54-40 formed in Vancouver in 1981. They built a following in Canada with a sound that mixed folk, rock, and Celtic touches, heard on songs like 'Get Back Down' and 'What To Do Now.' The band's lineup included Neil Osborne on vocals and guitar, Brad Merritt on guitar, Phil Comparelli on keyboards, and Harold K. Johnson on bass, with Matt Johnson on drums.
They released their self-titled debut album in 1988 and put out records steadily through the 1990s and 2000s, including 'Dear Sergio,' 'Since When,' and 'Smile, You're Under Arrest.' A legal dispute with their former label in the early 2000s caused some trouble, but they kept going.
Later albums like 'Northern Soul' in 2009 and 'Keep On Walking' in 2017 showed they were still writing and recording. Their music, with its harmonies and straightforward rock feel, has stayed in rotation for fans who caught them early on.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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