studio. That gave them more control over their music and general sound of the band. Their studio was in Elmira, Ontario between 1973 and 1980. They also started their own Record Label, MBS (Mercey Brothers Sound) during this period. MBS signed on names such as Terry Carisse, Marie Bottrell and Joan Kennedy."Country Boosters". Billboard '. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.; 2 October 1976.
ISSN
An International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is an eight-digit serial number used to uniquely identify a serial publication, such as a magazine. The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title. ISSNs ...