The band "Soul Society" was the result of many hours of practice by a bunch of young guys having fun.  The band was organized and lead by keyboard player Paul Glen and the band was an evolution of Paul's previous band called the Jester's (from Surrey).

 

Paul had purchased his first organ and the band started to deliver more Mowtown rhythm and blues style tunes to their previous rock and roll performances. The band always wore black sport jackets, grey slacks, and a thin black tie while performing on stage; similar to other Mowtown bands and early English rock bands at that era.

 

Then a major change and major additions to band members occurred.  After the dust had settled at a band practice in Paul's basement, it was agreed that the name of the band was to become the "Soul Society".

 

"Soul Society" band members included:  Jerry(Ched) Miller, lead guitar, Jeff ross, Bass, Paul Glen, Keyboard, Bob Poole, trumpet,

Keith Koelling, sax, Adrien Messner, drums, and Brian Wesner, vocalist.

 

....Rewind:  Yes  Ched Miller  the radio announcer/disk jockey on many Vancouver, B.C. based radio stations played lead guitar for the

"soul Socirty".

 

After the new name, everything stepped up a few notches, A new black sports jacket with grey cuffs and lapels was added to the band's "on stage" wardrobe.  Dance steps and choreography lessons were integrated into band practices. Audiences at dances were getting larger in part to the efforts of band members who would distribute and put up posters to advertise events and performances.    

 

In the late 60's there was a roller rink operated in downtown Langley on the south side of the Fraser Hwy.  The "Langley roller Rink" owner

(Frank) would hire live bands to perform Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as long weekend dances that started at midnight on Sunday.

Many Canadian bands of the time, described in "Pacific Northwest Bands" played here.  However the "Soul Society" possibly performed at teen dances at the "Langley Roller Rink" more than any other band.

 

The "Soul Society" played at many venues and events.  The rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and soul music performed by the band was well

recieved and in high demand during the late 60's

 

A minor break occurred for the group when the "Soul Society" landed a nightly gig at the   Elegant Parlor       

 

a night club on Davie Street in Vancouver which was owned by Tommy Chong

 

Chong later became half of the legendary team "Cheech and Chong" who was then a guitar player with the Vancouver band

Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers.

 

Tommy Chong writes(enter Tommy Chong's Vancouver'):  After Mary Wilson and Nancy Ballard of the Supremes "discovered" us at our club the Elegant Parlor in late 1966, our band got a recording contract with Mowtown records to produce an album."

 

Later, as the Vancouver's and Chong" met recording contract obligations at "Mowtown Records" , "Soul Society" filled in, as the house band, at the Elegant Parlor for multiple one and two week intervals during 1967.  As a result of repeated nightly performances the band was starting to sound pretty hot.  As Tommy Chong and other band members would roll back into town for short periods they would end up at the club.  It was definitely very surreal to have Mowtown recording artists who was considered your peers  (people who only days before had possibly used the studios used by the "Supremes " and other Mowtown groups)  coming on stage and asking to perform with the band.

 

Keith Koelling  February 2014

 

 

  

 

 .

                                                                                               

 

 

 

.