Kensington Market, aka 'The Market', was a Toronto-based rock band, active from 1967 to 1969. Named after a downtown Toronto neighbourhood, it was known for 'gentle, lyrical, rock music', masterful musicianship, and for being was one of the first Canadian rock bands to develop a style independent of US and British models. History The band was formed by singer/songwriter and guitarist Keith McKie, former Bobby Kris & The Imperials guitarist and pianist Gene Martynec, bass player Alex Darou, drummer Jimmy Watson and former Luke & The Apostles frontman, singer/songwriter Luke Gibson. McKie and Darou were from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario where, along with Bob Yukich and Alfred Johns, they had band The Vendettas, which had opened for The Everly Brothers, The Dave Clark Five, and The Searchers. In 1965, The Vendettas moved to Toronto and were invited to audition for Ronnie Hawkins. Nothing materialized from that and Darou left to play with David Clayton-Thomas, but they were able to play gigs at bars and coffeehouses and caught the attention of musical entrepreneur Bernie Finkelstein. Finkelstein (who would eventually found True North Records) had just sold his interest in The Paupers and was looking for new bands. He offered to help them form a new band, bringing in Martynec and Watson, and Darou returned. The band launched at the Night Owl on Toronto's Avenue Road on 4 June 1967. Writing in the Toronto Star, Sid Adilman reported that the group was “the brightest and most inventive band ever grouped together in Toronto”. In 1967, for Stone Records, Kensington Market released four singles: "Bobby's Birthday", "I Would be the One", "Mr. John" and "Kensington Market". "Mr. John" peaked at #76 on RPM's Canadian Top 100 chart in September, 1967. The Market also landed the contract to do the soundtrack to the 1967 Don Owen film The Ernie Game (the soundtrack included on additional song, "Stranger" by Leonard Cohen). They performed at the 1967 Mariposa Folk Festival, where they were one of the bands to inaugurate electronic instruments at the festival. They appeared in the centrefold of Maclean's magazine, and they were invited to play in a jam session with former Gordon Lightfoot guitarist David Rea. Rea was so impressed, he called American producer Felix Pappalardi (Cream, The Youngbloods), who flew up and offered the band a two-record deal with Warner Bros., appearing at the Ottawa club they were playing at, contract in