{{Short description|Canadian singer (1946–2022)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = Outside Lands 2011 - Donny Gerrard (cropped).jpg | caption = Gerrard at Outside Lands 2011 | birth_name = Donald Bradford Gerrard | birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|3|19}} | birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|2|3|1946|3|19}} | death_place = Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. | occupation = Singer | past_member_of = Skylark }}
'''Donald Bradford Gerrard''' (March 19, 1946 – February 3, 2022) was a Canadian singer. He was a member of the band Skylark in the early 1970s, and in later years performed and recorded as a baritone backup singer for artists such as Mavis Staples.
==Early life== Gerrard was born in Vancouver, Canada, on March 19, 1946.<ref name="CP obit 1">{{cite news|title=Donny Gerrard, lead singer of Skylark's 'Wildflower,' dies at 75|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/donny-gerrard-lead-singer-of-skylark-s-wildflower-dies-at-75-1.5773119|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208201645/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/donny-gerrard-lead-singer-of-skylark-s-wildflower-dies-at-75-1.5773119|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2022|first=David|last=Friend|date=February 8, 2022|access-date=February 8, 2022|agency=The Canadian Press|publisher=CTV News}}</ref><ref name=Gajewski>{{cite news|title=Donny Gerrard, "Wildflower" Singer, Dies at 75|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/donny-gerrard-dead-wildflower-singer-1235087772/|first=Ryan|last=Gajewski|date=February 5, 2022|access-date=February 8, 2022|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> He began singing as a child and his talents became noticed when he was in high school. He and Al Foreman formed a group called "Donny Gerrard and the Checkmates" after the latter heard him sing at church community event in 1961. The band performed for three years before breaking up. He subsequently had a sojourn in Hawaii with another band, before coming back to Canada and reuniting with Foreman in Night Train Revue as its bassist for the next two years.<ref name="CP obit 1"/> Gerrard later relocated to the United States and started out performing in flash Vegas lounge acts. He was also part of a group that disbanded after Floyd Sneed became a member of Three Dog Night.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Freedland|first1=Nat|date=September 15, 1973|title=Skylark Flying on 'Flower' Power|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|volume=85|issue=37|page=17|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
==Career== Gerrard successfully auditioned as lead vocalist for Skylark in the early 1970s, with his performance leaving an impression on David Foster.<ref name="CP obit 1"/> He sang with the band on its self-titled album in 1972,<ref name="Inc.1972">{{cite magazine|title=Billboard Album Reviews|magazine=Billboard|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_EigEAAAAMBAJ|date=July 29, 1972|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_EigEAAAAMBAJ/page/n49 50]–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> and was lead singer on their hit single, "Wildflower".<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/doug-edwards-west-coast-musician-composed-wildflower-for-his-band-skylark/article33083451/ "West Coast musician Doug Edwards composed Wildflower for Skylark"]. TOM HAWTHORN, ''The Globe and Mail'', November 28, 2016</ref> It ultimately lasted 21 weeks on the ''Billboard'' charts.<ref name="CP obit 1"/>
After Skylark disbanded in 1973, Gerrard commenced his solo career. He released his first single titled "(Baby) Don't Let It Mess Your Mind" in 1975 with The Rocket Record Company label.<ref name="AllMusic bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/donny-gerrard-mn0000799821/biography|title=Donny Gerrard – Biography|first=Steve|last=Huey|work=AllMusic|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref> He issued another single, "Greedy for Your Love" in 1976,<ref name="Inc.1976">{{cite magazine|title=Attic Records will distribute Greedy artists|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT88|date=November 27, 1976|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=88–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> the same year he released a self-titled album with the Greedy label in Los Angeles.<ref name="AllMusic bio"/><ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/donny-gerrard-mw0000342384 "Donny Gerrard"]. ''AllMusic'' Review by Andrew Hamilton</ref> However, his solo career never took off with the success his record label desired.<ref name="CP obit 1"/> He released his last single "Stay a While With Me" in 1977,<ref name="Inc.1977">{{cite magazine|title=Billboard Top 50 - Easy Listening|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50|date=February 19, 1977|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=50–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> before becoming a backing vocalist.<ref name="AllMusic bio"/>
