Sonny Brite Band 1981-83
Members
- Sonny Brite - Lead Vocals / Harmonica
- Sam Stephenson - Drums / Lead Vocals
- John Dixon - Guitar (original member)
- Steve Shreyer - Guitar
- Sean Borton - Guitar
- Les Birta - Guitar (final member)
- Peter Gleeson - Keyboards (original and final member)
- John Heney - Keyboards
- Hugh McNally - Keyboards
- Dave Petrash - Keyboards
- Greg Vintar - Bass (original member)
- Rob Daniels - Bass
- Jim Hay - Bass / Lead Vocals (final member)
- Nancy St. Jarre - Lead Vocals
- Heidi McNally - Lead Vocals
- Rod Kapitan - Sound and lights
Biography
The Sonny Brite Band originally began with Sonny doing lead vocals and playing harmonica, Peter Gleeson on keyboards, John Dixon on guitar, Sam Stephenson on drums and Greg Vintar on bass. Only a few shows were played in this configuration, the first probably being in November or December of 1981, before Peter, John and Greg left. The band reformed adding Nancy St. Jarre on vocals, Rob Daniels on bass, John Heney on keyboards and Steve Shreyer on guitar. This version lasted only a short period of time before Nancy left. At about the same time, Rob Daniels was replaced by Jim Hay on bass who would stay until the end of the band. While Nancy was not originally replaced, when John Heney left the keyboard position, the band added Hugh McNally on keyboards and Heidi came on as the groups second, and final, female vocalist. When Hugh and Heidi left, Dave Petrash came on board to take over the keyboard duties. That version of the band was relatively stable until Steve Shreyer left and was replaced by another guitarist for a very short period of time. This guitarist might have been Sean Borton (although his page does not show this). At the same time this guitarist left, Dave also left the group. Les Birta joined as the bands final guitarist and Peter Gleeson returned to the keyboard role he had held over a year previous. This version of the band lasted until approximately August 1983 and was the most successful version. It toured the northern US and was often found playing the Waverly Hotel in Thunder Bay.
