Bruce Wheaton is a Canadian rock musician, composer and former band leader who has been active since the 1960s. He was a key member of the Canadian rock groups which include Stitch in Tyme, Everyday People and Molly Oliver. He either wrote or co-wrote the charting songs, "Feelin' Better Already", "Nova Scotia Home Blues", "To-Day I Feel Like Being Happy", "You Didn't Listen to Me" and "You Make Me Wonder".
Background Wheaton started his musical career in the late 1960s. He was a key member in the groups, The Stitch in Tyme, Everyday People and Molly Oliver. After winding up Molly Oliver, he embarked on a solo career where he found success and played throughout Canada.Nova Scotia Classic Rock - Bruce Wheaton
He has been described by Flea Market Funk as a Maritimes music legend.Flea Market Funk, August 11, 2011 - Everyday People – I Like What I Like Career The Continentals Wheaton was a member of The Continentals, a high school band from Amherst N.S that started out in 1962. In addition to himself on guitar and vocals, the group included Larry Rhindress on lead guitar, Bobby Ackles on rhythm guitar, Donnie Morris on bass and vocals, Victor (Pinky) Dauvin on drums and vocals and Louise Ormond on lead vocals.Nova Scotia Classic Rock - The Continentals Further activities It was in 1964 and while in the RCAF that he formed The Vibrasonic where he was the lead vocalist and guitarist. In 1965, he was transferred to a Canadian Forces detachment in the Toronto suburb of Downsview. While there he became a member of Chester & the Unknowns which featured Chester Boucher on lead vocals. The group managed to appear on A Go Go ’66, a television show in Toronto during 1956 and 1966.Vancouver Signature Sounds - #1492: Got To Get You Into My Life by Stitch In TymeChebucto - Bruce Wheaton He was with another band called the Purple Hearts for a period of time. By the end of 1966 he had taken up the offer by Donnie Morris and Pinky Dauvin to Join Stitch in Tyme.Vancouver Signature Sounds - #1492: Got To Get You Into My Life by Stitch In Tyme Stitch in Tyme Stitch in Tyme was made up of Donnie Morris, Pinky Dauvin, Grant Fullerton, Bob Murphy, and John Yorke. They were signed to Arc Records by vice-president Bill Gilliland.Museum of Canadian Music - Stitch in Tyme Wheaton joined Stitch in Tyme around the time the group Bill Gilland of Yorkville Records brought the band to the label. He replaced band member John Yorke who had left the group.Museum of Canadian Music - Stitch in Tyme The group would be described by Elvira Capreese of RPM Weekly as one of the most financially successful bands in the Toronto sound era.RPM Weekly, Week Ending April 15th. 1967 Volume 1, No. 1 - Page 6 Big Scoop by Elvira Capreese
The group had success with their version of "Got to Get You into My Life" which peaked at No. 36 on the RPM 100 chart for the week of 18 March 1967.RPM Music Weekly, Week Ending March 18th. 1967 Volume 7, No. 3 - Page 5 RPM 100, This week 36, 1 week ago 41, 2 weeks ago 42, GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE Stitch In Tyme-Yorkville-45001-DRPM Music Weekly, Week Ending March 25th. 1967 Volume 7, No. 4 - Page 5 RPM 100, This week 52, 1 week ago 36, 2 weeks ago 41, GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE Stitch In Tyme-Yorkville-45001-D They also had success with "New Dawn" which peaked at No. 36 on the RPM 100 chart,RPM Music Weekly, Volume 8 No. 9 Week Ending October 28th. 1967 - Page 5 THE RPM 100, 36 39 56 New Dawn Stitch In Tyme-Yorkville-45012-DRPM Music Weekly, Volume 8 No. 10 Week Ending November 4th. 1967 - Page 1 (front cover) THE RPM 100 and at No. 3 on the RPM Canadian Hits chart for the week of 28 October.RPM Music Weekly, Volume 8 No. 9 Week Ending October 28th. 1967 - Page 5 CANADIAN HITS, 3 4 NEW DAWN Stitch In Tyme-Yorkville-45012-DRPM Music Weekly, Volume 8 No. 10 Week Ending November 4th. 1967 - Page 5 RPM CANADIAN HITS, 11 3 NEW DAWN Stitch In Tyme-Yorkville-45012-D
