Skip to content

Hiebert on Heritage - Gary Gansauge: For the love of music

On one occasion back in the 1980s, my band, The Rhythm Aces, was booked to play for a rodeo dance at the Civic Centre. We were hard pressed for a keyboard player. But then, at the 11th hour, Gary Gansauge stepped in with us. We knew he was good.

On one occasion back in the 1980s, my band, The Rhythm Aces, was booked to play for a rodeo dance at the Civic Centre. We were hard pressed for a keyboard player. But then, at the 11th hour, Gary Gansauge stepped in with us. We knew he was good. But actually, he was really good. On other occasions, I observed Gary work with Lisa Hornung and young, aspiring musicians at a children’s developmental music program at the Third Avenue United Church. He and Lisa were able to bring out the best in their preteen and teen charges.

 

I met with Gary on Jan. 14, 2017 at the Co-op Café, and over multiple cups of coffee (as is always the case), he told me about his life and gave me an overview of his musical career. At the time of the interview, Gary had just stepped out of a very fine dance band called Cherokee Rose. Here is Gary’s story:

 

Gary Gansauge was born on July 11, 1952, to Fred Gansauge and Jean Gansauge (nee Tait) at North Battleford. Gary has one brother and one sister. The family farmed near Prince (about 15 miles northwest of North Battleford) and later moved to North Battleford. Gary took his Grades 1 through 8 at Prince School and his Grades 9 through 12 at the North Battleford Collegiate Institute in North Battleford. He graduated in 1970. Gary’s favourite subject was math. His two favourite sports were fastball and curling.

 

Gary’s mother was responsible for getting him started in music at a young age. Gary learned to play piano at the age of four. A teacher, Mrs. Kinnee, also taught him to play piano at a more advanced level. But it was Mrs. Headley who most influenced young Gary as a pianist and musician. He took lessons from her until age 18.

 

Gary mused that not much in high school prepared him for playing rock and roll, country, old time and big band music in dance bands because he played classical music until he was 18 years old (I disagree; I think that Gary’s classical training, learning to play by note and by ear, must have contributed to his remarkable success as a dance band musician). Mrs. Kinnee gave Gary lessons when he was five years old and continued with him until he was 14 years old.

 

Gary and Wendy Cole were married on Nov. 25, 1972. They have four wonderful children (now grown): Brandi, Jamie, Melanie and Travis.

 

Gary’s musical career took a steep climb in the early 1970s when Edam residents Andy and Joanne Pauze invited him to step in with their newly-formed band, Misty Blue. It was Gary’s first band experience and he played with them for quite a few years. Band members included Pat Delainey (drums), Gary (keyboards/electric piano), Andy (lead guitar, front man), and Joanne (vocals).

 

Misty Blue was a good band, and life for Gary and his family during these years was very good. The band played many venues in the Maidstone and Lashburn area and the Northwest.

 

Time to move on. Gary’s next band was Northern Express. The band enjoyed a reputation as solid and entertaining. Gary played with Northern Express for three years during the 1980s. Band members included Denis de Montarnal (rhythm guitar and vocals), Jim Holloway (drums), Archie Peterson (fiddle, vocals), Gary, and Archie’s daughter (bass guitar, vocals). NE was a bar band. Gary and his colleagues could be found Friday and Saturday nights playing a bar in or near Lloydminster.

 

Gary was quick to point out that he was fortunate to have played with excellent musicians throughout his musical career. Iron sharpens iron and everyone in the local music world had great respect for Gary as a musician.

 

Gary joined a band called Grand Country (an excellent band) next (members Allan Kahl, Darlene Duchinski, Robert Allen, Colin Gregor, Clint Lybeck and Gary). They played for a number of years. Grand Country often played as long as people were dancing. On one occasion, the band was playing in a bar. At closing time, the bartender locked the door and the band just kept on playing. They played till early morning and then went for breakfast. Then in 1992 at the annual Carleton Trail Jamboree, Claire Schira was singing there and asked for backup. They obliged. In actual fact, Grand Country was breaking up and Claire was there to pick up the pieces. Gary, steel player Clint Lybeck and drummer Robert Allen joined with Claire and Charles. As an aside, 1992 was an era of great country music – Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black and Shania Twain, for example.

 

Gary had high praise for Claire Shira, the originator, driving force and leader of Cherokee Rose. It was Claire who came up with the name for the band. The original band members (1992) were Gary, Robert Allen on drums, Charles Shira on vocals and rhythm guitar, Clair Shira on vocals and bass guitar, and Clint Lybeck on steel guitar.

 

Clair recorded many songs on cassette and typed lyrics for band members. Band practices were focused on learning and perfecting new songs. With this attitude and strong leadership from Claire Shira, Cherokee Rose soon became one of the best bands in the area.

