By Jim Hagerty, Staff Writer

Randy Bachman

Selling more records than the Beatles and an entire country’s record industry is no small feat.

Sunday’s On the Waterfront Oasis Stage headliner did both as part two of the most successful musical acts in history.

As a member of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), Randy Bachman has sold more than 40 million records and reached the top of radio playlists in more than 20 countries.

In 1970, following a string of hit songs like “Laughing” and “No Time,” Bachman and The Guess Who sold more records than the Beatles and became the first Canadian rock group to reach No. 1 in the U.S. with singles, “American Woman” and “No Sugar Tonight.” That year, the band shook the Canadian music industry from its foundation by also out-selling all of the country’s artists combined.

By 1971, Randy Bachman exited The Guess Who and teamed up with his brothers, Robbie and Tim, to form Brave Belt, which became Bachman-Turner Overdrive, when Fred Turner joined the band.

As a founding member of BTO, Bachman’s success continued, as the band sold 7 million records during the 1970s. To-date, BTO has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide. Songs like “Takin’ Care of Business,” “Roll On Down the Highway,” “Let It Ride,” and the No. 1, “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet,” remains radio and music download favorites.

Today, Bachman is far from inactive and isn’t just riding the residual waves of early success. After his run with BTO, which officially disbanded in 2005, he’s been involved in several projects such as releasing two jazz albums, compilation packages of previously unreleased material, a Christmas record and begun work on a new CD.

Bachman also toured the world as a member of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band #3 with fellow pioneers John Entwistle (The Who), Mark Farner (Grand Funk) and famed keyboardist, Billy Preston.

Staying busy, he said, isn’t terribly difficult and he looks forward to every chance he gets to step on stage.

“I’m fortunate to have written a couple of dozen songs,” Bachman said, “that, no matter what kind of performance situation I’m in, they always resonate with the fans.  The magic is in the songs.  They are the currency of the music business and certainly my connection to the audience.”

Bachman is working on a new album, a bluesy-rock project, that, he says, will give “the fans what they’ve been asking for all these years.”

The Winnipeg, Manitoba native also hinted the new CD, which includes contributions by Neil Young and Fred Turner, could lead to a BTO reunion.

“If the fans out there get as excited as I am over this, it may lead the way to a Bachman-Turner CD.” Bachman’s last solo album, A Jazz Thing II, was released in 2007.

Randy Bachman will perform Sunday, Sept. 6, on the On the Waterfront Oasis Stage. Show starts at 9 p.m. More information about Randy Bachman can be found at www.randybachman.com ^[1].

The On the Waterfront Oasis Stage will also feature shows by The Family Stone Project, The Last Vegas, RED and Framing Hanley. Missing Links, The Sensations and X51 will be among popular local acts to perform on the Oasis Stage, sponsored by MedicineMan, throughout the weekend.

The Charlie Daniels Band kicks-off On the Waterfront Thursday, Sept. 3 on the Davis Park Great Lawn Stage. The rest of the festival officially begins Friday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. and runs through Sunday, Sept. 6.

A complete schedule of On the Waterfront music and attractions can be found at www.onthewaterfront.com ^[2].

Photo courtesy of Paquin Entertainment