Advertising for gigs Caesar and The Romans in the Rouyn-Noranda. The group is leaning on the organ of Donald. The latter is completely left up. Source: Archives of Rouyn-Noranda.
During three critical years of the mid-sixties Donald Seward was the keyboardist of Caesar and The Romans. We now know better and better for her solo career in late 60's, during which he was one of the first Quebec "pure wool" to touch the r'n'b, soul and funk.
Rock'n'Rouyn
Donald Seward was born May 6, 1944 at Youville Hospital in Rouyn-Noranda. His family lives in the Murdoch Street, Noranda. Anecdotally, during his youth, he rubs shoulders with Dave Keon and Pit Martin, who would later become legends of hockey. Early attracted by music, Seward has developed a passion for the piano. Every Sunday evening, he observed intensively rock'n'roll piano playing of John Ranger, a native of North Bay, which plays in Rouyn with Kenny & The Be-Bops. From 15 years he would run the "battle of the bands" held at Frontenac hotel, Days and Modern. It was probably during a these demonstrations of talent that the local country star Jimmy James finds out.
Jimmy James & The Kandy Kanes - Babysitter rock
Jimmy James was a Top 10 success in the U.S. in 1958 with his piece rockabilly Babysitter rock. It is, however, remained in Rouyn, not having a manager who is capable of organizing a tour to the land of Uncle Sam Seward is hired for a night Normétal as a member of the support group called The Jimmy James Kandy kanes. For a young man of 15-16 years with him, it's a big job!
Seward the sting, he must form a group. Thus he hears of an opportunity. René "T-Tough" Hamelin, the Elvis impersonator in Rouyn, who turned heads on the hand, seeks members for its group. Ti-Tough itches guitar and sings as he can, he has also already found a drummer in the person of Don Carpentier. Intimidated, the young Seward is offering his services. He is hired. Kenny Roy, left the Be-Bops and adds to the bass. When Gerry Cochran, radio personality at Noranda joins them as lead singer, followed by Roy Raymond, extraordinary saxophonist which later experienced a career in Las Vegas, The Flaming Stars were born.
The Flaming Stars ... after the departure of Donald Seward
During the 50s, Rouyn, rock'n'roll is raging. There are more than 35 hotels in the Twin Cities and every place has its group. The hippest hangout for rock & roll is the hotel Radio. Donald Seward and The Flaming Stars are regular customers of the place and learn their craft by watching others play. This is a guy from Toronto who Booke groups. The Hawks, Larry Lee & The Leesures, The Strato-Tones, Dave Nicholls & The Coins ... many groups coming through the radio grill and leave an indelible mark in the minds of young musicians Rouyn-norandiens.
When The Flaming Stars decide to go on tour, young Seward, who was not yet 18, is held in Rouyn by his father. It was John Ranger, ex-Be-Bops replacing him at the piano. After a few years, The Flaming Stars become The Jades . The latter experience a rewarding career in years 60-70.
Donald practice every day with intensity. He plays the piano in the living room of his parents. Moreover, the summer when leaving the front door open, there's a young Richard Desjardins, who lives in the neighborhood who just watch him play, from time to time.
Extract from the 45 rpm single from Dougie Day & The Gamblers (without Seward)
few months later, Dougie Day & The Gamblers landed at the Hotel Radio. Their keyboardist is sick. Donald Seward proposes to replace him and did the job brilliantly. So, he is invited to follow Dougie Day tour for two concerts. This time, he has the green light. Without really knowing what to expect, the young man of 18 with Dougie embarks Day & the Gamblers that must occur at the prestigious Golden Rooster Toronto and the legendary Esquire Show Bar in Montreal, THE place for rock and roll, the rythmn and blues and black music in Quebec, at the time. Donald Seward is reversed. R'n'b is his bag. It is very clear to him when he hears the groups of Esquire Show Bar.
Unfortunately for Seward, keyboardist Dougie Day recovers quickly and the young-rouyn norandien is sent home. Back to square one. So he starts looking for musicians around him. Maurice Bélanger Denis L'Esperance and approach him, offering to form a group. Seward declines, being too junior. After all, he has played with folk artists and he acquired a certain level. Seward continues to play in the battle of the bands. After nearly a year, and Maurice Denis Bélanger Hope returned to the charge. They have improved! Thus the Time Twisters emerge. The group is engaged in local dance halls and eventually changed its name to Dino & Questions.
