April
22, 1966
Seated on tree branch: Gary Squires
(guitar)
L-R: Leslie Moore (vocals), Alana
Hammond (vocals), Tom
Thompson (drums),
Danny
Payne (bass), Ian
Lowe (autoharp/vocals)
Photo credit: University of
Manitoba Archives & Special
Colllections
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St. James’ group Mantae
specialized in folk-rock style
vocals. “All of us were strong
singers,” says lead voice Alana Stephens
(nee Hammond), “so we could do all those
intricate Hollies and Mamas & Papas
harmonies.”
Formed in 1966, Mantae (not The Mantae,
Stephens stresses) consisted of Stephens,
guitarist Gary Squires, Ian Lowe on vocals
and autoharp, Danny Payne on bass, and
drummer Tommy Thompson. Leslie Moore
briefly sang with the group. All but
Thompson met at Silver Heights Collegiate
in the mid 60s.
While other bands opted for the
long-haired scruffy look, Mantae adopted a
clean cut image. “Even our parents
liked us,” laughs Stephens, who recalls
the group rehearsing in her parents’
living room. “The neighbours would
sit outside and listen.”
Mantae appeared at the Fourth Dimension
and Fireplace coffeehouses as well as
community club dances. “We were very
popular in St. James,” says Stephens, who
says the band play a benefit concert for
the newly opened Grace Hospital in St.
James.
Mantae were selected from some 2000
entries to appear at Expo 67 and set about
making plans to travel to Montreal that
summer. A week before leaving, the
band was returning from a gig in Altona MB
when Thompson was killed in a car
accident. Finder’s Keepers drummer
Bob Watson joined but the band didn’t have
the heart to play Expo.
Mantae called it quits the following
year. Stephens went on to sing on
CBC TV; Squires played in a number of pub
bands including Grizzly Bear [sic].
“It was such a special time,” reflects
Stephens. “There were so many
opportunities to perform. We were
booked every weekend. Being good
friends was wonderful, too. We were
like a family.”
John Einarson
As posted on the MANITOBA
MUSIC MUSEUM FACEBOOK PAGE, July
23, 2022
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Mantae
at St. Mary's Academy
February 1967
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L-R:
Ian lowe, Alana Hammond, Tom Thomson,
Gary Squires, Danny Payne
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