BACHMAN, RANDY, 1943-
MUS 219

Randy Bachman fonds.  - 1945-1995.  - 10.28 m of textual records.  - 880 photographs.  - 198 negatives.  - 71 audio discs.  - 296 audio tape reels.  - 2 audio tape cassettes.  - 34 videocassettes.  - 181 film reels. 

Biographical sketch
A guitarist originally from Winnipeg, Randy Bachman has played in a number of popular music groups.  In 1965 he formed The Guess Who, with singer, pianist and guitarist Chad Allan, bass guitarist Jim Kale and drummer Garry Peterson.  The same year, just before the departure of Chad Allan, singer and pianist Burton Cummings joined the group.  The Guess Who had many hits, and in the late 1960s toured England and the United States.  In 1969, sales of the ballad These Eyes exceeded one million.  Randy Bachman left The Guess Who in 1970 and formed the group Brave Belt with Chad Allan and Bob Bachman (drums).  In 1971, singer and bass guitarist Fred Turner joined, and the group produced its second album, Brave Belt II.  With the arrival of guitarist Tim Bachman in 1972 and the departure of Chad Allan, the group chose a new name, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), and an aggressive hard-rock style.  The group became famous, performing in Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan.  Its hits included Blue Collar, Let It Ride, Takin' Care of Business, You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet, Hey You, and My Wheels Won't Turn.  In 1977 Randy Bachman resumed his career as a solo guitarist and cut his second solo album, Survivor.  The artist returned to the group format in 1979 with the formation of Ironhorse.  In 1983, Randy Bachman resumed his musical activities with the group BachmanTurner Overdrive.  Throughout his career, Bachman has also worked as a record producer and artistic director. 

Scope and content
The records in the fonds pertain primarily to the musical activities of Randy Bachman and a number of musical groups such as The Guess Who, Brave Belt, BTO, Ironhorse, Union, Trooper, Noah, Hammersmith, BMX and Original Crayons (Carmel).  The fonds also contains numerous records pertaining to Bachman's activities in companies such as R.C.B.  Ltd., Legend Records Ltd., Legend Records Inc., Survivor Music Ltd., Brave Belt Ltd.  and R.B.  Music Ltd.  The Randy Bachman archives therefore offer many research opportunities, since they deal simultaneously with the activities of an individual, musical groups and companies.  Through the numerous records in the fonds, researchers may access a significant portion of the history of popular music in Canada. 

The fonds contains, among other items, biographical and historical sketches; correspondence; contracts; minutes; scores and lyrics; copyright material; press releases; hit lists; awards and honourable mentions; legal documents; annotated schedules; tour itineraries; logos; posters; passes; concert tickets; financial material (ledgers; account books; accounting sheets; accounting records; royalties; account analyses; financial reports; bank statements; payment registration forms; salaries and wages; etc.); concert programmes; promotional material; record jackets; press clippings; photographs, mainly of Randy Bachman and musical groups; sound and video recordings of a number of artists and musical groups including Randy Bachman, Frank Ludwig, Denise McCann, The Guess Who, Brave Belt, BTO, Ironhorse, Union, Carmel, Trooper, Noah, Cowboys International, BMX and The Beach Boys. 

The fonds contains the following series:  MUS 219/A Personal Records; MUS 219/B Correspondence and Contracts; MUS 219/C Financial Records; MUS 219/D Songs; MUS 219/E Solo Career; MUS 219/F Musical Groups; MUS 219/G Production; MUS 219/H Companies; MUS 219/I Artist Files; MUS 219/J Photographs; MUS 219/K Audio and Audio-visual Recordings; MUS 219/L Miscellaneous. 

Immediate source of acquisition:  acquired from Randy Bachman, in several accessions, between 1992 and 1995. 

Restrictions:  written permission is required for access to the financial records. 

Finding aids:  Stéphane Jean.  Numerical List of the Randy Bachman fonds.  Ottawa:  National Library of Canada.  1995.  168 p.  (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/music/index-e.html#fonds)

Accruals:  further accessions expected.