Robbie Lane and The Disciples: Video Highlight
Robbie Lane is an OG of the Toronto Music Scene.
Without question, Robbie Lane is an OG of the Toronto Music Scene.
In the 1960s, a small area of Toronto stretching the distance of a few subway stops formed the heart of Canadian rock and folk music that would influence all that came after. It was a time when university students hung out in Yorkville and rockers on Yonge Street. Hopping in and out of the clubs, you would see the likes of Joni Mitchel, Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Hill, Ian & Sylvia, Ronnie Hawkins, The Band and Robbie Lane.
Robbie Lane & The Disciples were an integral part of this early Toronto rock music scene. The Disciples got their start as Robbie recruited members from local bands in the Toronto area in the early 1960s. The Disciples got their break in December 1963 when Ronnie Hawkins hired them as his back up band to eventually replace his existing back up band. For a while, Ronnie Hawkins would run back and forth, playing upstairs at his nightclub The Hawk’s Nest with Robbie Lane & The Disciples and then downstairs with his band The Hawks at Le Coq D’Or at 333 Yonge Street.
When The Hawks ventured out on their own, renaming themselves The Band, Robbie Lane & The Disciples became the new incarnation of The Hawks, performing live with Ronnie and recording with him on his Hawk Records label. At the same time, Ronnie Lane with his Disciples began recording on the Hawk Records label under their own name beginning with “Fannie Mae” in ’64 and followed by “Ain’t Love A Funny Thing” in ’65.
After parting ways with Hawkins, Robbie Lane & The Disciples went on to become the house band for CTV’s “It’s Happening.” They were then signed to a contract with Capitol Records under which they released several more singles including the theme song for “It’s Happening” in 1967.
After The Disciples, Robbie went on to solo performances and recordings until once again reuniting with his band in the ’80s to perform throughout the Toronto area which he continues to do. In addition, Robbie moved into a new career for which his qualifications are unparalleled – that of DJ on Zoomer Radio. Robbie can be heard nightly Monday – Friday from 6-10pm on AM740 on his shows ‘Sixties at Six,’ ‘Seventies at Seven,’ ‘Eighties at Eight’ and the ‘Nine O’Clock Mix.’
Robbie Lane with Ronnie Hawkins.
Robbie Lane with Robbie Robertson.
In addition to performing and working nightly on Zoomer, Robbie loves to mentor and pour into young musicians and bands including The Dreamboats and Connor Russo, both of whom will be performing in Elvis & Co’s Vintage Prom.