Marshmallow Soup Group

Canadian pop psych band formed in the summer of 1967 in Kingston, Ontario. They soon moved to Ottawa to sign with manager Vern Craig. Members were John Lemmon (organ, vocals), Wayne Sweet (lead guitar, vocals), Ron "Smack" Smith (bass, vocals), and Tim Cottini (drums). Tim Eaton joined the group later as lead singer in early 1969 before they started recording, first with radio jingles for the United Way charities and the Canada Welfare Council. Their popularity with radio listeners led to signing with RCA Limited's nascent Sun-Bar Productions in late 1969. Marshmallow Soup Group had only one hit record, "I Love Candy" penned by Eaton, in 1969. The record was released in November to coincide with their trip to Lima, Peru where they performed at the International Trade Fair as Goodwill Ambassadors of Canada for the Federal Department of Trade and Commerce. They also toured Japan, Mexico, Hawaii and the US in that role. They released a follow-up single in 1970 that did not do as well on the charts in Canada, and did not break internationally as "I Love Candy" had done. After the demise of the band, Eaton embarked on a solo career in the summer of 1971 and formed his own backing band called Timothy.