Sandy Wilson
Sandy Wilson recording with 'The Komatiks', Ottawa, 1987 (photo credit unknown)
Sandy Wilson started playing music in his hometown of Brockville, Ontario in the mid 1960s with his band, the “Count Vs”.
He moved to Yellowknife in 1972 diving into the local music scene along with other musicians, many of whom had also recently moved to Yellowknife.
Over the years, Sandy pulled together different versions of the band “Friends” along with core players, John Telgen and the late, great Terry Mercer.
“Friends” went on to be the house band of choice in Yellowknife bars through the 1970s and 80s.
Another of the more mature musicians who moved north, Sandy inspired many young players in the north through those years.
'Count Vs', L-R: David Hurlbut, Roger Chambers, Chuck Jenkinson, Sandy Wilson, Terry Blair. 1966, Brockville, ON (photo courtesy Sandy Wilson)
'Rainbow Valley' L-R: Tom Hudson, Randy Demmon, Charles Kirkpatrick, Sandy Wilson, Kelly Tippet, 1975, Yellowknife, NT (Photo courtesy Tom Hudson)
'Friends' L-R: John Telgen, Sandy Wilson, Charles Kirkpatrick. The Gallery,1974, Yellowknife, NT (photo courtesy John Telgen)
'Friends' L-R: John Sigvaldason, Sandy Wilson, John Telgen, the late, great Terry Mercer. McNiven beach, Yellowknife, NT. 1974. (Ken Coach photo, ©NNSL.com)
'Friends': L-R: Pat Braden, the late, great Terry Mercer, Sandy Wilson, John Telgen, Yellowknife, NT 1979. (Diana Mathison photo, © NNSL.com)
Jazz Quarter. L-R: Pat Braden, Colin Bergen, Bill Gilday, Sandy Wilson. Hoist Room, Yellowknife, NT, 1979. (photo © NNSL.com)
'Friends' L-R: Isamu Yasuda, Pat Braden, Sandy Wilson and the late, great Terry Mercer, 'The Gallery', Yellowknife, NT. Circa 1979 (photo © NNSL.com)
