Skylark formed in 1971 from one ofRonnie Hawkins's backup groups and signed withCapitol Records, releasing a self-titled album in 1972 which spawned threesingles.[3][4] The group, whose alumni includecomposer/arrangerDavid Foster, disbanded after the lukewarm reception of their second album. Two of its other members,Donny Gerrard andCarl Graves achieved mixed success in other projects.
Their biggest single, "Wildflower", was a 1973 number #1hit in Canada on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart; it reached number 10 on the Canadian RPM singles chart and peaked at number 9 on theBillboard Hot 100 that spring, selling over a million copies.[1] It waswritten byguitarist Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson, who was aVictoria police officer at the time.[3][5] The song's popularity was boosted by frequent play onCKLW-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 withBryan Adams.
Doug Edwards died on November 11, 2016.[3] Donny Gerrard died fromcancer in February 2022, at the age of 75.[7]
