Destiny
Glenn was studying music at Grant McEwan College when the band Destiny was formed (circa 1976) The band played progressive rock as well as popular rock songs at the time Highway Jam, Little Wing (Jimmy Hendrix), Europa (Santana), Welcome Back My Friends to the Show that Never Ends (Emerson, Lake and Palmer), Reelin’ in the Years (Steely Dan), Yours is no Disgrace (Yes), Roundabout (Yes), as well as several original progressive rock songs written by Glenn. Glenn played bass guitar with the group. He owned a Rickenbacker bass at that time. Bob Morin played guitar with Glenn in the early formats of the band. They rehearsed at Glenn’s Mom’s house.
Destiny played regularly in clubs around Edmonton including the Londonderry Inn. They also warmed up for a show at the Edmonton Field House for a band called “Wishbone Ash”. Destiny also backed up the band Kinks and Hammersmith. Darcy McDonald remembers that Hamersmith threw a roll of tape in the air that came down smashing some keys on his Hammond. The band members had to join the Musicians Union for the Tommy Banks show. They were paid for their performance and the money they received helped cover the union dues.
At the the time of the CBC television show the band members were:
Glenn Gray – bass
George Uhrich – guitar/violin
Mitch McGoughey – drums
Richard Church – vocals
Darcy McDonald – keyboards
Doug MacKay – guitar
Chris Thompson – lights
Glenn wrote a short note about Destiny in his records and reflections.
“In the last year of school I formed a band called “Destiny” that lasted almost a year and experienced great success considering the short time it was actually together. Many performances, generally enthusiastic response from the audiences we played for, and a television show for CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company) are some of the highlights of the band’s success. The television show featured three songs of mine composed during the time that the band was still together. These three included “The Force in Your Eyes”, “Infinite Dreamer” and “Future Legends.” All three of these pieces could conveniently be classed as classical-rock songs, the two former songs running about ten minutes each. Stuffed away in a binder I still possess the scores for them though I haven’t had recourse to them for quite some time now. Styles are constantly changing and I don’t have a great deal of optimism for the potential success of these songs. They are undoubtedly good songs and involve some intricate syncopation and especially contrapuntal lines. However, as a general speculation I find that audiences want something more basic now than they did a few years ago, though with music being an art and art being a matter of subjective taste and opinion this can pass for no more than conjecture. However, I find I am digressing to much from present concerns by reveling in some past reveries. Suffice it to say that in the summer of 1977 the band fell apart, or was torn by strife and personal conflicts over musical directions. One might liken it to a satyr with many heads that eventually destroys itself in the conflict for a desired object.”
Glenn Gray