 

Venues included weddings, anniversaries, the Silver Buckle Rodeo at Spiritwood, the annual rodeo in Leoville, etcetera. Cherokee Rose played in communities including Prince Albert, North Battleford, Medstead, Saskatoon, Meadow Lake, Macklin, Turtleford and Livelong (the list is not exhaustive).

 

As is the case with almost all dance bands, members drop out and new members join. It was no different for Cherokee Rose. Robert Allan and Clinton Lybeck both retired in 1999 (last dance at Little Loon, July) Sadly, Clinton, an amazing steel player, passed away in 2015. Randy Randall then stepped in to play drums. Steel and fiddle player Duane Heinze joined in the mid 1990s. Gary complimented him by noting that he was, “… a hard worker and a perfectionist,” and that, ”Nobody can touch him.” I, personally, can attest to that. Duane stepped in with my band on a couple of occasions. As a musician, he is in the “great” category – the best steel player in the business and one of the best fiddle players. Duane stepped out of the band in 2015 (due to shoulder problems). John Chipak, a teacher at John Paul Collegiate (now retired) also joined. An exceptional guitar player and singer, John really added to the stature and popularity of Cherokee Rose. All of these players joined at the same time.

 

Gary served notice on more than one occasion that he intended to quit playing but, each time, the band members persuaded him to stay on. Gary noted that Cherokee Rose was together for a solid 25 years and that playing in this great band was one of Gary’s great life experiences. In post-retirement, all of the former band members remain good friends to this day.

 

I asked Gary to give me a couple of good band stories. Back when Gary was playing with his first bands, the Pauze Band and Misty Blue, Gary hooked his keyboard to a Leslie speaker (revolving) for a dynamic, unique and powerful sound. He hauled the Leslie speaker in the trunk of 1973 Chrysler with the trunk lid open. Leslie speakers, a fixture of the 1970s, were awesome, really.

 

In the early years, Gary and his friends transported their equipment in their cars. Then they bought an old ambulance – large enough to accommodate band members and equipment. And finally, they bought a trailer, which was much safer. You don’t want to get into a crash-up with unsecured equipment in a vehicle, I can tell you that.

 

At the present time, as noted, Gary is not with the Cherokee Rose Band, nor is he hooked up with any other band. Yes, he is retired. But he still gives generously of his time to assist Lisa Hornung with the Community Youth Choir. In fact, Gary has worked with Lisa for the past 30 years coaching, teaching, and playing background music at annual music festivals and other music venues. The truth is that Gary has pretty well made himself indispensable to the CYC. At this point in the interview, we agreed that I should say a few words about Lisa Hornung, an extraordinary, classically trained singer, and Gary’s good friend.

 

Lisa studied piano and voice at the University of Saskatchewan. She is classically trained in piano and voice. She is internationally acclaimed in Canada, Europe and the United States. Lisa is in possession of a remarkable musical talent. Her enthusiasm for singing and teaching is infectious. Teaching vocal and singing are Lisa’s main venue. It should be noted that she runs an annual vocal camp for children and adults that is nationally acclaimed. Her and Gary’s principle interest, however, is the youth choir that practices at the Third Avenue United Church.

 

Back to Gary. Gary will step in with a band now and then when they need a keyboard/electric piano player, but mostly he now plays for his own enjoyment.

 

As everyone in the music business knows, playing in a band can put a strain on one’s relationships, and particularly one’s marriage. Gary was happy to say that his wife has been truly understanding and supportive throughout his lengthy career. Take it from me, that means a lot.

 

On a serious note, Gary has MS, a serious and debilitating illness. Typically, MS does not get better; it gets worse. The symptoms are fatigue and one’s legs losing strength and giving out. Gary has had this condition for 20 years. There is no cure. Gary has met this great challenge of his life with courage, resilience, stoicism and a supportive family. Gary related that he’s doing well compared to some MS people he knows. Importantly, Gary’s positive take on life is vested in an appreciation for 20 good years of life.

 

Back to music. Now and then, Gary will step in with a band that is desperate for a keyboard/electric piano player. But for the most part, Gary now plays solitaire – for his own enjoyment. Gary noted that, “Music has been a fundamental and integral part of my life – especially with my MS.”

 

To conclude, Gary noted, with pangs of regret perhaps, that playing a Club 70 dance at the North Battleford Legion (Sharp Auditorium) on Jan. 21, 2016, was his (and Cherokee Rose’s) last dance. Gary conceded that “tears were shed” and that was it. The time had come as is the case for every dance band ultimately. Thirty-five years of dance music had ended.

 

Gary’s final remarks had to do with formal music, not dance bands. Gary pointed out how fortunate he had been to work with some outstanding musicians. Gary noted that adjudicators routinely commented on the “high level of music” in our city.

 

To finally conclude, it was satisfying and heartwarming to spend some time with one of the Battleford’s truly accomplished musicians – Gary Gansauge.