Sable Ridge

Websites:  No
Origin: Westlock, Alberta, 🇨🇦
Biography:

From Pickardville to the Red Barn: The Journey of Sable Ridge
By Robert Williston
Sable Ridge was a five-to-six-member professional dance band rooted in the Westlock/Clyde, Alberta area. Formed in 1982 and playing its first gig in Pickardville in 1983, the group quickly became a staple at weddings, cabarets, community halls, school grad dances, rodeos, and club dates across central Alberta—racking up 200+ bookings and a long list of repeat clients and references. Their calling card was versatility and warmth: old-time waltzes and polkas, ’50s/’60s rock-’n’-roll and dance tunes, newer country hits and pop standards, and tender slow dances for newlyweds and families. Above all, Sable Ridge functioned like a musical family that loved playing together and bringing a room along for the ride.

Formation, rehearsal culture, and early momentum
Sable Ridge coalesced around guitarist/leader Bob MacLachlan (also spelled MacLaughlin in some sources). Bob’s guitar teaching introduced him to Rose Marie Legere, a gifted singer who (with friend Julia Zittlau) sang in church and at weddings. Bob recruited Mike Simpson (bass/vocals; recently settled in Fort Saskatchewan after years gigging in England) and Ken Kowalyshyn (drums/vocals; a St. Albert native who’d switched from accordion to drums as a teen). Guitarist Steve Berg rounded out the early lineup.

They rehearsed in Bob’s farm garage south of Clyde—kept warm in winter by a roaring Sundog heater that sometimes drowned out the music but kept the band from freezing. The vibe was industrious and joyful: practices once a week, Saturday bookings, and vacation time that had to be planned well in advance. From the jump, they played for R.F. Staples High School grad dances and became regulars at The Red Barn, with return engagements and Christmas-season shows.

The single: “Saanich Road” / “Why Don’t We Fall in Love” (1983/84)
In November 1983, Sable Ridge recorded their debut 45 rpm at Woodbend Studios (Devon, Alberta) with Maurice Marshall engineering/assisting. Jackets and pressing were arranged through Imperial Record Corporation (Vancouver). The first shipment arrived May 1984 and, by September 1984, 500+ copies had sold locally and at shows.

“Saanich Road” (Side A) — written by Steve Berg, inspired by a house/location in Vancouver; with background vocals by Rose and Julia; Bob on the guitar solo; Mike (bass) and Ken (drums) on the track.

“Why Don’t We Fall in Love” (Side B) — written by Bob MacLachlan; Rose on lead with Julia on backups; the music track cut by “the boys” in the band.

The record sold well at local retailers (Video Showcase, Medicine Bottle Drug Mart Group, Oliver Music in Edmonton) and directly from Sable Ridge Productions, P.O. Box 178, Clyde, Alberta. Plans for additional 45s and an originals-heavy LP were floated as momentum grew.

Lineup shifts and long run
After the single was made in 1983, Steve Berg left (later active with the Hope Mission in Edmonton). In 1987, Julia Zittlau stepped away to start a family. Through an audition, Sandi Hiebert (vocals/percussion/piano) joined, immediately strengthening harmonies and adding keys. The band carried on with full calendars, playing venues from Athabasca to Calgary—from The Red Barn to hotel ballrooms like the Westin—and community events such as the Thorhild Rodeo and Chautauqua ’85 at Westlock Memorial Hall.

A favorite memory captures their spirit: at a Slave Lake gig, Bob crouched to serenade a child near the stage with “The More We Get Together”; the child beamed, feeling utterly included. Bob later called it one of Sable Ridge’s best nights—Ken, Rose, Jules, Mike (and at other times, Sandi) all locking in with a special glow “that was never there before.”

Pause and parting (1993)
At the band’s 1993 year-end meeting, a gear-upgrade discussion led to Ken’s departure. Rather than replace him, the members chose to wind things down and “go their separate ways,” closing a decade marked by camaraderie, community, and a huge book of memories.

