Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
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Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on the provenance of the records.
Level of description
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1966-2010 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
2700 audio reels (ca. 500 hrs.). – 463 audio cassettes (297 hrs.). – 1440 audio compact discs. – 421 audio discs (46 hrs.). – 35 video cassettes (16 hrs.). – 69 computer discs. – 3.72 m of textual records. – 225 photographs. – 153 negatives.
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
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Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Damon Productions was founded in Edmonton in 1966 by Garry McDonall and Wally Petruk. McDonall and Petruk were members of the Edmonton-based rock band, The Nomads, and created the company as a means to create and promote their own music. The name “Damon” was selected as it is “Nomad” in reverse.
In 1968, McDonall, Petruk, and Nomads drummer Don Paches decided to expand the company by creating a recording studio. The three were joined by Petruk's brother, Len Petruk, and Edmonton-based singer Robert Harlan Smith and the partnership founded Damon Studios in 1968.
Damon Studios was initially a 4-track recording operation but upgraded with an 8-track system in 1972. The studio eventually upgraded to 24-track recording and was the first recording studio in Canada to install the fully-computerized Neve 8108 sound board.
In addition to the recording studio, McDonall and Damon Productions also ran two record labels, Damon Records (focusing on country music) and Mustard (focusing on rock and popular music), as well as two music publishing companies, Pet-Mac and 3 P.M. These publishing concerns made Damon one of the largest music publishers in western Canada.
Over the course of its history, Damon recorded or released two double platinum, three platinum, and eight gold records. Some Damon artists include Tommy Banks, Tim Feehan, Randy Broadhead, Kennedy Jenson, Bob Ruzicka, and Donna Adams. Damon Studios also served as the recording facility for Garry Lee and the Showdown's 1980 hit single, The Rodeo Song, and the Emeralds' worldwide polka sensation, The Bird Dance.
Garry McDonall served as the President of Damon Productions from its inception in 1966 to his death in 2010, as well as being chief recording engineer. He was also a member of the Alberta Recording Industries Association (ARIA), serving two terms as president and various positions on the board since ARIA's beginning in the early 1980s. McDonall was awarded the Heritage Award at the 2004 Western Canadian Music Industry Awards, honouring his lifelong career in the music industry.
Garry McDonall died on October 5, 2010 at the age of 72. After his death, Damon Productions and all of its subsidiaries ceased operations.
Custodial history
The records were maintained by Damon Productions until McDonall’s death in 2010.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of a wide range of material related to the company’s involvement in the Alberta music industry during its over 40 years in business. The records also include material related to McDonall’s time as president of the Alberta Recording Industry Association and material related to McDonall’s own career as a musician with the Nomads.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The material was donated by Garry McDonall’s daughter, Kelly McDonall, in 2010.
Arrangement
Arrangement note: The records are arranged into the following series (following the original order created by McDonall with some arrangement of McDonall’s personal records imposed by the archivist): ARIA, Artists, Manufacturing, Nomad Music Enterprises, Publishing, Recording, and Garry McDonall. The Recordings series will be further arranged into the following sub-series: Alberta Releases, Damon Releases, Masters, and Original Recordings.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script note
The material is in English.
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Access Conditions: Audio records must be duplicated prior to access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Use Conditions: Permission for use required. Subject to the Copyright Act.
Finding aids
File list is available.
Associated materials
Records related to the Alberta Recording Industry Association (ARIA) can also be found in the Stony Plain Records fonds (PR0023).
Accruals
Further accruals are not expected.
General note
Includes accession PR2011.0031.
Conservation
At the time of donation, many of the recordings were coated in dust and were subsequently vacuumed.