Black Snake

Black Snake started in Edmonton. Original member was Joe Conroy who played a Gibson Flying V. There were many comings and goings of musicians. Photo seen is lead guitarist Norm MacPherson.
Everyone met through Craig Scott who had a coffee house in Kits Beach called The Phase 4 on 4th street Vancouver.

Submitted by Craig Scott

Dave Wilkie was previously a member of the Fast Flying Vestibule, Norm McPherson and Ron Flatman were prevously with Blues X 5, Shari Pandit was always a great friend and another California Draft Dodger (died in 2002)by Craig Scott


Vancouver-born composer, Bob Turner, was a member of Black Snake in 1968 and 1969.When Bob played electric bass with Black Snake, the other band members were:
Joe Conroy (recently deceased) - vocals and rhythm guitar
Paul Grant (deceased) - drum kit
Pat McDonald - lead guitar
On one occasion, the 1969 Aldergrove Rock Festival, Black Snake was joined by Charlie Austin on electric piano. Bob remembers that his photo was featured on the front page of the Vancouver Sun newspaper the day after the historic Rock Festival.

Bob Turner composed original music and lyrics for the band. Black Snake toured Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the B.C. Interior and were regularly contracted to play at Night Clubs, Dance Halls and High Schools. They were the opening band at the Eagles Auditorium in Seattle for MC5, Youngbloods and Jethro Tull; performed at Seattle’s Exhibition Hall with Creedence Clearwater; and did a three-city tour with Paul Butterfield (Portland + Seattle + the Gardens in Vancouver). Their many performance venues in Vancouver included the PNE Gardens with Moody Blues, the Pender Auditorium, and the Retinal Circus with other Vancouver bands of the day and with such headliners as Velvet Underground.
Bob and Paul Grant left the band in late 1969; Black Snake carried on for a short time thereafter before disbanding.

His music site is: turnercom.com
and his youtube channel is: Bob Turner - YouTube

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