Reunions and later years
In 2006, Bob was invited to assemble the original members for a December “get-together dance” in Westlock/Clyde. Rose, Julia, Ken, and Mike agreed; they rehearsed hard all summer and the night went beautifully. Because the ask focused on the originals, Sandi wasn’t part of that show—so the band made it right by staging another special gig with Sandi in January 2009 at the Spirit Centre (Westlock): “all girls harmonising together—a perfect night.”

In November 2007, as Bob faced illness with characteristic courage and humour, he recorded a small CD of originals—“Song for Rheanne,” “Nadine’s Polka,” “Nature of God’s Plan,” and “Only Guitar Player”—and asked Mike to add bass later. Bob died December 9, 2007. At a packed memorial in Clyde, friends brought instruments instead of flowers; Bob’s eulogy (by Steve Berg) remembered a life of acceptance, restless creativity, and service—right down to the Paul Harris Award recognizing community contribution. His photo hangs on the Spirit Rec Centre Wall of Fame.

What they were about
Sable Ridge were pros, but they were also neighbors, co-workers, and friends—a band that practiced in a farm garage, clocked in at day jobs (Dow Chemical, banking, small business), then put on the suits and filled dance floors for the sheer joy of it. They mixed roots country, golden-era rock-’n’-roll, and community dance music, treating every booking—from school grad to Red Barn headliner—as a chance to make memories. That family feeling—onstage and off—was the band’s true legacy.

Core Members — Artist Bios:
Bob MacLachlan (a.k.a. MacLaughlin) — guitar, vocals, bandleader (1947–2007)
Clyde/Edmonton-raised, Bob began violin at six, played lead guitar by 14, and cut his teeth in school and show bands (the Comencheroos; Lincoln & the Congressmen; the Marksmen with cousin John). He performed with Bobby Curtola at the 1967 Commonwealth Games and later led Poppy Road (’72) and Committee (’74–79; agent Ida Banks). He farmed for decades, opened The Music Box (Westlock, 1980), taught guitar, deejayed for CFOK (mid/late ’90s), and—in the 2000s—studied classical guitar through the Royal Conservatory, earning the highest Grade 5 mark in Alberta (2004). In Sable Ridge, Bob wrote “Why Don’t We Fall in Love”, anchored the band’s musical direction, and embodied its generous, joking spirit. Final recordings in 2007 included tributes to his daughters (Rae Anne and Nadine) and the reflective “Nature’s Plan.” D. Dec 9, 2007.

Rose Marie Legere — lead vocals, percussion
Originally from New Brunswick, Rose studied nine years of piano, sang on local television, and earned top honours at five music festivals before moving to Westlock (Bank of Nova Scotia). In Sable Ridge she was the featured lead vocalist, with the band building arrangements around her exceptional tone and poise. She also provided background vocals on “Saanich Road.”

Mike Simpson — bass guitar, vocals
Raised in England, Mike gigged in multiple dance/show groups (including a professional troupe touring the British Isles) before settling in Fort Saskatchewan and joining Sable Ridge in October 1982. By day he worked for Dow Chemical (Human Resources/Salaried Operations Coordinator); by night he held down the low end and sang backups. Mike’s “Out of Site” profile captures the band’s spirit—garage jams → Halloween debut → years of weddings & Saturday night halls, plus a home life where music ran in the family (daughter Amanda plays multiple instruments and writes).

Ken Kowalyshyn — drums, vocals
A St. Albert native whose first instrument was accordion, Ken performed in A.C.T. shows and Kiwanis festivals before switching to drums at 14. He steadily expanded his kit and professionalism, powering Sable Ridge’s dance-floor drive. Employed by Dow Chemical (Fort Saskatchewan) during the band’s run, Ken also sang and contributed arrangements. He departed in 1993, a change that led the band to pause rather than replace him.

Sandi Hiebert — vocals, percussion, piano (joined 1987)
An Alberta native and R.F. Staples (1986) graduate, Sandi studied piano for nine years, performed on CFRN-TV via the A.C.T. program, and acted with the Westlock Drama Club. Auditioning into Sable Ridge in 1987, she tightened harmonies and added keyboards—a perfect fit that deepened the band’s sound. She rejoined for the celebrated January 2009 Spirit Centre reunion.

