Youngtown
Museum
Season
Five!
2012
Mike McKenna: An Original Canadian Guitar Hero
Youngtown / March 2009
Mike McKenna is no stranger to the early Canadian Sound. In fact,
he helped to create it with a long and significant history as an
outstanding home-grown talent. The 1960’s Canadian music scene was a
fertile period producing some of the best talent this country has ever
seen including Mike McKenna. Early exposure to rock n roll left a
young McKenna impressed with the music of artists such as Buddy Holly
and the ultimate conclusion that the guitar was for him. Following
extensive practice at his craft, McKenna soon began to expose himself to
the rapidly evolving music scene in Toronto accepting small gigs
wherever possible at coffee houses around Yorkville. The village of
Yorkville was the center of music in Toronto throughout the sixties
showcasing the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, David Clayton
Thomas, Neil Young, and many others. It was around 1964 that
McKenna and friends formed what was to become perhaps the hottest rock
act in the village – Luke and The Apostles. Indeed, the band was
so popular they drew attention from U.S. producer Bill Graham
resulting in The Apostles sharing the stage with The Grateful Dead and
Jefferson Airplane in New York City as well as Toronto’s O’Keefe Centre.
By the mid sixties McKenna had clearly established himself as a local
guitar hero eventually resulting in the formation of what would become
his greatest commercial success – McKenna Mendelson Mainline. The
band would achieve international success in the late 1960’s and early
1970’s with their album “Stink” coupled with extensive touring and
performances at such notable events as the Strawberry Field’s Pop
Festival. These many years later, Mike McKenna continues to play guitar
and play’s well. On April 25th of this year he will be hosting a
“must see” musical event at The Black Swan in Toronto featuring
performances by many of Mike’s pals from the early days. For more
information on guitarist Mike McKenna and the upcoming Black Swan event,
visit him at www.mikemckenna.ca
Complete audio interview / Youngtown archives.
