Aaron Space was a Canadian rock group that had a national hit with "Keep on Movin" in 1971. They had evolved out of a band called Mudflat.
Background The history of the group can be traced to two members of the group, Lighthouse who left the group. By 1970, Pinky Dauvin and Grant Fullerton had formed Mudflat.Billboard, October 3, 1970 - Page 58 Canadian News Report, From The Music Capitals of the World, TORONTO With two members leaving and a new one coming on board, the group eventually became Aaron Space.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 15 - Page 2 Capricorn shows booking gainsOntariohistory.org : LOCAL HISTORIES - Mudflat, the warm-up band for Lighthouse, City Hall, Toronto, Sept. 20, 1970 Aaron Space were handled by Capricorn Music Association, a Canadian booking agency from Toronto.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 23 July 24, 1971 - Page 2 Capricorn Music picksup top recording acts They were allegedly seen in action by John Pozer who signed them to Warner Bros.CanadianBands.com, April 11, 2022 - Aaron Space A progressive rock type of group, they had a hit with their debut single.Canadian Bands, April 11, 2022 - Aaron Spacecitizenfreak.com (© Museum of Canadian Music) - Aaron Space - ST, Information/Write-up
Aaron space was made up of guitarist David Moulaison, Jake Thomas on guitar, Gene Falbo on bass and Bob DiSalle on drums.Ontariohistory.org : LOCAL HISTORIES - Mudflat, the warm-up band for Lighthouse, City Hall, Toronto, Sept. 20, 1970 Guitarist Jake Thomas had previously been in the group Buckstone Hardware.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 15 - Page 2 Capricorn shows booking gains
Mudflat period Mudflat was made up of Pinky Dauvin and Grant Fullerton who were previously with Lighthouse.Billboard, October 3, 1970 - Page 58 Canadian News Report, From The Music Capitals of the World, TORONTO Other band members were, David Moulaison on guitar, Gene Falbo on bass, and Bob DiSalle on drums.Ontariohistory.org : LOCAL HISTORIES - Mudflat, the warm-up band for Lighthouse, City Hall, Toronto, Sept. 20, 1970 They were under exclusive management by Toronto company, Music Factory.Billboard, October 3, 1970 - Page 58 Canadian News Report, From The Music Capitals of the World, TORONTO
In 1970, Mudflat were booked to play at the Rock Hill Rock-In festival that ran from September 5 to September 6 that year. Other groups that were booked to appear there were Sound Spectrum from London, Ontario, Pour Soul from England, Madrigal from Hamilton and April from Orangeville.Space City vol 2 no 6 aug. 22 - sept. 4, 1970 - Page 24 ROCKDufferin County Real-estate Guide, OCTOBER 29, 2013 - 365 Things To Do In Orangeville, ON Rock Hill Rock-In The BigFun Week end, The ‘Freak Out’ Festival Of 1969 – Rock Hill Park by David Waters, Poster On September 20, Mudflat were warming up the crowds for Lighthouse at a free concert set up by radio station CHUM. It was a welcome back event for Lighthouse who had recently performed at the 1970 Isle of Wight Rock Festival.Ontariohistory.org : LOCAL HISTORIES - Mudflat, the warm-up band for Lighthouse, City Hall, Toronto, Sept. 20, 1970 Mudflat were booked to play at the York Masonic Temple in Toronto on the 1st of November but the event never took place.Garage Hangover, NOVEMBER 9, 2020 - MCKENNA MENDELSON MAINLINE, Advertised gigs
Also that month, RPM Weekly reported in their November 28 issue that Mudflat was becoming "top potential".RPM Weekly, Volume 14 No. 15 November 28, 1970 - Page 4 Music Factory gaining on local scene
With Pinky wanting to concentrate on a solo career, the band broke up. Remaining members, David Moulaison, Gene Falbo and Bob DiSalle carried on with recruit Jake Thomas on lead guitar. They renamed themselves Aaron Space.Ontariohistory.org : LOCAL HISTORIES - Mudflat, the warm-up band for Lighthouse, City Hall, Toronto, Sept. 20, 1970
Aaron Space career With the remaining three Mudflat members and Jake Thomas, the group were now on the scene as Aaron Space.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 15 - Page 2 Capricorn shows booking gainsOntariohistory.org : LOCAL HISTORIES - Mudflat, the warm-up band for Lighthouse, City Hall, Toronto, Sept. 20, 1970
