Grant Smith and The Power

Grant Smith & The Power are one of the cornerstones of Toronto’s thriving R&B scene. The band was a training ground (much like Ronnie Hawkins band) for up and coming local musicians. Members of Grant Smith’s group went on to be in Motherlode, McKenna Mendelson Mainline Jericho and Dr. Music; among others. Along with The Mandala, David Clayton Thomas’ bands, Bobby Kris & The Imperials, Jon-Lee & The Checkmates, Robbie Lane & The Disciples and more; they were instrumental in developing what later became known as “The Toronto Sound.”

Ellis Grant Smith was born and raised in London, Ontario. A lover of soul and R&B, Grant often sang along to his favorite records, but his early days in music were as a drummer not as a singer.

By 1966, his group Zeke & The Moonshiners had run its course. Being an early alt-country outfit, Grant was dissatisfied with the material and direction. He was plotting his exit not long after joining. He’d leave and soon afterwards formed E.G. Smith and The Express. This group played music that Grant loved and so he gave his all every time they got on stage. His raw, albeit untrained voice was instrumental in helping build the popularity of the group. They quickly gained a live reputation around Ontario for their “show-stopping” talent and live energy.

As 1966 came to a close, Grant’s band had reached newfound levels of popularity and began gigging in Toronto. On the other hand, Eddie Spencer had been fired from his band, Eddie Spencer & The Power just before Christmas. Two other members were given the boot as well; guitarist Les Morris and Jerry Mann on sax.

New Years day, 1967 saw “The Power” bring in a new singer. Grant Smith got the gig and brought along two of his ex-bandmates from “The Express.” Guitarist Jim Pauley joined immediately alongside Grant, but drummer Wayne Stone took a bit more convincing.

The line-up solidified with the departure of original drummer Charlie Miller. Featuring Grant Smith on lead vocals, Mike Harrison on bass, Wayne Stone on drums, Ralph Miller on trumpet, Brian Ayers on sax, and Val Stevens on organ and keyboards. This line-up would stay together for six months, playing any and every club they could, around Toronto; including eight bookings at Ronnie Hawkins’ famed Hawk’s Nest club that year alone. At this time, they were going under the name E.G. Smith & The Power.

Their popularity continued to grow, many wondered why the group had yet to record. The truth was, there had been no interest from labels up until this point; something was clearly missing. They hired a new manager and under his direction, renamed the group to “Grant Smith & The Power, planned a tour of the U.S. and managed to secure label interest, both locally and abroad.

Upon their return to Toronto, around September 1967, guitarist Jim Pauley decided to quit the group frustrated with the lack of success. He was swiftly replaced with the talented Jon Palma. While in the U.S. singer Tony Orlando helped the group land a record deal with MGM Records. With this record deal in place, they hooked up with producer John C. Irvine in Toronto and recorded their debut single in November of 1967 at Art Snider’s Sound Canada Studios.

The band’s debut 45, a soulful cover of “Keep on Running” (made famous by The Spencer Davis Group a few years prior), paired with the original “Her Own Life” [written by Grant Smith and Val Stevens] came out in January 1968, and was a minor hit; cracking #20 on the local charts. Bolstered by the singles success, the group headed back into the studio; this time paired with back-up singers “The Tiaras” and Toronto’s chief purveyor of “Northern Soul,” songwriter Al Rain.

The result was the non-LP gem “You Got What I Want/Thinkin’ About You,” a fantastic soul/funk double sider that has since become a collector’s item among fans of the genre. Released May 1968 in Canada and August 1968 in the United States, the single failed to chart abroad but found “Top 20” success here in Canada. Interestingly, You Got What I Want was the A-side in Canada, while Thinkin’ About You was the A-side in America.

With the success of their first two singles, MGM had plans to have the group record an entire album that fall.