Beaton to Bryer

North Bay has been home to a wide variety of talented musicians since its founding in 1882. This page lists musicians and bands from Beaton to Bryer.

John Beaton. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Beaton, John

John Beaton began his musical training by studying violin with Edward Oscapella in Oshawa, then under David Wulkan in Toronto. He attended the University of Western Ontario, where he continued studying the violin as well as learning conducting with Professor Deral Johnson, serving as a member of the UWO Symphony Orchestra and UWO Faculty Chamber Orchestra. Prior to graduating from Western, John also attended the Shawnigan Summer School of the Arts in Victoria, B.C. In 1979, he completed his degree, graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Western's Faculty of Music. In 1980, John came to North Bay to serve as the Music Director to the Northern Musical Arts and Director of the North Bay Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 1983. In addition to his work with the North Bay Symphony, John taught private violin lessons, conducted the North Bay Concert Band, and completed a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Toronto.

Shirantha Beddage. Photographer unknown.

Beddage, Shirantha

Moving to North Bay with his parents in 1983, Shirantha Beddage's passion for music, specifically jazz, was sparked during his time as a student at W.J. Fricker Public School and Chippewa Secondary School. Shirantha began studying piano at age five before being introduced to the saxophone when he was eleven by his music teacher, Albert Furtney. As a high school student, he was introduced to various styles of jazz by his music teacher Mark Desouza, who also gave him the opportunity to improvise while playing for Chippewa's jazz band. Shirantha cites Mark as being instrumental in not only introducing him to jazz as a whole, but building his skills as a saxophonist. He would go on to study music at Humber College, William Paterson Univeristy, and the Eastman School of Music, finishing with a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Jazz Studies before going on to teach himself at Humber College and the Columbus State University School of Music. Shirantha has played saxophone extensively, both at live events and on recordings, as a leader and side musician. Two of his albums, Identity and Momentum, were nominated for JUNOs in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Currently, Shirantha is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and continues to play saxophone for his own quartet and various ensembles.

Thomas William “Bill” Bee. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Bee, Thomas William “Bill”

After moving to North Bay from Regina, Saskatchewan in 1943, Thomas William "Bill" Bee became an active member of the North Bay Legion and Rotary Club for the next four decades. Mr. Bee played trumpet for the 8th Squadron Band from 1945-1957 before taking over as director from 1957-1963. During this time, he was also bugler for Branch 23 of the Canadian Legion, playing until his death in 1982. A veteran of the First World War, Bill was the official bugler for the Last Post and Reveille during Rememberence day services, a position he held for 37 consecutive years. In addition to his horn playing, Bill was also an active member of the St. Andrew's Church Choir and helped found the North Bay Rotary Club's male choir.

Bertrand, Roger & Marlene

Roger and Marlene Bertrand each grew up with music, Roger playing the piano and Marlene singing. After their marriage, they became a musical duo, playing together at various shows throughout the north, later incorporating a drummer and becoming the Bertrand Trio. The band played regularly at the Windsor and Sunbeam (two hotels in Sturgeon Falls) from the early 1960s into the 1970s. During their 10 years of performing at the Sunbeam, Roger and Marlene's children joined in playing with the group, forming a true family band. In 1984, Marlene created the Sturgeon Falls Ecumenical Choir, a choir of over 50 members from four religious denominations that performed yearly Christmas concert fundraisers, raising over $21, 000 in Marlene's eleven years as director. After Marlene's tragic passing in 2004, Roger played with Don Brose in the duo Two of a Kind.

The Bisson Sisters

The daughters of two musicians (Adelard and Marie-Anne Bisson), sisters Carmen, Clairette, and Jeannine began playing music at a young age in the 1940’s after their father bought them instruments and told them to teach themselves. By the late 1940s, the trio were entertaining private parties, being too young to play at hotels. The band split up but each member continued with their musical endeavours—Carmen moved to North Bay and played with her band, Carmen Corbeil and her Country Gentlemen, while Clairette and Jeannine remained in the Temiscaming region with their band Silver Stars. The sisters would reuinte as a trio in 1970, playing everything from French music to country to rumba at venues in Temiscaming and the surrounding area into the early 1980’s. They were inducted to the Nipissing Country Music Association's Wall of Honour in 2008, joining together for one last show.