The group broke up around the end of 1968.The Bash - Grant Fullerton, VIEW ALL Soma Having left Stitch in Tyme and needing a change, Wheaton would find his way into Soma.Flea Market Funk, August 11, 2011 - Everyday People – I Like What I Like Along Donny Morris and Bob Murphy to form the group.Museum of Canadian Music - Stitch in Tyme They had success with the song "Train" which made it to 54 in Canada for the week of 19 June 1971.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 18 June 19, 1971 - Page 9 RPM 100 SINGLES June 19, 1971 This week 54, 1 week ago 55, 2 weeks ago 58, TRAIN Soma-Aquarius-5010-K, MAPLRPM weekly, Volume 15 No. 19 June 26, 1971 - Page 9 RPM 100 SINGLES June 26, 1971, This week 76, 1 week ago 54, 2 weeks ago 55, TRAIN Soma-Aquarius-5010-K, MAPL Everyday People With himself on lead guitar and lead vocals, Carson Richards on bass and vocals, Pamela Marsh on keyboards and vocals, Chris Papputts on keyboards and vocals, David Hare on keyboards and Alan Muggeridge on drums, he formed the group Everyday People which was named after the Sly & the Family Stone song of the same name.Nova Scotia Classic Rock - Everyday People Along with Dr. Music, they would prove to be one of the key acts for the GRT Records label.RPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 3 March 4, 1972 - Page 13 DR MUSIC ACTS BUSY WITH TOURS In addition to leading Everyday People, he did most of the composition work for them.RPM Weekly, Volume 14, No. 14 November 21st, 1970 - Page 2 Everyday People ready for charts COVER STORY
He wrote "You Make Me Wonder" and with Pamela Marsh co-wrote "Nova Scotia Home Blues" which were released on single, GRT 1233-01 in November 1970.RPM Weekly, Volume 14 No. 14 November 21st 1970 -Page 2 Everyday People ready for charts, COVER STORYRPM Weekly, Volume 14 No. 14 November 21st 1970 - Page 6 NEW MAPL RELEASES, YOU MAKE ME WONDER Everyday People (GRT) 1233-01 (Wheaton) "Nova Scotia Home Blues" was the first to chart, debuting at No. 27 on the RPM MOR Playlist chart for the week of 12 December.RPM Weekly, Volume 14 No. 16 December 5th, 1970 - Page 19 MOR PLAYLISTRPM weekly, Volume 14 No. 17 December 12, 1970 - Page 19 MOR PLAYLIST, 27 NOVA SCOTIA HOME BLUES Everyday People-GRT 1233-01(T) "You Make Me Wonder" debuted a week later on the RPM 100 Singles chart at No. 75.RPM weekly, Volume 14 No. 18 December 19, 1970 - Page 13 DECEMBER 19, 1970 HANDY PULL-OUT GUIDE, RPM 100 SINGLES, This week 75, 1 week ago ...., 2 weeks ago ...., YOU MAKE ME WONDER Everyday People-GRT-1233-01-T, MAPL It peaked at No. 60 for the week of 9 January 1971.RPM Weekly, Volume 14 No 20 & 21 1971 January 9, 1971 - Page 9 JAN 9 1971 HANDY PULL-OUT CHART, RPM 100 SINGLES, This week 60, 1 week ago 64, 2 weeks ago 75, YOU MAKE ME WONDER Everyday People-GRT-1233-01-T, MAPLRPM Weekly, Volume 14 No. 22 January 16, 1971 - Page 9 JAN 16, 1971 HANDY PULL-OUT CHART RPM 100 SINGLES, This week 61, 1 week ago 60, 2 weeks ago 64, YOU MAKE ME WONDER Everyday People-GRT-1233-01-T, MAPL
It was reported in the January / February 1972 issue of The Music Scene that Wheaton's group "Everyday People" had recently completed the tracks for their debut album at the Toronto Sound Studio.The Music Scene, January / February 1972 No. 263 - Page 14
The group's single "I Like What I Like" bw "Don't Wait for Tomorrow" which was produced by Terry Brown was released on GRT 1233-12 in March 1972. Wheaton composed both sides.45Cat - Everyday People - I Like What I Like According to the 4 March issue of RPM Weekly, their label GRT got behind the song for a nation-wide push.RPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 3 March 4, 1972 - Page 13 DR MUSIC ACTS BUSY WITH TOURS The song was also on the playlist of CKXL in Calgary.RPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 3 March 4, 1972 - Page 23 The Programmers NEW ON PLAYLISTS, MAJOR MARKETS, CKXL CALGARY, I Like What I Like-Everyday People The song would later become an underground dance hit in North American dance clubs and achieve a type of cult status. After she left the Mamas & the Papas, Cass Elliott recorded the song and put her own spin on it.Flea Market Funk, August 11, 2011 - Everyday People – I Like What I LikeSecret East, Oct 13, 2016 - Secret Selector: “I Like What I Like” by Everyday People (1971)
