Big Sugar (band)
Canadian blues-rock band formed in Toronto in 1988.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Big Sugar got its start in Toronto in 1988, founded by Gordie Johnson, the band’s frontman, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter. From 1996 through 2016, they were one of the top 25 best-selling Canadian acts in their home country. The group is still going, putting out new music, vinyl reissues, and hitting the road.
The original lineup was Johnson, bassist Terry Wilkins, and drummer Al Cross. These three had already spent years backing Molly Johnson’s jazz shows and jamming informally with members of the Bourbon Tabernacle Choir. When Molly Johnson returned to rock with her band Infidels, she helped her former sidemen land a record deal, which led to their self-titled debut album in 1991 on Hypnotic Records.
Wilkins left in 1993. For the album *Five Hundred Pounds*, the band brought in guest musicians, including harmonica and tenor sax player Kelly Hoppe—known as Mr. Chill. Hoppe and Johnson were old friends from the same hometown; Hoppe had given Johnson his first gig as a guitarist. He added a blues and old-school R&B feel to the band’s sound, later picking up keyboards and melodica. He became a full member in September 1994, while bassist Garry Lowe had joined that July. Lowe had moved to Toronto from Kingston, Jamaica in the mid-1970s, played bass for touring reggae artists, and co-founded the Toronto reggae band Culture Shock. Johnson had long admired Lowe’s playing, telling *The Globe & Mail* that Lowe’s bass sound was exactly what he envisioned for Big Sugar—a mix of blues and rock built on a reggae groove. Johnson told *Artsfile Ottawa* their connection was mostly unspoken: “If I played a little something, he would play a little something back. It was a very symbiotic relationship.”
Released in 1993, *Five Hundred Pounds* got little promotion or radio play but sold 10,000 copies in Canada thanks to the band’s live shows. In 1995, Johnson also put out an album as Don’t Talk Dance with Tyler Stewart of Barenaked Ladies and Chris Brown of the Bourbon Tabernacle Choir. The band appeared in the 1994 drama *The Circle Game*, playing the blues band the film’s lead character belonged to and performing several songs. In 1995, they released two EPs: *Dear M.F.* (featuring a cover of Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy”) and *Ride Like Hell*. Drummer Stich Wynston, who had replaced Al Cross, was then replaced by Walter “Crash” Morgan. During a show in Iowa, Morga
- formed
- 1988
- origin
- Toronto, Canada
- field
- Music
- nationality
- Canadian
- known_for
- Blues-rock and reggae-influenced sound; top 25 best-selling Canadian bands (1996–2016)
Lore & Background
Big Sugar originally consisted of Gordie Johnson, bassist Terry Wilkins, and drummer Al Cross. The three had played together for years as a supporting band for Molly Johnson's jazz performances and as an informal jam band. Molly Johnson helped them secure a record deal, leading to their eponymous debut album in 1991 on Hypnotic Records. Wilkins left in 1993, and the band recorded Five Hundred Pounds with guest musicians, including harmonica and saxophonist Kelly Hoppe (Mr. Chill), who became a regular member in September 1994. Bassist Garry Lowe joined in July 1994, bringing a reggae groove that Johnson described as central to Big Sugar's sound.
The band appeared in the 1994 drama film The Circle Game, portraying a blues band. In 1995, they released two EPs, Dear M.F. and Ride Like Hell. Drummer Walter 'Crash' Morgan died on stage during a show in Iowa; Tyler Stewart and Tony Rabalao helped finish the tour. Paul Brennan joined as drummer for the commercially successful 1996 album Hemi-Vision. The band recorded French versions of singles for Quebec radio, collected on the 1999 EP Chauffe à bloc. In 1999, they opened for The Rolling Stones and performed at Woodstock 1999. In 2000, they released a dub album as AlKaline. The 2001 album Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready? included a rendition of 'O Canada' that became their signature version.
Reader's Guide
Big Sugar's significance lies in their sustained commercial success in Canada, ranking among the top 25 best-selling Canadian bands for two decades. Their sound blended blues, rock, and reggae, anchored by Garry Lowe's bass. The band's ability to adapt—recording French versions of songs, performing as an acoustic duo, and releasing a dub album under a different name—demonstrated versatility. Their live performances drove album sales, as with Five Hundred Pounds, which sold 10,000 copies on tour strength alone. The band's legacy includes a tribute concert for Garry Lowe in 2018 featuring numerous Canadian musicians, and their inclusion in the Canada 150 box set. Their continued activity into the 2020s, with albums like Eternity Now (2020), shows enduring relevance.
Did You Know?
- Big Sugar's debut album was released in 1991 on Hypnotic Records.
- Drummer Walter 'Crash' Morgan died on stage during a show in Iowa.
- The band recorded a French version of each single from their 1998 album Heated.
- Garry Lowe, bassist from 1994, died of cancer on July 7, 2018.
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