Who remembers the Talkabouts, the Battlefords first rock and roll band? I don’t but I wish that I could, because we would be kindred spirits. When I was 17, I played in a band called Rick and the Raiders.
I got information for this short article from an interview with Cec Dimmick, who used to be the The Talkabouts’ driver in his 1957 Buick Century four-door, in which Cec, all band members and their instruments could ride.
Logistics
The band had only one mike, which they plugged into an amplifier. And, they did not have a real four-string bass guitar, so they played bass rhythm chords on a six-string rhythm guitar. Nor did the band have monitors. Instead, they put their amplifiers on chairs behind the players.
I don’t know how much the Talkabouts got paid, but Rick and the Raiders got $35 for a five-piece band. Jerry Doucette played the best guitar (borrowed from Cec) – a solid body, speckled blue, single cutaway, with twin pickups.
During the early ‘60s the Talkabouts, and the Serenaders, kept the teenagers a rockin’ and a boppin’ at dance halls and house parties. Music included Elvis, the Everly Brothers, the Big Bopper, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and others.
Every era had its teenage music. Up until the ‘90s, the kids loved rock and roll, but now they’ve forgotten how to rock. Dance mix, hip hop and rap have taken over. That’s not necessarily bad, it’s just different. All teenagers love their music.
The band members included Darryl Shuler on rhythm guitar and as lead singer. He worked at the Bank of Commerce in North Battleford. Jerry Doucette played lead guitar and backup vocals. Drummer Jackie Ross worked for CJNB. The bass rhythm player came from the Leroy area.
Fun Facts
The early ‘60s were the days of grease – Wildroot, Brilliantine, Sauve. The boys greased their hair and sported duck tails and kiss curls.
Darryl’s brother Lionel had a rock band in Edmonton. Jerry’s sister was married to Ray Jordan who owned Jordan Bus Lines. Jordan’s son, Trent, owned Great Canadian Oil Change. Darryl owned a ‘56 Oldsmobile. Jerry Doucette was quite a “character.” He liked to have fun. Jerry’s sister, Doris, and her husband, Ray, owned the Esso in Maymont.
Dances and Girls
A few of the communities the band played included Landis, Handel, Saskatoon, Battleford and North Battleford. In Saskatoon, after a dance, they always stopped in at the Marigold to load up on food.
Then there were the girls. The band attracted a lot of girls. The girls liked everyone in the band. The band didn’t go to house parties after a gig. They went home, got some sleep and got ready for the next dance. Of course, after a long night playing until three in the morning, the band usually got back to the city at five or six in the morning.
What Happened to the Band?
Darryl moved to Calgary in the spring of 1963. The boys lost track of him. Jerry likely ended up in Edmonton where he probably played in his brother’s rock band. Jackie Ross now lives in Moose Jaw. We’re not sure what happened to the remaining band member.
Conclusion
The band played from 1960-63 before they disbanded. They didn’t have much for equipment, but they made up for it with enthusiasm and talent. The band was popular with teens, and young adults, in the Battlefords and area.
The legacy of the Talkabouts is:hey are forever enshrined as an integral part of the Battlefords musical landscape.
