Post Script - The Sceptres

Marty Bill Tim Tyler

Marty Butler: (Lead Singer, Keyboards, Composer): received a B.A. and Teaching Diploma (Concordia University). A solo performer throughout the Toronto area until the mid 1990's, he wrote and recorded two solo albums for CBS/Sony Records and composed songs for many prominent Canadian artists. Marty passed away in 1996.

Bill Ott (Bill Garry): (Bass, Guitar, Background Vocals): received a B.A. in communications (Concordia University) after the breakup of The Sceptres. Bill has spent his entire career working in the Entertainment Industry holding Senior Executive positions with: A&M, Island, Motown Records, PolyGram Group, Oasis, Ventura Distributing, VDI Entertainment & Silverback Mgmt. He does independent consulting to the industry from Toronto.

Tim Hewlings: (Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Arranger, and Background Vocals): After leaving The Sceptres, Tim received a B. Mus. (McGill University). He went on to become a sound recordist and record producer and worked at several Montreal recording studios before taking the post of animateur pédagogique in the Music Department of the Université du Québec (UQAM). He operated the department recording studio and produced several CDs for the university until retiring in 2012. Tim is the Vice-president of Résonance TJL Inc, an acoustical consulting and design firm located in Montreal.

(W.F.) Tyler William: (Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals): Received a B.A. (Concordia) B. Comm. (Windsor) and Chartered Accountant designation. Long active in local rock bands, a musical historian, and an avid collector music memorabilia and instruments. W.F Tyler operated an Ottawa-based Chartered Accountant and Business advisory firm until 2019.

Summary

The Sceptres history spans a decade. The group recorded a total of 22 tracks including 3 tracks where The Sceptres were the “instrumental and vocal” support for The Sceptres’ producer Martin Martin: “Just A Little Bit Of Oh Yeah” - RCA Victor International (57-3407), and “Say Shalom” - TRAX (7001)

The Sceptres also recorded a song with Jimmy Torres called “Whistling Hermit” – Fi-Sound (FSS-102). Jimmy was the lead guitarist of “The String-A-longs”, who had a world-wide hit with “Wheels” in 1961.

The Sceptres had 3 English Records which went to the Top 30 on the charts in many Canadian markets, with 2 Top 10 Hits and one # 1 record.

The Sceptres had International releases in the U.K, (Spark Records).

“The Sceptres / Les Sceptres” had 2 French records which charted in Quebec, and were strongly supported by radio and the Quebec press. Both “Enfin seul ensemble”, the The Sceptres’ French adaptation of Tommy James’ “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Moi, je pense toujours à toi”, the French version their English hit “I Never Had A Love Like That”, made the charts in Quebec.

“The Sceptres /Les Sceptres” recorded for 5 Canadian Record Companies between 1965 – 1969: Fi-Sound, Allied, Alliance, RCA Victor International, & Polydor.

2014

A 15 Track compilation CD of the best of The Sceptres recordings was released on May 13, 2014 on Pacemaker Records