Being part of Sam Romanoffs agency, they were listed as part of Toronto's Top Ten R&B groups, along with Jon & Lee & The Checkmates, The Power, The Mandela, The Rogues, Little Ceasar, The Majestics, The Jackdaws. Robbie Lane and the Disciples, etc, and this allowed them to perform with Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Joe Tex, Ronnie Hawkins and Rick James..and to record their first single "Tell Me About it " for Yorkville/EMI records with producer Greg Hambelton at Sound Canada Studios in 1967
Since they re-united and reformed in 2001, this soulful group... that originally debuted during the early 60's at Toronto's House Of Blues...has been touring Ontario and the Northern States, with their " Still!-Searching For Your Soul Revue " and packing houses everywhere they go with their own interpretation of Soul, Blues and Rhythm.. that they helped create during the " Toronto Sound" era of the 60's and 70's Still led by the "tearful and dynamic" performance of the groups original founder, Bobbi Lee Justice...this six piece group delivers the same " gut wrenching and tear streaming " brand of Soul and R&B today, that they became famous for when they created Toronto's first " Official Soul Searching Society " in 1963. From 1963 until 1965 they were the original house band at The Mynah Bird Club in Toronto's Yorkville Village, and following that became regular performers at Club 888,The Bluenote, The Devils Den, Chez Monique, The Hawks Nest, the Main Hotel in Buffalo, New York and a performance at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, as well as being the only group that performed both Saturday afternoons and evenings at the Orange Hall in Brampton
In 1967 they signed with Sam Romanoffs " Top Ten Agency ", putting them in Sound Canada's Recording Studio's with then young producer " Greg Hambelton " where they recorded their first single " Tell me About It " and " Going Down ". These song were originally written by the group as an R & B songs, but unfortunately the producer & manager decided to soften their hard driving sound and style and changed their name to " The News ". The style and name change was not accepted by their fans and affected their following, causing them to dis-band shortly after it was pressed. Six months later they once again re-emerged as " The Blue Eyes Souls " and made their last appearance at " The House of Blues " in Toronto
In 1965 they became the house band at " The Mynah Bird Club " in Toronto's Yorkville Village, and were offered their first contract with EMI Records to record a novelty tune called " The Mynah Bird Song " featuring the club owners mynah bird " Raj ". Fearing a drastic image change they turned the offer down, and passed it on to " Rick James ". Shortly afterwards they came to the attention of " Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks ", and they were invited to play at the popular night spot " The Hawk Nest " were they filled the room to capacity every night.
This soulful group first debuted in 1963, at the Toronto Blues Club " The In Crowd " as "Bobbi & Lee and The Scepters" with two lead singers. Bobbi Jacobs & Lee Martins energy charged performances and harmonized vocals on such standards as " Stormy Monday Blues ", backed by the gospelized B3 organ of " Jan Czaban and The Scepters " soon made them a favorite on the local scene and caught the attention of club owners across Ontario and The Northern United States.
SPECIAL CD RELEASE PARTY STRATFORD ONT. Watch For Details Soon
TORONTO SOUND REUNION.MAY 14th.. Just been confirmed,anyone who is a fan of the Toronto Sound of the 60's should order tickets early...Artists include..JON FINLEY ( Checkmates ), ROY KENNER ( Associates ) GEORGE OLLIVER ( Mandala ), SHAWNE and JAY JACKSON ( Majestics ) and more
MAY 14th, THE HANSA HAUS 6650 HURONTARIO ST. BRAMPTON..Tickets $40 advance, $45 at door... order at oldbramptonbands_yahoo.ca
Bobbi Lee Justice looks out the window of The Mynah Bird in old Yorkville Village as the crowd of people walks by.
Rare photos from the Early Years,
Club Tocadero, Unionville
Photos from the recording sessions 1967 with producer
Greg Hambelton at Sound Canada Recording Studios
