Information/Write-up
Jerry Doucette – Mama Let Him Play
Born Jerry Victor Doucette on September 9, 1951, in Montreal, Quebec, Jerry was immersed in music from the start. His father and uncle were both working musicians, and jam sessions were common in the Doucette household. When the family relocated to Hamilton, Ontario, Jerry was just four years old—but within two years, he was strumming his first guitar. By age eight, he was taking formal lessons, and at eleven he joined his first band, The Reefers, a youthful R&B outfit that recorded a rare single, Treat Me Alright b/w Sinner Man, in the mid-1960s.
In his teens, Jerry moved to Toronto, quickly establishing himself as a gifted young guitarist. He cycled through several local groups, including Abernathy Shagnaster, Homestead, and most notably the final lineup of Brutus, a hard rock band known for its fierce stage presence and self-titled LP on GRT Records. In the early ’70s, Doucette also appeared with the group Mingles, contributing to their soulful 45 I'm Gonna Miss You b/w No Train Tonight—another hidden gem in his growing discography.
Seeking new horizons, Doucette moved west to Vancouver in 1972 and joined Seeds of Time, a funk-rock outfit featuring future Prism co-founder Lindsay Mitchell. The group, which had already gained notoriety with earlier singles like My Home Town, was shifting toward a harder sound. When the band dissolved, Doucette stayed on with drummer Rocket Norton and bassist Rick Enns to form the Rocket Norton Band. Jerry contributed lead guitar and vocals to several RNB releases, including the quirky glam-rock single I'm Your Submarine b/w Donkey Chain (1974) and a powerful 1977 cover of Summer in the City, produced by Bruce Fairbairn.
By the mid-1970s, however, Doucette was burned out from the bar scene and ready to pursue a solo career. He spent several months in seclusion, writing and recording 16 original demo tracks in his basement. Three of these were sent to Shelly Siegel, A&R head at Mushroom Records, the rising West Coast label that had already launched Heart. Siegel was impressed. He asked to hear more, and Jerry returned the next day with three additional songs. That sealed the deal. Doucette signed to Mushroom and was encouraged to assemble a backing band.
The resulting sessions—featuring Duris Maxwell (drums), Don Cummings (bass), Brent Shindell (rhythm & acoustic guitars), and Robbie King (keyboards)—became Jerry's breakout 1977 debut, Mama Let Him Play. Released in November, the album’s title track became a nationwide anthem and a staple on Canadian FM radio. The record was certified platinum in Canada and launched Jerry into the spotlight. Touring followed across North America, with the band opening for Bob Welch, Bob Weir, Eddie Money, Meat Loaf, and later the Doobie Brothers, Beach Boys, and Atlanta Rhythm Section.
In 1979, Doucette released his second album, The Douce Is Loose, produced by John Ryan. It featured the hit single Nobody, which reached #18 on the Canadian charts and helped the LP achieve gold status. But behind the scenes, Mushroom Records was collapsing. Financial troubles, staff shakeups, and distribution issues undermined the momentum of Doucette’s career just as it was peaking.
By 1981, Jerry released a third album, Coming Up Roses, on Rio Records, but the industry was shifting toward new wave and synth-driven pop, leaving little room for guitar-based rockers. Despite strong material, including Run Buddy Run, the album failed to chart, and Doucette faded from the national spotlight.
He never stopped working, however. Through the ’80s and ’90s, Jerry performed regularly in British Columbia and the Prairies, eventually regaining the rights to Mama Let Him Play and reissuing it on CD. In 1995, he made a powerful return with Price of an Education, a blues-rock record engineered by Colin Nairne (Barney Bentall & The Legendary Hearts). Songs like Big Government Man, Miracles, and the title track were praised for their urgency and soul, and Doucette again hit the road with a seasoned lineup featuring Darrell Mayes (drums), Dennis Marcenko (bass), Bobby Stewart (guitar/vocals), and Rick Hopkins (keys).
Jerry also began mentoring younger musicians, producing the 1994 EP First Impression by the Vancouver band Switch, and guesting on regional sessions. Into the 2000s, he was a regular draw on the Western Canadian festival circuit—playing Minnedosa, Ribfest, and clubs from Victoria to Calgary. Later lineups included Dave Kilner, Anthony Della Croce, and Ian Forrest, followed by Trevor Newman, Marco Ibarra, and Wailin' Al Walker in his final performing years.
In 2018, Doucette officially retired from live performance due to health issues. He passed away on April 18, 2022, at the Irene Thomas Hospice in Delta, BC, after a battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.
Legacy
Jerry Doucette’s contributions to Canadian rock are enduring. He was a craftsman of melody and tone, blending bluesy phrasing with pop hooks and a rock 'n' roll heart. With just three studio albums released during his prime, he still carved out a place among the greats. Whether ripping through a guitar solo onstage or laying down harmonies in the studio, Doucette was pure class—always about the song, always about the soul.
His signature line—Mama let that boy play some rock and roll—was more than a lyric. It was a mission.
-Robert Williston
Jerry Doucette: guitar, vocals
Mark Olson: keyboards
Donnie Cummings: bass
Duris Maxwell: drums, percussion, electric piano
Engineered by Bill Drescher
Produced by John Ryan
Recorded and mixed at Sound City Studios/Van Nuys, California, USA; except "Further On Up The Road", which was recorded at Lou Blair's Refinery in Calgary, Alberta
Mastered at Crystal Sound
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