The 2 Today
Photo History
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I always felt that this image had a certain darkness to it, the look we both had (the darkness in our eyes). As I recall this was taken in some downtown Toronto Office Building, photographer unknown (but I would guess that this is Laurie). I find this image haunting now and we were both so young at this time.
I often think about the length and depth and breadth of our relationship. The time spent together, taking Pot together, singing at coffee houses and dreaming big. Then I left Ontario, and Rob carried on in the family business. When I visited Toronto a couple of times, I was struck by how distant I felt from Rob, and how unhappy he seemed. He talked about how the graphic arts business was so much better as it was all computerized now.
But it all felt so hollow.
The Riverboat: This is a photo of Bernie Feidler, owner of the Riverboat Coffee House at 134 Yorkville Ave, dated May 1966.
I remember seeing many memorable performances there; Tim Hardin was one of my favourites. It was small and intimate and the place to be in those days.
Rob and I actually performed there once as a rehearsal for an event.
Lynn Gilmore was one of my first girlfriends and the muse for many of my songs in those days. We travelled Europe together (England, Scotland, Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland).
As a comparison to 2020 my 3 months of travel cost me $700.
The Carnegie Family was certainly significant in my life during this era; this is a photo of Val and I. So younger brothers Tom and John were the musical influence and Val and I and her 6 year old daughter Renee lived together for some time in Rexdale.
Val was at that time a “Stewardess” for Air Canada and was the inspiration for some of my music.
I must add, that I love this image as a Photograph, and I can feel Val’s energy here; I am not sure what we are both focused on….
I remember this day at the McGaw’s Cabin. There are a number of photos we took that day, some of which were used for 2 Today Promotion; I love this one of Laurie and I. I have to give special credit to Laurie as our strongest and most devoted and enduring fan. Laurie is an artist and now lives in Guelph Ontario with her husband Ross.
Here is an old one of Rob and I, both with our original Guitars. We are at the AARK Coffee House at the Rexdale United Church. The only equipment we had other than guitars were 2 microphones and stands and a PA Amp. I recall we made 5$ for the set, or something like that; needless to say it was the love of music, not the money, that kept us going.
The MOD look; this is one of a series of photos taken as Promotion Shots; I remember this day, roaming around downtown Toronto looking for interesting Locations. I assume it was Laurie taking the photos. Most of all, check out the clothes: everything matched, yellow silk ties, the jackets had a purple pocadot lining, you can see a bit on Rob’s left side. Heavy dark green pants; and at the time, short hair…..
This is a Photo provided by Laurie (5.23.2020), and it brings memories of sitting in the front room at the McGaw’s, generally considered the “Music” room. You can see the edge of a large Wharfdale Speaker just to the left of Rob’s left arm. If I recall correctly there were speakers this size in each corner of that front room, and believe me, they were sufficient to broadcast Ted McGaw’s music onto the street; as I would know when heading over the McGaw’s, if I heard the music on, you were to enter quietly and not disturb the Music. Music was and is a sacred experience, and this certainly impacted me personally.
Also in this photo, you see the stairs going to the basement behind Rob, to the right at a landing was the TV room, and to the left, and down another level, was the 2 today rehearsal space, as I like to call it.