Edward Bear, a Canadian pop-rock group from Toronto, was formed in 1966 by singer and percussionist Larry Evoy and bassist Craig Hemming. The band's name is derived from A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh character Edward Bear. Initially known for their bluesy rock sound, they signed with Capitol Records in 1969 with a lineup including Evoy, guitarist Danny Marks, and keyboardist Paul Weldon. Their debut album Bearings was released that year, featuring the Top 5 hit single "You, Me and Mexico" in Canada. Edward Bear's subsequent albums included Eclipse (1970) and Edward Bear (1973). Notable singles from this period include "Last Song", which reached Number 1 in Canada and peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, earning a gold disc in March 1973. The band also achieved chart success with "Close Your Eyes" and won a Juno Award for outstanding group performance in 1973. Despite lineup changes, Edward Bear disbanded in 1974. Posthumous compilations include The Best of the Bear (1986) and The Edward Bear Collection (1991).
