Gentle in the Wind

Six People was a Toronto-based studio vocal ensemble assembled from Canada’s late-1960s television scene. Formed within the CBC broadcast environment, the group brought together experienced performers already familiar to national audiences.

Each member carried established credentials. Diane Miller had gained national exposure as a member of The Girl Friends, later renamed The Willows, regulars on CBC’s Music Hop. Rhonda Silver was known from CBC’s Country Hoedown, where she first appeared as a child performer. Brian Russell and Erin Malone both appeared on CBC’s 1969 summer series The Good Company, while Vern Kennedy worked within the same television framework as both performer and vocal coach. Les Leigh had previously performed with the Billy Van Four and appeared on programs including Cross Canada Hit Parade.

Gentle in the Wind captures an early stage in Brian Russell’s career, years before he would become an internationally recognized songwriter and producer associated with Shirley Eikhard and Anne Murray. Here, he shares lead vocals within a tightly arranged ensemble setting that emphasizes harmony and studio precision.

Produced by Cliff Jones and arranged by Jim Pirie at RCA Studios in Toronto, the album reflects the Canadian Talent Library approach: assemble proven broadcast talent, balance contemporary repertoire with original compositions, and present it within a polished studio framework. It stands as a document of Toronto’s television-driven pop culture at the dawn of the 1970s.
-Robert Williston

Musicians
Brian Russell: vocals
Diane Miller: vocals
Erin Malone: vocals
Les Leigh: vocals
Rhonda Silver: vocals
Vern Kennedy: vocals

Songwriting
‘Here Comes The Sun’ written by Lennon–McCartney
‘Hey Girl’ written by Cliff Jones
‘Chelsea Morning’ written by Joni Mitchell
‘Traces Of My Mind’ written by Cliff Jones
‘Honey Pie’ written by Lennon–McCartney
‘Eli’s Coming’ written by Laura Nyro
‘Messing Up My Mind’ written by Cliff Jones
‘Easy To Be Hard’ written by Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni and James Rado
‘Gentle In The Wind’ written by Cliff Jones
‘Night Full Of Peace’ written by Cliff Jones

Production
Produced by Cliff Jones
Arranged and conducted by Jim Pirie
Engineered by Mark Smith
Mixing consultant: Art Collins (mixing consultant)
Vocal coach: Vern Kennedy
Musical consultant: Johnny Burt
Technical consultant: Bill Baker
Executive producer: J. Lyman Potts

Artwork
Cover photography by Murray Wilson Photography

Notes
Recording location confirmed via RPM, April 4, 1970

Liner notes
We thought of calling them “The C.C.M. Bicycle Pump”. Or maybe “The Unisex Telephone”. Sure, they do group numbers — such as “Eli’s Coming” and “Here Comes the Sun”, but at the same time, their individual solo performances are refreshing and exciting. It was not simply by accident that they were brought together for the purposes of this album! And so they are SIX PEOPLE — six very talented people.

The group consists of Erin Malone, Rhonda Silver, Diane Miller, Vern Kennedy, Les Leigh and Brian Russell. Both Erin and Brian were part of the CBC’s 1969 summer television series “The Good Company”. Vern worked with them on that show and, also in his own right, has both written and performed in many television programs. Rhonda, a child star on the CBC’s old “Country Hoedown”, has been involved in numerous other shows in both radio and tv as well as in many commercials. Diane has also done much television work, on such shows as “Music Hop” and “Let’s Go”. And Les, once a member of the now disbanded “Billy Van Four”, has among his credits “Music Makers” and “Cross Canada Hit Parade.”

As impressive as the performances themselves, are the new songs herein introduced and composed by Cliff Jones. A new talent on the music scene, Cliff is also a freelance writer with the CBC. Until about two years ago he was working on his Ph.D. in psychology. Then, fed up with running rats through mazes, he decided to enter the entertainment business on a full time basis. Since making that choice, he has written television variety shows, comedy sketches, music and drama. At the moment, he claims to be trying his hand at a novel! And this album is the first recording he has produced. It will not be his last!