In 1971, the group played a major role in the film Rip Off which was made in Canada. It was produced by Don Shebib.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 15 - Page 2 Capricorn shows booking gainsBillboard, August 7, 1971 - Page 49 International News Reports New Artists For Capricorn For the film, the group was fronted by Don Scardino, an artist recently discovered by Warner Brothers.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 15 - Page 2 Capricorn shows booking gainsRPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 23 July 24, 1971 0- Page 2 Capricorn Music picks up top recording acts
The group released their first single, "Keep On Movin'" bw "The Visitor". The backing vocalist on the single was Lisa Garber.Canadian Bands, April 11, 2022 - Aaron Space By December 25, the single was noted as being in the Secondary Market with it being spun on CKRD in Red Deer and CHSC in St. Catharines.RPM Weekly, Volume 16 No. 19 December 25, 1971 - Page 26 - 27 The Programmers NEW ON PLAYLISTS, SECONDARY MARKETS Also for the week ending December 25, 1971, their song "Keep on Movin'" had entered the RPM 100 Singles chart at #95.RPM Weekly, Volume 16 No. 19 December 25, 1971 - Page 13 RPM100 SINGLES The single peaked at #83 on January 17, 1972.RPM Weekly, Volume 16 No. 23 January 22, 1972 - RPM100 SINGLES
By late March 1972, their single "Marsha" bw "When She Smiles" had been released on Warner Bros. CW-4010-P. Within the first week it was on playlists of CHSC, CKWS, CHLO, CFTR and CJOE where it was at #30 on their chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 17, No. 6 March 25, 1972 - Page 3 AARON SPACERPM Weekly, Volume 17, No. 6 March 25, 1972 - Page 14 RPM NEW MAPL RELEASES
Their album was also issued in 1972. All of the tracks were composed by the members. There was a good amount of promotion, but it didn't make an impression in the charts. It did get good raves from critics.
The group went on a succession of short tours in Central Canada. There was some material written and some studio time with a view to releasing a follow up album. Their contract with their label was nearing its end and the group broke up.CanadianBands.com, April 11, 2022 - Aaron SpaceRockasteria, Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - Plain and Fancy, Aaron Space - Aaron Space (1972 canada / italy, fine rough psych rock with southern taste, Vinyl edition)
Later years In later years, Grant Fullerton would be part of Fullerton Dam, Madcats and the Grant Fullerton Band.Cranked to 10 Rock & Metal Magazine - Madcats
Gene Falbo would become a member of Jackson Hawke.CanadianBands.com, April 11, 2022 - Aaron Space He also played bass on Rena Gaile's 1992 single, "Daddy's School".RPM Weekly, Volume 55 No. 21 May 23, 1992 - Page 11 COUNTRY
In 2018, their album was released on CD in Korea on the Big Pink label, BIG PINK 578 and then the following year in Japan.MusicBrainz - Aaron Space ~ Release group by Aaron Space
Members
Mudflat Pinky Dauvin - vocals, percussion Bob DiSalle - drums Gene Falbo - bass Grant Fullerton - guitar David Moulaison - guitar
Aaron Space Bob DiSalle - drums, percussion, vocals Gene Falbo - bass, vocals Dave Moulaison - rhythm guitar, vocals Jake Thomas - lead guitar, vocals
Ontariohistory.org : LOCAL HISTORIES - Mudflat, the warm-up band for Lighthouse, City Hall, Toronto, Sept. 20, 1970
Discography Singles + Single Act Release Catalogue Year Notes Aaron Space "Keep on Movin’" / "The Visitor" Warner Bros CW-4008 1971 Aaron Space "Marsha" / "When She Smiles" Warner Bros CW-4010 1972 The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - AARON SPACE
Albums + Aaron Space, Warner Bros WSC9011-P No. Track Composer Time Notes A1 "Keep On Moving" 3:15 A2 "Silly Ceilings" 5:01 A3 "When She Smiles" 3:02 A4 "Man In a Yellow Car" 4:21 A5 "Marsha" 1:58 B1 "North Country Rock 'n' Roll" 3:39 B2 "It Might Be You" 3:05 B3 "The Loser" 2:43 B4 "Fair Child" 3:23 B5 "Rainbow Ride" 5:05 RPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 19 June 24, 1972 - Page 19 New AlbumsRock My World Canada! - Aaron Space (psychedelic, hard rock)
Further reading Canadian Bands, April 11, 2022 - Aaron Space RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 15 May 29, 1971 - Page 2 Article: "Capricorn shows booking gain". Short info and pics of film Rip Off Ontariohistory.org : LOCAL HISTORIES - Mudflat, the warm-up band for Lighthouse, City Hall, Toronto, Sept. 20, 1970. Pics of Mudflat in concert Rockasteria, Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - Plain and Fancy, Aaron Space - Aaron Space (1972 canada / italy, fine rough psych rock with southern taste, Vinyl edition)
References
External links 45Cat - Aaron Space Discogs - Aaron Space MusicBrainz - Aaron Space ~ Release group by Aaron Space