The Honourable Jean-Jacques Blais. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Blais, The Honourable Jean-Jacques

Though he took piano lessons for three years as a young boy, Jean-Jacques Blais' love for music did not truly begin until high school where he took up the brass bugle and then the trumpet. During this time, he played at various events for his high school and Sturgeon Falls Town Band, as well as being invited to practice with North Bay's 8th Field Squadron Band. During this time, Jean-Jacques also performed with the five-piece dance band Mariners as lead trumpeter. Upon attending the University of Ottawa, Jean-Jacques joined the University of Ottawa Concert Band and glee club, as well as participating in several stage musicals. After graduating, he continued to sing in various choirs in North Bay, Ottawa, and Toronto, before focusing on his political career after becoming a member of Parliament in 1972.

John Bonany. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Bonany, John

John was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1887. Throughout his life he worked at the Milne Lumber Mill at trout Lake and at the Canadian Pacific Railway. He took music lessons from Egidio Virgil, learned how to play the clarinet and taught himself how to play the violin. He often played for square dances. His mother was a piano player who he frequently received musical advice from. John played with a number of bands throughout his musical career; the Capital Band, the Premier Band and the Temiscaming and Northern Ontario Railway Band. He often performed concerts with the city band from the balcony of the old city hall, as well as performing at the band stand at Memorial Park. A father of five boys and four girls, John married his wife, Maude Beech, in 1908. John was a member of the C.P.R.'s first softball team where he was a goal judge for twenty years. He passed away in 1967 at the age of 80.

Ray Boucher. Photo courtesy of the Music City Collection. Photographer unknown.

Boucher, Ray

When he was nine, Ray began playing the drums and trumpet with the North Bay Air Cadets, 547. There were not many drummers in North Bay when he first began and after spending time with a number of scrub bands, he joined his first group, Al and the Crescendos. After that, he played with more than 10 groups including the Galaxies, Jades, Staccatos, Dougie Day and the Nights, Bandits, Squires, Peepers, Band From Uncle and lastly, the Apollos. His musical career took him throughout Northern Ontario, Quebec, Michigan and the Grand Bend area. Ray was one of the founders of Midas Touch.

Don Brose. Photo courtesy of the Music City Collection. Photographer unknown.

Brose, Don

Don moved to North Bay when he was eleven. He was raised on music, his father played the fiddle and his parents were avid church goers who sang in the choir. At age ten, he made his first move as a professional entertainer when he played guitar and sang with his older brother, Gord, on CKGN Radio. He formed the band Don Brose and the Chords in 1959 and played dances, weddings, etc. until hitting the night club scene at the Ranch Hotel in 1961. In 1962, he had a television show called Club '62, which ran on North Bay TV for 13 weeks. He played many bars in the area until becoming house band at the Commodore Hotel from 65-69 and the Voyager Hotel from 70-77. During the 60's he did many local radio and TV shows on CFCH and CKGN. In 1973, his group cut a single with Sounds Canada in Toronto featuring "Loving You from a Distance," written by a former member, Dave Johnston, and "A Walk in the Country." In the same year, they recorded one side of North Bay's 50th Anniversary 33 rpm album in 1975. In 1974, Don started working as an advertising salesman for the North Bay Nugget and would play at their Christmas parties. Some time in the late 80’s, Don and the Chords spent Saturday afternoons hosting a “Teen Time”, where teeny-boppers could hear the latest hit songs of the day. Later, Don would share his music with nursing and retirement homes, as well as fundraisers. Don is a founding member, and was president from 2009-2019, of the North Bay Musicians and Entertainers Hall of Recognition.

Doreen Bryer. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Bryer, Doreen

Doreen was born in North Bay. Her musical studies began with learning the piano when she was nine, and later by studying the clarinet. She also plays the harp. As a student at Algonquin, she studied under Mr. Glenn Rudy and played in the Algonquin Composite Junior and Senior Bands. She joined the North Bay Concert Band in 1966, played alongside them until 1969, then returned to the band in 1979, when it was under the leadership of Dr. Robert Ryker. In 1981, she completed Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto Solo Performer's Examination (Piano). In May, 1983, she completed Gr. V (final) music History exam to complete Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto degree. Both were completed with honours. Later, Doreen studied jazz piano with Glenn Paul, the violin with John Beaton, ballet with Barbara Treleaven and became an accompanist for North Americaires. She also started teaching piano and theory at her home.