Wheaton composed "Feelin' Better Already" which Everyday People recorded at Toronto Sound Studios.Catalog of Copyright Entries Third Series By Library of Congress. Copyright Office · 1973 - Page 1890 MUSIC July-Dec, FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY; w & m Bruce Wheaton. 1p. © Overlea Music Ltd. & Rummy Music; 24July72; EU356189.RPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 17 No. 24 July 29, 1972 - Page 23 TORONTO SOUND STUDIOS with *8 singles on the RPM Top 100, we are pleased to announcean important addition to our engineering staff98 .... .... FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY It debuted at No. 98 in the RPM 100 Singles chart for the week of 22 July 1972,RPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 17 No. 23 July 22, 1972 - Pages 15-16 RPM 100 SINGLES July 22, 1972, This week 98, 1 week ago ...., 2 weeks ago ...., FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY Everyday People-GRT 1233 14-T MAPL and at No. 9 in the RPM Top 30 MAPL Chart for the week of 19 August.RPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 18 No. 1 August 19, 1972 - Page 7 RPM TOP 30 MAPL CHART, 9, FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY Everyday People-GRT 1233 14-T It peaked at No. 6 on the RPM Top 30 MAPL chart for the week of 9 September.RPM Weekly, Volume 18 No. 3 September 2, 1972 - Page 16 RPM TOP 30 MAPL CHART, 6, FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY Everyday People-GRT 1233 14-TRPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 18 No. 4 September 9, 1972 - Page 7 RPM TOP 30 MAPL CHART, 6, FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY Everyday People-GRT 1233 14-TRPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 18 No. 5 September 16, 1972 - Page 13 RPM TOP 30 MAPL CHART, 7, FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY Everyday People-GRT 1233 14-T It also peaked at No. 37 on the RPM 100 Singles chart that same week.RPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 18 No. 4 September 9, 1972 - Page 11 RPM 100 SINGLES September 9, 1972, This week 37, 1 week ago 40, 2 weeks ago 40, FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY, MAPLRPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 18 No. 5 September 16, 1972 - Page 15 RPM 100 SINGLES September 16, 1972, This week 53, 1 week ago 37, 2 weeks ago 40, FEELIN' BETTER ALREADY, MAPL
Wheaton wrote "To-Day I Feel Like Being Happy" which peaked at No. 31 on the RPM Weekly Adult Contemporary Playlist chart for the week of 16 June 1973.RPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 19 No. 18 June 16, 1973 - Page 20 RPM RPM CONTEMPORARY PLAYLIST, 31 32 TODAY I FEEL LIKE BEING HAPPY Everyday People/GRT 1333-16/T MAPLRPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 19 No. 19 June 23, 1973 - Page 26 RPM ADULT CONTEMPORARY PLAYLIST, 40 31 TODAY I FEEL LIKE BEING HAPPY Everyday People/GRT 1333-16/T
Wheaton remained with Everyday People until 1974 and did his final tour with them. He decided to move to Halifax, Nova Scotia. There he was based in the Maritimes and he continued his musical career.Chebucto - Molly Oliver History
Molly Oliver Following the break-up of Everyday People, Wheaton and bassist Carson Richards went on to create Molly Oliver.Secret East, Oct 13, 2016 - Secret Selector: “I Like What I Like” by Everyday People (1971) by Kris G. Hamlyn Tim Garagan and Bob Quinn had been members of the rock group Pepper Tree.Nova Scotia Classic Rock - Pepper Tree They also pulled in Tim Garagan and Bob Quinn had been members of the rock group Pepper Tree.Nova Scotia Classic Rock - Pepper Tree