In 1985, Gerrard appeared in a duet on the ''St. Elmo's Fire'' soundtrack along with Amy Holland. The ballad from David Foster, "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire (For Just a Moment)" was a slower version of the film's main theme song with added lyrics. He would also contribute vocals to Foster's charity single "Tears Are Not Enough," sung by a cavalcade of Canadian celebrities to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia.<ref name="CP obit 1"/>
Gerrard was a backup singer for musicians such as Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and Cher.<ref>Huey, Steve. [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/donny-gerrard-mn0000799821/biography Donny Gerrard artist biography]. Allmusic. Retrieved February 4, 2022.</ref> He sang backup for Mavis Staples on her album ''One True Vine'',<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18220-mavis-staples-one-true-vine/ "Mavis Staples One True Vine"]. ''Pitchfork'', Stephen M. Deusner June 26, 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-mavis-staples-one-true-vine-review-20130624-column.html "Album review: Mavis Staples, 'One True Vine'"]. ''Chicago Tribune'', June 24, 2013.</ref> and at live performances, including at the Lincoln Center in 2014.<ref>[http://www.popmatters.com/review/187826-mavis-staples/ "Still on the Freedom Highway"]. ''Pop Matters'', George de Stefano November 10, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.chicagobluesguide.com/reviews/live-reviews/mavis-jc-brooks/mavis-jc-brooks-tivoli-page.html "Mavis Staples with JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound"]. ''Chicago Blues Guide'', February 29, 2012</ref> He continued to perform with Staples, and can be heard on her 2016 album, ''Livin' on a High Note''.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/cd-reviews-mavis-staples-the-timbers-breakbot/news-story/402657506248609dd1b2eb7518865b0b "Music reviews: Mavis Staples, The Timbers, Breakbot"]. ''Western Australian'', February 13, 2016</ref> His final known contribution was in her album ''We Get By'', released in 2019.<ref name="NYDailyNews-Obit">{{cite news|title=Donny Gerrard, lead singer of Skylark's 'Wildflower' has died|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-donny-gerrard-lead-singer-skylark-wildflower-dead-20220204-zacrgee3rvg57cm6gp5cayafjq-story.html|first=Karu F.|last=Daniels|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=February 8, 2022|newspaper=New York Daily News}}</ref>
==Personal life== Gerrard was married to Myra until his death. Together, they had one child (Cooper). He also had another child (Traie Payne) from a previous relationship before he was married.<ref name="CP obit 1"/>
While receiving hospice care at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Gerrard died on February 3, 2022, at the age of 75.<ref name="CP obit 2">{{cite news|title=Donny Gerrard, singer of Skylark's Wildflower, dead at 75|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/donny-gerrard-obituary-1.6343570|first=David|last=Friend|date=February 8, 2022|access-date=February 8, 2022|publisher=CBC News|agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> He suffered from cancer prior to his death.<ref name="NYDailyNews-Obit"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Daniels |first1=Kate |url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/83855/20220204/donny-gerrard-cause-of-death-finally-revealed-soul-band-lead-singer-of-skylark-dead-at-75.htm |title=Donny Gerrard Cause of Death Finally Revealed: Soul Band Lead Singer of Skylark Dead at 75 |website=Music Times |access-date=February 9, 2022 |date=February 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soultracks.com/story-donny-gerard-wildflower-dies|author=Rizik, Chris|title=R.I.P. R&B classic "Wildflower" singer Donny Gerrard|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=SoulTracks}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/donny-gerrard-skylark-wildflower-dies-75/|title = Donny Gerrard, Vocalist On Skylark's 1972 Hit 'Wildflower', Dies At 75|last = Peacock|first = Tim|date = February 7, 2022|accessdate = February 8, 2022 |work = uDiscoverMusic |archive-url = https://archive.today/20220207185655/https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/donny-gerrard-skylark-wildflower-dies-75/ |archive-date = February 7, 2022 |url-status = live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{discogs artist|Donny Gerrard}} * {{imdb name|1404734}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerrard, Donny}} Category:1946 births Category:2022 deaths Category:20th-century Canadian male singers Category:21st-century Canadian male singers Category:21st-century Canadian singers Category:Canadian baritones Category:Deaths from cancer in New Mexico Category:Singers from Vancouver Category:Skylark (Canadian band) members