Key Former Members
Steve Berg — guitar, songwriter (1982–1983)
A founding-era guitarist who composed “Saanich Road,” Steve appears on the 1983 Woodbend sessions (with Bob’s guitar solo, Rose & Julia on BGVs, and the full band rhythm section). He left after the single’s release and was later active with Hope Mission in Edmonton.

Julia Zittlau — vocals (1982–1987)
Part of the original vocal blend with Rose, Julia provided church-honed harmonies on early gigs and on “Saanich Road” and “Why Don’t We Fall in Love.” She left in 1987 to start a family, and returned for the 2006 “original members” reunion.
-Robert Williston

Stages & Milestones (highlights):
1982 — Band forms; weekly rehearsals at Bob’s farm garage.
1983 — Halloween debut remembered; Woodbend single recorded; Steve departs post-release.
1984–87 — Local retail distribution; Chautauqua ’85 (Westlock); recurring Red Barn dates; Thorhild Rodeo; R.F. Staples grad dances; Athabasca → Calgary dates; Dec 12, 1987 Red Barn return.
1987 — Julia leaves; Sandi joins via audition; sound thickens with harmony/keys.
1993 — After a year-end meeting about gear upgrades, Ken exits; band winds down.
2006 — Original-members reunion; summer rehearsals; December show.
Nov–Dec 2007 — Bob records personal CD; passes Dec 9, 2007; memorial packed with instruments instead of flowers.
Jan 2009 — Spirit Centre, Westlock reunion featuring Sandi; “a perfect night.”

Lineups:
Founding / Early Lineup (1982–1983)
Bob MacLachlan (MacLaughlin): guitar, vocals, leader
Rose Marie Legere: vocals, percussion
Julia Zittlau: vocals
Mike Simpson: bass, vocals
Ken Kowalyshyn: drums, vocals
Steve Berg: guitar, songwriter (“Saanich Road”)

(This lineup rehearsed in Bob’s farm garage, played their first gigs in Pickardville and local weddings, and recorded the 1983 Woodbend Studios single.)

Classic Working Lineup (1983–1987)
Bob MacLachlan: guitar, vocals
Rose Marie Legere: vocals, percussion
Julia Zittlau: vocals (until 1987)
Mike Simpson: bass, vocals
Ken Kowalyshyn: drums, vocals
(Steve Berg departed after the release of the single, leaving Bob as the sole guitarist. This became the most stable and recognized lineup in the mid-1980s, carrying the group through Chautauqua ’85, Thorhild Rodeo, and repeat Red Barn shows.)

Second Classic Lineup (1987–1993)
Bob MacLachlan: guitar, vocals
Rose Marie Legere: vocals, percussion
Sandi Hiebert: vocals, percussion, piano (joined via audition in 1987)
Mike Simpson: bass, vocals
Ken Kowalyshyn: drums, vocals
(Julia left in 1987 to start a family; Sandi stepped in, enhancing harmonies and adding keys. This lineup worked until 1993 when Ken’s departure prompted the band to wind down.)

Reunion Lineup (December 2006)
Bob MacLachlan: guitar, vocals
Rose Marie Legere: vocals, percussion
Julia Zittlau: vocals
Mike Simpson: bass, vocals
Ken Kowalyshyn: drums, vocals
(The reunion show focused on original members from the 1982–83 period; Sandi was not included at Bob’s request for “original lineup.”)

Reunion Lineup (January 2009 – Spirit Centre, Westlock)
Bob MacLachlan: guitar, vocals
Rose Marie Legere: vocals, percussion
Sandi Hiebert: vocals, piano
Mike Simpson: bass, vocals
Ken Kowalyshyn: drums, vocals
(This reunion celebrated the full family spirit of Sable Ridge, with Sandi back in. Described by members as “an awesome night…all girls harmonising together, a perfect night.”)