Usually every morning during the week at the Discovery Co-op Cafeteria, local musicians and a few of their wives and friends meet for coffee. There’s the usual good-natured banter of course on the news and local politics, but the main topic is music – who’s playing where (usually which seniors’ residence or at the Pioneer Association Hall) and with whom, and other aspects of the amateur dance band scene.
These musicians have been around for a long time and are now a fraternity of sorts. My focus in writing these articles is the great historic dance bands of our communities – Battle Creek, Harry Startup and Blue Denim, to name a few. But I digress somewhat in this essay and present a group of musicians who certainly have a history and are still playing.
No, they’re not the big name bands of yesterday, or even today. But they are good, and they love music and love to play, and their friends who dance to their music really like and appreciate them.
After many invitations from friends Arnold and Helme Loewen and Bob Mallet, I decided to attend a jam session on a Sunday afternoon at the Pioneer Association Hall on Railway Avenue South. Arnold suggested I bring a guitar and join in, or if I was not so inclined, to come anyway and check it out. I went with the latter. When I walked in the door, what a surprise.
A husband and wife duo on guitar and keyboards was singing a classic country tune from the 1960s. The dance floor was full – people were burning up the floor, well not exactly. These were seniors, dancing, to old time waltzes, two-steps, fox trots, the schottice, seven step and barn dance, and a slow waltz now and then to give the folks a bit of a rest. They were obviously really enjoying themselves. A majority were in their early 80s and some were older. But it appeared they had the energy and enthusiasm of folks a couple of decades younger. About two-thirds of the way through the afternoon, everyone took a break for a good old-fashioned home-cooked food and desserts. The whole affair reminded me of the Saturday night school house dances of the 1950s which I attended with my parents. After, lunch, a new band stepped up to kick off the final set for the day.
All of the musicians volunteered their time for the jam sessions and dances. It was obvious they really liked what they were doing as they took turns playing throughout the afternoon. There were at least a dozen groups and duos playing. Interestingly, there were five musician couples – Carol and Maureen Ross, Mel and Carol Deagnon, Arnold and Helme Loewen, Wilf and Joan Rice and John Archer and Jeanette Beckman.
The music was almost exclusively old country and old time. The range of talent demonstrated by the musicians and the number of instruments they played was remarkable – acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, stand-up bass fiddle, piano, accordion, fiddle, keyboards and banjo. And most of them sang – lead, chorus and harmony (variously).
All of the players and singers were good and some were really good. All of the musicians were, well, not young. Like the dancers, a fair number were in their 80s. All of them (except one who had learned to play guitar in his early 70s) had a great deal of experience playing in various bands at many different venues, weddings, anniversaries, parties and community events. At least one musician had toured with a professional band years ago. Most of the musicians started playing in their youth and just continued – for the love of music.
In addition to playing frequently at the Pioneer Association Hall, the musicians play often at the River Heights Lodge, Villa Pascal, Davidson Manor, Towers I and Towers II, Caleb Manor and the Ruth Whyte Manor. Again, they volunteer their time and talent. And they are greatly appreciated.
I would be remiss if I did not comment on the Pioneer Association since it sponsors the jam sessions and dances. The association also hires bands and holds dances on a regular basis. For example, well-known bandleader Leon Ochs played for a dance April 8, and the Over the Hill Gang played Oct. 14. The association also hosts spring barbecues, card parties and other activities. A barbecue was held May 1 after the jam session and dance – the last until after the summer recess.
The Pioneer Association was founded in 1955 (61 years ago). Alvin Freimark is the current president and has been for the past 18 years. He took on this key role in 1998 having served on the executive for two years previous. A member made a point of telling me that, “Alvin deserves a huge amount of credit for building the Pioneer Association into what it is today – a vibrant organization with many enthusiastic members who come out to all of our functions.”
I think this statement accurately summed up Alvin’s contributions to the Pioneer Association because I heard other similar comments about the president. It was clear Alvin was held in high regard. Of course, others have also contributed to the success of the association. Martha Carlton, for example, has been on the executive since 1996 and has been recording secretary for 14 years.
Back to the singers and players. I will briefly discuss the music career of a remarkable musician. In a future article, I intend to showcase all of the senior bands members as well as give a more in-depth description of the Pioneer Association.
Bob Mallet is 84 years old. Before he picked up a guitar and learned to play at age 70, he sang with Jack Alm for a couple of months at local functions. Then Jack persuaded Bob to learn how to play guitar. Eight years later, he learned how to play bass.
I observed Bob plays the guitar and the bass guitar very well. He’s in demand to play both but especially the bass. Bob has teamed up with his fellow senior musicians and has played at various local functions during the last 14 years. Bob sometimes plays at four or five venues a week.
