This article is about the Canadian pop/rock group. For the Italian power metal band, see
Skylark (Italian band). For other uses of the same word/name, see
Skylark.
Skylark formed in 1971 from one of
Ronnie Hawkins's backup groups and signed with
Capitol Records, releasing a self-titled album in 1972 which spawned three
singles.[3][4] The group, whose alumni include
composer/
arrangerDavid Foster, disbanded after the lukewarm reception of their second album. Two of its other members,
Donny Gerrard and
Carl Graves achieved mixed success in other projects.
Their biggest single, "
Wildflower", was a 1972 number #1
hit in Canada on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart; it reached number 10 on the Canadian RPM singles chart and then peaked at number 9 on the
Billboard Hot 100 the following spring, selling over a million copies.[1] It was
written by
guitarist Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson, who was a
Victoria police officer at the time.[3][5] The song's popularity was boosted by frequent play on
CKLW-AM radio after its initial release.[6]
Donny Gerrard was amongst the Canadian musicians who recorded the 1985 charity single for African famine relief entitled "
Tears Are Not Enough". He sang his solo line with
Bryan Adams.
Doug Edwards died on November 11, 2016.[3] Donny Gerrard died from
cancer in February 2022, at the age of 75.[7]