Information/Write-up
Bernie LaBarge – Canada’s Reluctant Guitar Hero
Bernie LaBarge’s career is one of those quintessentially Canadian stories—an odyssey that wove him through countless bands, studios, and stages, often putting him just a step away from the spotlight, yet ensuring his fingerprints were everywhere in Canadian popular music.
Born in Ottawa on March 11, 1953, Bernie’s earliest years were steeped in sound. His family moved to Burlington when he was five, and his household played everything from Broadway show tunes to Motown 45s. At eleven he picked up the guitar, inspired not by formal lessons but by the raw electricity of the British Invasion. He learned entirely by ear, working out chords to Beatles and Stones songs, and honing a natural feel for rhythm and phrasing that would later make him a session player’s session player.
By the late ’60s he was playing in local basement bands, chasing the Toronto club scene that had given rise to heroes like Domenic Troiano. His first break came in Rain, a Toronto group that issued his debut composition “Catwalk” on Axe Records in 1972. The single didn’t climb the charts, but it marked LaBarge’s entry into the professional ranks of Canadian rock.
The following decade saw him bounce between projects with dizzying speed. He cycled through Stem, George Olliver’s Blue Eyed Brotherhood, Stingaree, Bond, Sweet Blindness, Zwol, and the short-lived but fiery Kearney-King-McBride & LaBarge. No matter the lineup, LaBarge stood out: a sharp, soulful guitarist who could also step forward as a lead vocalist and songwriter.
By the early ’80s he decided to strike out on his own. With budding producer Daniel Lanois behind the console, LaBarge recorded “Dream Away” (1981), a shimmering, radio-ready single that still enjoys airplay. Anchored by Jim Vallance on drums and Jeff Jones on bass, it was a masterclass in AOR craft and hinted at what was possible if LaBarge ever committed fully to a solo career. That possibility arrived with Barging In (Sony, 1984), his debut LP, which earned him a Juno nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist.
Even as he pursued solo work, LaBarge became one of Canada’s most in-demand sidemen. He toured with the Irish Rovers throughout the 1980s, contributed to records by David Clayton-Thomas, Cassandra Vasik, and Rhinoceros, and collaborated with a who’s who of Canadian talent including Kim Mitchell, Walter Zwol, and Sass Jordan. He became a fixture in Toronto studios, playing on jingles for Coke, Pepsi, Ford, and Nissan, and leaving his mark on TV themes from Fraggle Rock to Danger Bay.
LaBarge’s work with legendary producer Jack Richardson further solidified his reputation. “Jack was like a father and a big brother to me,” Bernie once recalled. “I learned so much from him, and he let me grow as a session musician. There will never be another Jack.”
By the 1990s, LaBarge had become almost a musical institution in Toronto. He co-founded The Dexters, a house band at the Orbit Room, where he would perform more than a thousand times over two decades—more appearances than anyone else in the venue’s history. His blend of technical polish and unpretentious delivery made him both a musician’s musician and a reliable draw for audiences who just wanted a good night out.
Though he never chased superstardom, Bernie LaBarge carved out something rarer: a lasting, respected career built on versatility, generosity, and sheer musicality. His songs have been covered by artists across genres, his guitar tone remains instantly recognizable to those in the know, and his legacy as one of Canada’s great unsung heroes of rock and R&B is secure.
These days, LaBarge divides his time between the quiet pleasures of home life and the call of the guitar in his studio. For fans and peers alike, his story is a reminder that not all stars burn in the spotlight—some shine steadily, illuminating everyone around them.
-Robert Williston
Complete remix and remaster, including a lush string arrangement. Just the way I always envisioned this song to sound. Drastically different from the album version.
released February 2, 2019
Strings by Pete Whitfield at juststrings.com
Produced and arranged by Bernie LaBarge
Engineered by Dave Tedesco
Mastered by Joao Carvalho
Artwork by Rayne Tunley
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