Menu Close

Tag: Donny Gerrard

YOU REMIND ME OF A FRIEND

from SKYLARK 2

Written by Brian & Brenda Russell

 

This week we go back to David Foster’s first steps into the music biz as co-founder and driving force of the pop/rock band, Skylark. Skylark released two interesting albums in the first half of the seventies that introduced Foster’s blooming talents to the music world. Skylark included Foster’s first wife, singer/songwriter B. J. Cook, and the wonderful soul singer Donny Gerrard (1946-2022) who was remembered for the 1973 hit ballad, “Wildflower.” That song was a top ten hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 and the Canadian Top Singles charts. “Wildflower” was a huge adult contemporary hit. Since the rise on the charts, “Wildflower” has became an evergreen with multiple recorded versions.

WILDFLOWER

from WILDFLOWER (single)
Written by David Richardson & Doug Edwards

download-1

This week the spotlight is on “Wildflower,” the 1973 hit by David Foster’s early band, Skylark. That sumptuous ballad was the Hitman’s first bite of success on Billboard’s Hot 100.

“Wildflower” was co-written by Skylark’s guitarist, the late, Doug Edwards who passed away just a few days ago, with David Richardson, a friend of Foster’s who wrote a poem that married to Edwards’ inspired music and eventually became the lyrics of that evergreen.

IF THAT’S THE WAY YOU WANT IT

from SKYLARK 2
written by Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter

In 1972, the Canadian pop/rock group Skylark introduced David Foster’s talents to the world. After the massive success of their 1973 hit “Wildflower,” Skylark went back into the studio to work on their sophomore release. Produced again by Eirik Wangberg, the new recording saw the group down to only three members – Foster, his then-wife Bonnie Jean (B.J.) Cook and singer Donny Gerrard. “Skylark 2” was released in 1974 and oddly enough, the new album again included their “Wildflower” hit ballad, maybe to cash in some more on its huge potential. “Skylark 2” was a good soft/rock collection with touches of soul, country and Latin rock.

TWENTY-SIX YEARS

from SKYLARK

written by David Foster, Donny Gerrard & Linda Patterson

Skylark was a pop/rock group originally from Canada’s British Columbia. In the early seventies they got a record deal with Capitol Records and moved to California to work on their debut album.