Canada / 1970-74
Personnel:
CHUCK AARONS
JIM ACKLEY
ALBUM:
1 AARONS AND ACKLEY (Capitol ) 1971
45s:
1 Let It Shine/Lay Me Down (Capitol 72648) 1971 -
2 Devil Song/There Is A Lady (Capitol 72656) 1971 68
3 Girl I've Been Waiting/N.F.S. (Capitol 72665) 1971 -
4 Bonnie Blue/Could Have Had Anything (Capitol 72680) 1972 -
5 Where Did The Music Go?/ (GRT ) 1974 -
This pop duo were both born in the United States. Chuck Aarons was up in Toronto avoiding the draft in 1970 when he met Jim Ackley, who was working as a clerk in the promotion department of Capitol Records, and they decided to become partners. They were backed by two experienced session musicians; Jim Rolleston (bs), who'd once worked with Seals and Crofts and Gordon Lightfoot and Terry Clarke (drms), who'd worked with John Shelley's Manhole and Fifth Dimension.
Their sole album spawned a minor hit, Devil Song, but after its release they moved into production work and also produced jingles. Later in December 1974 they signed to GRT records but only one 45 resulted, Where Did The Music Go?.
Ackley was ex-Oregon band Thirteenth Story from 1968.
3 comments:
I am the brother of Chuck Aarons and he was NOT I repeat NOT a draft dodger. That is completely erroneous and you must correct this! Jim Ackely was the one dodging the draft and came to Toronto way ahead of my brother. The two didn't meet until late 1971 when Ackely worked for Capitol EMI in Toronto as a rep. Chuck, was excused from military service back in the late 60s with a 1Y deferment due to asthma which both me and my father all had. Chuck met Ackely and then recorded two LPs with him receiving critical acclaim from the Canadian press. Just as the US market was making plans via Capital EMI in the US, to tour the country and really open up the national spotlight, my brother unwisely agreed with Ackely to cancel the tour because ACKLEY could not enter the US due to his DRAFT STATUS! Capitol advised my brother to select a keyboard replacement just for the US tour but being loyal to his partner and friend, he agreed to cancel thus putting the death blow to what could have been for Aarons & Ackley. My brother continues to record music in both California and British Columbia while Ackely, is supposedly somewhere in Spain, last we heard and is was not in very good physical condition. Ackely along with bass player Jim Rollenston, left Toronto in 1976 after President Ford granted amnesty to all Vietnam draft dodgers. My brother followed his pal to Los Angeles for a while, producing and playing on Jingles and also doing a lot of TV work appearing on Dynasty, the movie Thornbirds, Rose Mary Cloony story and movies like "Bird", all appearing as a guitarist.
Please correct your bio and use the fact above which are THE correct and accurate facts.
Thank you.
J. A.
Correction regarding Aarons & Ackely. I meant to say, Chuck didn't meet Ackely until early 1971 not late 1971. The producer was Dennis Murphy and the drummer Terry Clark played with jazz guitar great Jim Hall. Ackely was primarily a jazz keyboardest and had previously toured and collaborated on one song with the Beachboys. On the second Aarons & Ackely LP, "You and I", the used Chris Kearny and other growing Canadian stars as guest vocalists and musicians. The Mike Douglas show in Philadelphia, actually used the Aarons & Ackely song "Let it Shine" for a dance number.
J.A.
I met James Ackely back in the 1990's. I worked with him on three different ocasions teaching English as a foreign language.He was a great guy to work with;full of wonderful ideas and such a colourful imagination that he made teaching extremely fun for everyone.He told me so many interesting stories of his past including the part where he dodged the draft, which I would have done the same if I was around at the time.I lost track of James in 1994.I hope he's ok. I shall always remember him for his sincerity,kindness and good friendship.
Kaveh Jahansoozi
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