RJ and The Boys

Welcome to Retro-Roots world of RJ and the Boys

Do you like 50’s Rock N’ Roll, Rockabilly, Surf-Rock Instrumentals , 60’s British Invasion, Classic Country?

Yes we do too, who doesn’t enjoy those classic “Feel-Good” sounds of yesterday.

We love them so much, not only do we play that music; we still write and record those classic sounds.

Here, like true friends that classic music will live forever.

RJ and the Boys
Was started in 2004 by lead Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter RJ McGregor, Derek Webb on Bass Guitar/Vocals and Dave “Crockett” McGregor on Drums.

RJ has always been a fan of 50’s and 60’s music credits his Mom and Dad’s Record Collection, as his main source of influence “who couldn’t love all that stuff?, Elvis Presley, Beatles, Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones, Johnny Rivers, CCR, all of it was awesome, still is!”

Derek was the senior member of the “Boys”, Derek was born in Welwyn Garden City, England and grew up during the music hey-day of the British invasion, he always called Cliff Richard and the Shadows one of his biggest influences and went on to Cover their 1958 smash “Move it”.

Dave along with big brother “RJ” where both Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Dave is the most contemporary, in his Musical Tastes, and always brings that to the table, in his performance and his songwriting, Dave is the co-writer of many of the Classic RJ and the Boys Originals, Such as Naked in the Rain, Upside Of Down and many others.

The Boys held their 1st Jam Session in Oct of 2004 and where soon dared to play a New Years Eve show.

That Show in Saskatoon, not only was the 1st show the boys played, but was a smash success, Soon the Boys where booked to play the #63 Legion in Saskatoon (Called by locals, “the Downtown Legion”).

1st show at the Downtown Legion was about 50 people, by the time the boys released the Debut CD “RJ and the Boys” (recorded at Del Ryan’s Studios in Saskatoon), they had a full house and the clubroom had to turn people away, a room that held 330 people, a major victory for the Boys, as they had been told, it would “never fly in here”.

That following summer the band had secured an amazing amount of shows, such as countless dances, Car Shows (including Saskatoon’s Rod-Run 2005, the Boys where playing up to 4-5 times a week (while all holding down Full-Time days jobs).

Then came, the call to perform at the Millport Country and Western Festival in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland.

Having this Festival, the Boys then arranged more shows and the Scotland Tour was on its way. The Boys celebrated their success at Derek’s 60th Birthday party in Scotland.

The Boys returned home the fall of 2005 to countless calls to play anything and everywhere, More Legion Clubs Followed, More Car Clubs and the Bands other Saskatoon home “the Broken Cue”.

The spring of 2006, saw the follow up release 12-4-2, more great classic oldies and new RJ and the Boys Originals, all in those classic styles.

Again the Calls came flooding in to do shows, such as Hague SK, Road Huggers Car Show, Weyburn Cancer Jam, Fundraisers, Taste of Saskatchewan and Countless Pub Shows/Dances

Radio, Press and Television Interviews came in all over the Prairies and Beyond, It wasn’t uncommon to find RJ and Crew on the phone in the middle of the night, doing an interview in places like Greece, Japan, Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Netherlands and such.

By the fall summer of 2007, Derek had to step aside as heath issues became a problem and the demand for the boys to play live was still very high.

RJ released a solo album called “Lost Daydreams of a 20th Century Fool” (2007), made up of a collection of RJ originals.

The Boys Continued to Perform Live thru-out 2007-08 with Fill-in Bass Players, Karl Rogalsky, Chris Millet and long time friend Trent Opdahl.

The Spring saw RJ and the Boys release “Upside of Down” a video single and Album of the same name, that put the Boys right back on the retro-track they started on, Filmed in Saskatoon and surrounding area the “Making of” was broadcast on SCN’s 15 mins of fame.

The Boys again performed at the Weyburn Country Jam (Weyburn Saskatchewan), later broadcast on Access2000 TV Network.

RJ also did a few more Shows in the UK, followed by another “good run” of local and area shows, such as many at Vangelis on Broadway in Saskatoon right thru to the summer of ‘09

Derek’s health took a turn for the worst in ’09, although he wasn’t performing live with the band, we was working behind the scenes, with the Boys and they had been planning a return trip to the UK and to the studio to record the 3rd RJ and the Boys album.

Although unknown at the time, but the bands last official show was at Buds on Broadway in Saskatoon June 15th and 16th

Only days after this show, RJ and Dave’s Dad, Ralph a cancer survivor who was instrumental in setting up the gear and arranging the road crew, was to have a devastating work related accident, wh