The era pop music
early 60s, the orchestra gives Dino & Questions in rock'n'roll and r & b. After being engaged for long periods in Sept-Iles, Matane, Thetford Mines and Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, the group landed a first recording contract in 1964 with the company Kebek discs. The songs are recorded in a studio in Victoriaville.
The song Who Is is credited to Don, Dino and Questions. Don is Donald Seward. At that time, he is still at the forefront. Dino and Questions - Who is she (excerpt)
On the other side, there are I forgot to pray , who would later return and re-recorded by Caesar and The Romans. Success is not at the rendezvous. After seeing the Clash in concert, The issues include that to succeed, they need to find a concept and give spectacular performances. is in Alma, at the Hotel Royal where they are engaged, they have the idea. The group watches television with the owner of the place. A period film, Benhur kind, features a battle of gladiators .. The manager The hotel launched its simply: You should call the same! Nero and The Gladiators! Brainstorm follows. It is day 1 of the empire Caesar and The Romans.
The voice of their singer, Dino Hope, is particularly powerful. Their bassist Maurice Belanger landed a one-week engagement at the Café de l'Est, Montreal. When the manager of the place, hear and see on stage is the artistic thunderbolt. But the group does it are not too sure ... already managing Beatlettes, this man has all the appearances of a mobster. The group accepted the offer anyway and their success was immediate and immense, especially with the hit pop music Splish-Splash . From their passage to the issuance Youth Today
Caesar and The Romans reach immediate popularity. They have committed a full week at the Café St-Jacques Montreal, THE place for pop music at the time. That's when they launch Splish-Splash . Caesar and The Romans are rapidly among the most popular groups of the time with The Clash and The Sultans.
They are elected "the most spectacular group of the Year" Gala performers 1966 - equivalent ADISQ today.
discography Caesar and The Romans is impressive: three or four albums, a couple of simple in three years. Various editions, reprints and nostalgic farms of their albums are also added to the list. 
"With Caesar and the Romans, it was a prostitute, in some ways, to be successful. Our repertoire had nothing to do with the Questions. Our manager had a coach who gave him musical songs that we had interpret. Then, the offers came from outside. Angelil came to us with the song by Claude François I know we proposing to save it, "recalls Seward. The most experienced musician of the group, Donald Seward, somehow, the conductor of Caesar and the Romans, while Dino is the frontman. Maurice Belanger, bassist and leader of the group administration, was forced to leave the training. It was Pierre "Pete" who replaces Sidor .. Through times of singers voice, Donald Seward managed to put some occasions r'n'b of interest. These are songs of Chuck Berry ( Sweet Little Sixteen ), Hank Ballard & The Midnighters ( Koochi-In-Koo Koochi ) Billy Martin ( Egg Roll ) and Money , played James Brown Sauce . 
Ave Caesar, Morituri te salvation. Seward and Donald is the executioner!
In 1967, Caesar and The Romans burned their togas on stage. In 68, after concerts in the United States, South America and throughout Quebec, the band split. Dino solo part and the remaining members gather around Donald Seward, organ player stayed in the shadows before.
Post-Roman
The first step the group is to launch a 45 under the name of Romans 4 Spectrum label in 1968. It includes a cover of Walk Like a Man the 4 Seasons and a composition in the style Beach Boys entitled My best friend. The 4 Romans - Walk like a man
Nothing famous until now. Donald Seward then created a duet with Peter Sidor, bassist Caesar and The Romans. The duo Peter Donald and produced two 45s, whose first No, no, no, no / You, you, you, you was launched in 1968 Canusa label, the label of the famous and legendary producer Tony Roman. These two pieces are still quite pop, but we found a slight fuzz on the guitar No, no, no, no . You, you, you, you , for its part, seems innocuous enough at first notes, but provides a bridge to Breathtaking! Seward and company begin to experiment, probably encouraged by Roman. Donald and Peter - No, no, no, no and You, you, you, you
Funky stuff
This famous Tony Roman moved to Seward to record a solo album, armed with his Hammond B3 organ, for his new label Revolution. The 33 towers called Donald Seward (ex-Roman) at the organ seems in 1969 and are former members of the Romans who play on it with Seward. This is where it gets really interesting. Found on this album repeatedly and successfully soul jazz and pop tunes, including Green Onions Booker T. & The MG's Watermelon Man and Lionel Hampton (both with a higher earned fuzzée guitar!) And some songs more rock / r'n'b. But the gem is unquestionably Studio B Funk , composition, improvisation very, very r'n'b and many believed, who wants funky (judging from the title), recalling some good times Mohawk.
