History

Sean McCool

Sean with The Soulshakers at Willows Park, Victoria, BC, Jul 2021

Present and past bands and musical undertakings:

Current:

The Soul Shakers

  • a rhythm & blues band featuring powerhouse vocalist, Joyce “The Voyce” Allensen. The Soulshakers have released three CDs: Live at the Yale (2010), an album of R&B covers recorded live in Vancouver, BC; Love is Love (2015), a 6-song EP of original songs; and, Ready for You (2018), a CD of 8 originals. (https://www.soulshakers.ca/)

 

Solo

  • With a substantial repertoire of covers and originals Sean plays in pubs, restaurants and other venues in the Victoria area; the solo CD McCool was released in Dec, 2020.

 

Abilities Community Services

  • Music Therapy one morning a week for a group of mentally challenged adults

Starlight Pops Choir Combo

  • This Quartet – George Keonig on bass, Rich Lang on drums, Peter Rothhauser, keyboards, Sean on guitar -backs up a 70-voice choir under the direction of Sue Doman. (http://starlightpops.com/ )

Past musical groups:

Barkley Sound (2013 – 2019)

  • A trio consisting three voices and one acoustic guitar. The other two members, Megan Preece and Janet Zupanc, are experienced singers with pedigrees that include Doc & the Doo-Wops and String of Pearls

 – Wasted on the Way (A Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young cover)

Preston McCool (2010-2015)

Network (2008-2010)

  • A blues-rock band with Rob Gillespie on lead vocals (Rob did studio back-up vocals on RiffRaff’s 1979 recording “She Fades Away”)

Party of Four (2003-2006)

  • A 4-piece band formed to play on cruise ships; during this time Sean worked and lived aboard 3 Holland America and 4 Princess cruise ships
  • INSERT MP3

The Waybacks (1996-2002)

  • A showband that featured discreet, costumed segments highlighting popular music from the 50s to 80s; The Waybacks played across Canada from Skidegate on Haida Gwai to Ottawa, the nation’s capital, playing corporate shows and fairs sharing the stage with such bands as Chilliwack, Wide Mouth Mason, Doug & the Slugs, Prism, and The Goode Brothers among others

Third Avenue (1992-2000)

  • A trio with singer Lisa McLellan and drummer Paul McLellan (who played drums with Showdown who had a hit with the infamous and ultra-Canadian “Rodeo Song”)

Doc & the Doo-Wops (1988-1994)

  • A showband featuring Hugh Taylor (d. 1994) and Sue Wilkey, veterans of the Victoria musical theatre scene. D&DW played shows all over Western Canada and Washington state.

P.A.C.E. Musical Revues (1990s)

     – Shows with a back-up band supporting various groups and individual singers doing popular songs and show tunes for Victoria Western Communities musical productions

Cabaret (Victoria Operatic Society, 1990)

  • Acted the part of a German soldier in the musical and was featured as a solo vocalist in the poignant “Tomorrow Belongs to Me”

Godspell (Four Seasons Musical Theatre, 1989)

  • Band leader of the rock quartet for the musical production

Overproof (1985-1987)

  • Played bass and sang in this country band

Fourcast (1987-1988)

  • Two acoustic guitars and four voices; this group featured Megan and Janet, from the aforementioned Barkley Sound, and Sherman Sheldon on guitar and vocals

Poorboy (1985-87)

  • Played keyboards and guitar, and sang in this pop-rock/country-rock band

Pressure Point (1983)

  • A reggae/ska band; I played keyboards and sang back-up vocals in this band; Gene Hardy, later a multi-year Maple Blues Award nominee, played sax in this band

Whiskey Creek (1980)

  • A country rock band centred in Banff, Alberta; I played keyboards, guitar, and sang

Riff Raff (1979-80)

  • A rock band in Victoria, BC; recorded a vinyl 45 – She Fades Away/Jekyll & Hyde

Bachelor of Music (1979)

  • Completed the 4-year B Mus program at University of Victoria’s School of Music

Canterbury Tales (1977)

  • A University of Victoria musical production; played guitar with the orchestra in the pit

Sour Grapes (1974-78)

  • A rock/blues/country band formed in Victoria, BC, with John Rigby (violin, guitar, mandolin, vocals); the song “Hey, Johnny” on the solo album “McCool” is a tribute to John – he died in 2002

Rachel Nest (1968-70)

  • A pop/rock band during high school which played mainly at church halls and gymnasiums. Sean was the only singer and picked up guitar during the course of the band

St Michael’s Choir (1963-65)

  • As a boy soprano I was paid to sing on Saturdays – 50 cents for funerals, a dollar for weddings – at churches all over the Toronto area with groups of 4 to 8 boys; on Sundays I sang two high masses each week St Michael’s Cathedral in downtown Toronto (Gregorian chant and Latin were still in liturgical play); it was part of the curriculum at St Michael’s Choir School where I went for two years. I performed with the choir at Massey Hall in 1965

That’s nearly all of it. Along the way there were a few minor bands and projects too short and/or inconsequential to mention. There has been subbing-in, one-gig throw-together bands, and a few recording jobs as well. The song continues …

 

Discography

She Fades Away – Riff Raff (vinyl 45rpm, 1980): Hammond B3 organ, piano, and vocals

With No Reservations – Party of Four (CD, 2003): Electric guitar and vocals

Shooting Stars – Sean McCool (CD, 2008): Keyboards, bass, acoustic and electric guitars and vocals

Live at the Yale – The Soulshakers (CD, 2009): Electric guitar and vocals

Love is Love – The Soulshakers (CD, 2015): Electric guitar and vocals; songwriting

From My Soul – Alan Smalls (CD, 2016): Acoustic guitar

Ready for You – The Soulshakers (CD, 2018): Electric guitar and vocals; songwriting

McCool – Sean McCool (CD 2020):  Guitars, keys, vocals