The Guess Who hail from up north, where they were musical superstars in their native Canada during the '60s and '70s.
The band, which also achieved modest fame in the United States, emerged from a Winnipeg group held together by vocalist/guitarist Chad Allan (born Allan Kobel) and guitarist Randy Bachman called Chad Allan and the Expressions. The group recorded a cover of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates' "Shakin' All Over" in 1965, which found its way to the United States Top 40.
The group eventually recorded an entire album of the same name, on which their record company listed their name as "Guess Who?" on the jacket, in an attempt to trick consumers into buying an album that could be a surprise work from a more famous British group.
By this point, Ashley had left the band, and was replaced by keyboardist/vocalist Burton Cummings. Cummings eventually made his way to lead vocalist, when Allan left the band in 1966. It wasn't until 1969 that the band hit it big in America, with a Top 10 hit called "These Eyes." To manage a support album, eventually titled Wheatfield Soul, producer Jack Richardson mortgaged his home to pay the bills. Later that year, Canned Wheat Packed by the Guess Who netted the group three more top 40 singles. In 1970, the Guess Who released "American Woman," which was a decidedly anti-American tune that ironically became their only hit in the United States.
The band continues to shift personnel, and launches the occasional music tour with sporadic visits from original members.
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