Falconi to Gallardi

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

Albert Falconi Jr. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Falconi, Albert Jr.

The son of local musician Albert Falconi, Albert Falconi Jr. inherited his father's love for music. He began learning to play under the direction of Bill Vrebosch while attending Mother St. Bride's School. Albert played percussion, both for the Mother St. Bride's Band and Scollard Hall Stage and Concert Bands. In 1981 Albert played percussion for the North Bay Concert Band.

Albert Falconi Sr. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Falconi, Albert Sr.

Albert Falconi Sr. was a prolific and multi-talented musician, learning to play the clarinet, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, oboe, and bassoon during his time in high school and university. His musical career began as a teenager, where he performed with the 8th Field Squadron Marching Band for five years in addition to several other high school groups such as the Coins and Rhythmaires. Once in university, Albert formed his own group Al and the Crescendos, who performed for teen dances at Memorial Gardens and Tweedsmuir Public School in the early 1960s. After graduating, Al played professionally with Larry Lee and the Leesures, touring throughout Ontario, Quebec, and major American cities like Chicago and New York City from 1962-1963. During this period the band recorded several original songs, even scoring a top-ten hit with the song "Stood Up." Albert also became acquainted with various well-known musicians while touring, including Ronnie Hawkins, Bo Didley, and Bill Haley. Upon his return to North Bay Albert attended Teacher's College and began a career in education, though he continued playing music with the Alley Cats from 1969-1978 and later the band Vintage.

Michael Falconi. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Falconi, Michael

Michael Falconi was born in Pisterzo, Italy on August 27th, 1911. He attended a music school and studied under Piedro Virgili and Fernando Ricci. At eleven years of age, he played first piccolo in the fifty-five piece Pisterzo Band.

Richard Falconi. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Falconi, Richard

Richard Falconi was an important and longstanding member of the North Bay music community. He was entirely self-taught, first learning to play the trumpet from his uncle as a young child before an injury to his lips sustained while playing hockey forced him to stop playing. Later in life, he taught himself to play saxophone, going on to play with the Air Force Military Band for four years and the North Bay Concert Band for 22 years. In addition to his work with the bands, Richard helped conduct the band at St. Hubert's School and served on the board of North Bay's Musicians and Entertainers Hall of Recognition for nine years. Most importantly, Richard Falconi assembled a four-volume series on the history of North Bay musicians, collecting and preserving photograph, stories, and legacies of early musicians that would have otherwise been lost to time. The completed volumes were dontated to the North Bay Museum and have been critical in assembling this online exhibition.

Farris, Betty

Born and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, Betty Farris started playing music early, taking piano lessons at age seven and clarinet lessons at age nine. She played the clarinet in her elementary and high school bands, and also learned to play the organ once in high school. Betty would use her skills as an organist to help pay for university by playing organ at a church in St. Thomas in her final year of high school. Though she initially intended to become a PE teacher, Betty changed her mind on registration day of her first year, switching programs and graduating with an Honours in Music Education from Western University. She began her teaching career at Centennial Public School where she taught music for one year before transferring to West Ferris Secondary School and teaching there for three. In her time at West Ferris she established the choral group the Leeshore Singers and in 1977, she was appointed as the organist/choir director of Calvin Presbyterian Church. Betty taught intermittently as she raised her two children, but returned to teaching music full-time at Chippewa Secondary School in 1989 until her retirement in 2006. In her time as a teacher, Betty's concert bands and choirs won numerous awards at Kiwanis Festivals, NOMF, plus several gold awards at MusicFest Canada. After her retirement—or "graduation," as she put it—Betty continued to share her passion for music, staying on as choir director for the church and being named Honourary Chair of the 2008 North Bay Kiwanis Festival. In 2007, she established the JOY (Just Older Youth) Band, a group open to anyone with an interest in learning and playing music, teaching people old and young alike how to play musical instruments. The members all share a passion for learning and sharing music, and have put on several charitable concerts over the years.

Fluid Drive

Though they gained prominence as a fully-fledged rock sextet, Fluid Drive began as a threesome when guitarist-vocalists Ted Chase and Danny Demarco, and lead guitarist Denny Jackson started jamming together for several months. The band nearly disbanded when Danny found work out of town, though he soon returned, along with Barry Green on keyboards, and Steve Clark and Dave Vossos (both formerly of the band Buster) joining on drums and bass guitar, respectively. The members of the band brought with them a diverse background in musical styles, from folk to jazz to hard rock, that blended together to form a melodically-focused soft rock group. The group performed at various venues around the city starting in 1978, including a to a record-breaking crowd at the Plaza Room of the St. Regis Hotel for their debut performance. After a few years of performing, the band recorded some original singles, "Play for me" and "Love you Anyway" at Tamarack Sound Studios in 1981.

Fry, Lisa

Born in Osterburg, Germany, in 1926, Lisa Fry and her family moved to the small town of Commanda, Ontario when she was just five years old. Lisa never recieved formal music training, instead teaching herself to read music and play several instruments, including the guitar, ukulele, piano, and organ. She began teaching music in Commanda at the age of seventeen, organizing choirs and concerts throughout her teaching career and continuing to advocate for music as she transitioned into the role of principal for East Parry Sound. Most impressively, perhaps, is Lisa's tenure as organist for Trinity Lutheran Church. She began playing for the church at the age of ten and continued volunteering her time into the early 2010s—nearly 80 years playing in the same church!

The Fundamentals

Founded in 1995 by guitarist Jake Thomas, the Fundamentals were a longtime fixture of the North Bay music scene, performing at various blues festivals and local establishments like Cecil's Eatery and 100 Georges. The band has seen numerous lineup changes, with members such as Paul Pruneau, Mike Perreault, Danny Columby, Jeff Dunfored, Tim Kielman, Jesse Thomas, and Ryan Rogers all contributing throughout the years. Over 40 people have played for the band in total, some temporary fill-ins for gigs and others replacing full-time members that had retired from performing. The Fundamentals recorded eight albums during their time together, including 2006's "Heads Up." The band would continue performing locally into 2019, but struggled to find opportunities to play live shows during the COVID-19 pandemic.

August Peter Gallardi. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Gallardi, August Peter

August Gallardi was born in 1878 at Piane Crate, Italy. After completing grade school, he moved to Algiers for work, where he also learned to play music. August immigrated to Canada at the beginning of 1900 and travelled around Ontario looking for work, ultimately ending up in North Bay in 1909 after hearing news of the railway expansion in the city. He was an accomplished accordionist and was an original member of the all-Italian Christopher Columbus Band, where he played the first alto horn.

James “Jim” Gallardi. Photo courtesy of the Falconi Collection. Photographer unknown.

Gallardi, James “Jim”

Born in Depot Harbour, Ontario in 1907, James Gallardi moved to North Bay at the young age of two with his family. He took a keen interest in music from an early age, anxious to learn the guitar he was given as a young child. James surrounded himself with music, learning to play from anyone who could teach him and by listening to records. By taking a music correspondence course and lessons from Mr. Frank Riccuiti, James learned music theory, how to read music, and became proficient with the guitar, alto horn, saxophone, and clarinet. He was involved with several North Bay bands and choirs, often playing with his father August. Over the years, James played with the Rocco Lucenti Orchestra, Cangiano Orchestra, and Northernaires, and conducted the St. Rita's Choir. In addition to his work with these bands, James performed on the radio shows Carm and Jim, the Inimitable Duo with Carmel Lucenti and the Venetian Trio with Nick Cangiano and James Calarco. He was also involved musically with the National Film Board on the film "To Make Time Live."