ALLAN LEE ROPCHAN
and the PEPPERMINTS
Edmonton musician, vocalist, and bandleader, Allan Lee Ropchan, has had many highlights as an entertainer since his beginnings in 1960.
Alan was based in Edmonton, but moved to Vancouver, B.C. in 1964 to become an intrical part of the rhythm and blues scene. After a bountiful ten years, Allan returned to his Edmonton roots.
Along the way, in 1962, he hosted a musical variety show on Red Deer television called Teensville. Also in 1962 Allan and his band, the Frantics, wrote and recorded a local hit, Goin Home To Memphis, with popular CJCA disk jockey legend, Bouncin Barry Boyd. The success of this 45 RPM single led to a cross-Canada tour with young Tartan recording star Bobby Curtola. It was Bobby who penned the stage name Allan Lee. Said Bobby, you need something short and catchy.
After the tour Allan formed a rocking blues band named The Peppermints. Allan Lee and the Peppermints recorded an instrumental number entitled Lamb Stew, based on the old nursery rhyme, Mary Had A Little Lamb, for the Apex Canadian label.
Under the guidance of local impresario Benny Benjamin, Allan Lee & the Peppermints backed up or were the warm up band for a host of artists, such as Roy Orbison, Buddy Knox, Conway Twitty, Red Foley, Skeeter Davis, Bob Luman, Donny Brooks, and Pat Hervey, for their western Canadian shows.
In the 70s Allan switched to a single act, playing lounges and shows throughout Alberta and B.C., mostly through the Ida Banks Agency, and Don McKenzies Studio City.
The 80s heralded Allans return to his roots by forming The Blues Busters and introduced that genre of music to many local venues, such as the Commercial Hotel in Edmonton, now better known as Blues On Whyte.
Allan has covered the musical field from country, rhythm and blues, folk, rock, jazz, and blues. In 1994 Allan put away his old Fender bass for a long deserved hiatus. This lasted only ten years. After running into two of his original Peppermints, the local music scene is once again welcoming Allan Lee Ropchan.
Back
Back to Home Page
Next Page
Concert photos by Drew BorgwardtI
