The place, the pacific northwest...SEATTLE, WASHINGTON! The birth of a band called "Heart"!
Originally Heart was known as "The Army", created by the guitarist "Roger Fisher". Now, time went on and "The Army" renamed themselves, becoming "Whiteheart". From "Whiteheart", they then renamed themselves, and this is where the name "Heart" came into play.
Right about the year 1970, Ann Wilson joined "Heart". Not long after Ann joined the band, the band decided to change the name from Heart to "Hocus Pocus". The reasoning of them changing the name was they wanted to be more physchedelic. Now, once again due to change, the band again changed names, this time they went back to the name "Heart".
Heart had a different line up then than they did at the time when Dreamboat Annie arrived on the charts. Heart has been around basically since right about 1967. Changes, yes many of them, but as we all know that change created a band that this world needed to see and hear.
I have tried to list some of the information here that might help you with the knowledge of this history. This includes a touch of history of the two remaining members which have kept this band's heart beating after many years, Ann & Nancy Wilson...
Here is some brief history of the woman who became the voice of "HEART"!
ANN DUSTIN WILSON...
As a teenager, Ann Wilson performed in such bands as The Mode(1966), The Viewpoints(1966-1967), The Rapunzel(1968), White Seal, A boy and his dog, Proof and Ann Wilson in the Daybreaks(1969) which with this band Ann Wilson put forth 2 45's. One of the 45's had the song called "Through Eyes And Glass", this song was written by Ann along with her sister Nancy who was 12 yrs old when it was written. It is one of the rarest items that one could find of the sisters Wilson. Only approx. 500 copies of each single were made.
Ann Wilson loved to perform as a child from what I have learned through being a fan. Even in the 7th grade Ann Wilson performed in a talent show, dressed up as a clown singing "Swinging Shepard Blues". Ann has always had a love of music in her, and she was a poet at heart as well..In fact, what Ann Wilson originally wanted to do before she ever had her musical career, was she wanted to write and illustrate poetry books. This woman has many talents, and it is a pleasure as a fan of seeing her perform. She is a force to be reckoned with in this musical industry, and always deserves a standing ovation!
Now lets go forth! As time went on, finally the youngest Wilson sister "Nancy", finally joined "Heart". Sisterhood brought together again. After all those years of playing and singing together as teenagers, they finally were back together. Ann & Nancy have been playing guitar together since Ann was 13 and Nancy was 8. Nancy surpassed Ann in playing the guitar and even was given the nickname of "Whiz Fingers" due to her accomplishments. It was the natural choice to have Nancy in the band. It was the soul and the spirit finally united in harmony and rythmn. This is something that anyone will see and understand when they finally see these two sisters on stage. The first ladies of Rock!
Finally..."Heart" was the biggest club act there was in Vancouver before Dreamboat Annie, and finally they believed it was time to go for a record deal. The band put together a demo and took it into their local canbase. While there they met a man who was a staff producer at the time and his name was "Howard Leese". Howard ended up producing Heart's first demo, then finally became a full time member of the band in 1975.
Now the stage is set...all members present...finally the contract...Heart's first contract was offered to them in January of 1975. Now, here comes Dreamboat Annie..you know all the rest from here to the present. The present day "Heart" has come into being due to many changes in the history of the band. Roger Fisher, Michael Deroiser, Steve Fossen, Mark Andes, Denny Carmassi, and as well as others have made their impact with us leaving their traces of their life and music for us to enjoy, they always will be there in the history, but it is time for life to go forward..