Donald Seward - Studio B Funk
Buy MP3 complete and remastered by Donald Seward here!
Few white artists in Quebec have dared touch the funk before 1969. Except a few groups that have successfully taken over from James Brown. There were few blacks Quebec artists such as Pierre Perpall, Trevor Payne & His Soul Brothers, Teddy & Nash or The Scales Raphael who played soul / funk / r & b, but Donald is one of the first "white" really try to type, but failed completely with this first attempt. Seward admits he was so heavily inspired by the house band of Café de l'Est Montreal Nicky Lee & The Playboys , who issued an album of uptempo R & B instrumental label on Jupiter. Studio B Funk Thus the day in response to the style of Nicky Lee.
Meanwhile, Seward continues to work on the construction of 45 towers for other artists. In 1969, he homered in the making, with the help of his partner Pierre "Pete" Sidor 45s for a black singer soul / funk of Quebec, Pierre Perpall. Seward with the organ, they recorded a resumed Sing A Simple Song Sly & The Family Stone, who becomes, in French, Do-re-mi-fa-Soul . Their recovery is excellent. It almost sounds like it was recorded in a black American ghetto. The horns are hot and the groove is deep. One of the best times of the 60s funk Quebec. Pierre Perpall - Do-re-mi-fa-Soul (Excuse the bad sound doubtful of my copy ...)
Fort
probably very proud of the result Seward added that recovery in its next album, but no voice, filling the vacuum line B3. This album released in 1970 on Pop label is called Apex Donald Seward plays the greatest hits and one finds almost the only occasions artists soul / funk like Sly & The Family Stone, Joe Tex, Blood, Sweat and Tears and Sam & Dave.
Donald Seward - Do-re-mi-fa-soul
In 1970, there is little or no other album really well times devoted to soul / funk in Quebec. Height of quality, it also includes Seward a cover of Mongo's Boogaloo (Afro-Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria), with hints of soul, funk and Latin-jazz insanely groovy. Despite the darkness of this album, it remains one of the most successful attempts and more "early" for a white artist from the pop music to touch the funk, soul and even jazz.
Donald Seward - Mongo's Boogaloo
There are also two versions on this album of instrumental compositions of a certain Michel Desjardins: I can not and I am well. This Michel Desjardins is actually the drummer for The 4th Michael and Will , another group produced by the duo Sidor / Seward and the first of which was launched on 45t Volt label, a label that belongs to both producers / directors.
The 4th Will - I can not
Together, they also realize the excellent Blues CEGEP, which retoruve TODAY 'Today the famous compilation Freak Out Total Vol. 3 Satan Bélanger. The story we learn that Michael Dion singer / guitarist of the course, is none other than the big brother of Celine Dion, first member of the Dion family to throw a disc and in addition, under the leadership of Sidor / Seward!
The beginning of the end
After producing records for Carol Martin, Jocelyne Pascal and several others without success, Seward partially withdraws music. His son, born in 1967, has already 5 years in 1972 and it is time that revenues are more stable for the Seward family. So he jumps on the opportunity to buy a bar show at Marieville. He rides a house band, The Three Much, he is always with Jacques Moisan Caesar and The Romans, and supports artists and comedians second order. The place is very popular. But in 1975, Seward was offered to engage in the insurance world. He put the key in the door and his artistic career is over, for all practical purposes.
Caesar and The Romans gave several concerts held during the year 80-90. Dino Hope continued to sing until he dies of throat cancer on Christmas Day 1999. Donald Seward is still alive and in great shape! He keeps a scrapbook containing all treasured memories from the days of Caesar and The Romans. In 2010, Les Disques Pluto launch 45 rpm reissue three songs from solo albums by Donald Seward.
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