Dr. Music
Encyclopedia
Dr. Music was a Toronto jazz group founded in 1969 by producer, arranger and performer Doug Riley
. The band recorded three albums and toured across Canada. The personnel of the band changed throughout its history, with Doug Riley remaining at the core of the group.
At this point, Dr. Music joined forced with the Canadian duo Terry Black
and Laurel Ward, which led to a more vocal-driven sound for the band. In 1972, GRT Record Company released the group’s first recording entitled Dr. Music, which included the hits “Sun Goes By”, “One More Mountain to Climb”, and “Try A Little Harder”. This album was produced by Doug Riley and co-arranged by Riley and Steve Kennedy. Because of the number of singers in the band, this album had a gospel-rock feel, although it still fit within the jazz rock genre.
Shortly after Dr. Music’s album release, the group disbanded, despite the success of the single "Sun Goes By". This gave Riley an opportunity to concentrate on his studio position at Toronto Sound Recording. In 1973, Doug Riley assembled a second version of Dr. Music. This group, however, was only a seven-piece ensemble. This new version of Dr. Music toured Western and Eastern Canada and released a new album, Dr. Music II . The group split up in 1974.
Riley continued to produce and arrange for television shows. From 1973 to 1974, he worked as a music director on Keith Hampshire’s television series “Music Machine”. In 1974, he formed the third version of Dr. Music which became the house band of the show. This group recorded the album Bedtime Story at Toronto Sound Studios during February and March 1974. Bedtime Story consisted of jazz compositions by Riley and his band members, Claude Ranger and Don Thompson
and fell under the genre of progressive jazz rock.
Dr. Music continued to be a leading jazz band within Toronto throughout the 1970s but formally disbanded in 1977. In 1984, Doug Riley resurrected the idea Dr. Music by creating a group composed of his musical friends. Together they recorded the album Dr. Music Circa 1984.
Doug Riley (keyboards)
Laurel Ward (vocals),
Rhonda Silver (vocals),
Brenda Gordon (vocals),
Terry Black
(vocals, harmonica),
Diane Brooks (vocals),
Trudy Desmond
(vocals),
Michael Kennedy
(congas),
Steve Kennedy
(vocals, tenor sax, flute),
Brian Russell (vocals),
Terry Clarke (drums),
Kenny Marco (guitar),
Doug Mallory (vocals, guitar),
Don Thompson
(bass, vibes, percussion),
Bruce Cassidy
(trumpet, flugelhorn),
Gary Morgan (clarinet, baritone sax, alto flute),
Keith Jollimore (vocals, baritone, alto & tenor sax, flute), and
Barrie Tallman (trombone)
1973 Dr. Music II:
Doug Riley (keyboards),
Doug Mallory (lead vocals, guitar),
Wayne Stone (drums),
Michael Kennedy (vocals, percussion),
Steve Kennedy (vocals, tenor & alto sax, flute),
Keith Jollimore (vocals; baritone, tenor sax; flute),
Barrie Tallman (trombone),
1974 Bedtime Story:
Doug Riley (keyboards),
Doug Mallory (lead vocals, guitar),
Claude Ranger (drums),
Bruce Cassidy (trumpet, fluegel horn),
Don Thompson (electric & acoustic bass),
Dave Brown (drums),
Steve Kennedy (vocals, tenor sax, flute),
Keith Jollimore (vocals, baritone, alto sax, flute), and
Barrie Tallman (trombone)
became members of the Canadian rock band, Lighthouse. Doug Riley, who became known by the nickname Dr. Music, continued to perform, compose, and arrange. He collaborated on more than 300 recordings with musicians such as Moe Koffman
, Anne Murray
, David Clayton-Thomas
, Gordon Lightfoot
, the Brecker Brothers, Bob Seger
, Ray Charles
, Molly Johnson
, and Natalie MacMaster
. He also recorded a number of solo albums including Dreams (1976), Freedom (1990), Con Alma (1994), and A Lazy Afternoon (1997). Doug Riley won Jazz Report’s “jazz organist of the year” from 1993 to 2000. In 2003 he became a member of the Order of Canada.
Doug Riley
Doug Riley, CM was a Canadian musician. Born in Toronto, Ontario and informally referred to as "Doctor Music", he spent two decades with the Famous People Players as its musical director, besides his participation on over 300 album projects in various genres...
. The band recorded three albums and toured across Canada. The personnel of the band changed throughout its history, with Doug Riley remaining at the core of the group.
History
In 1969, Doug Riley became the music director for the television show “The Ray Stevens Show”. He was asked to put together a group of musicians to play for the 1969-1970 season of the show. Riley’s 16-piece vocal and instrumental band became known as Dr. Music. When the show was cancelled in 1970, Dr. Music remained together to record and tour Western Canada. Doug Riley became partners with producer Terry Brown to form the Toronto Sound Recording Studio where Dr. Music recorded from 1970 to 1971.At this point, Dr. Music joined forced with the Canadian duo Terry Black
Terry Black
Terry Black was a Canadian pop singer and teen idol, born in Vancouver, British Columbia.-Career:Black's debut U.S. single, "Unless You Care", was released in 1964, when Black was 15. The song was written and produced by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri and featured backing from Glen Campbell and Leon...
and Laurel Ward, which led to a more vocal-driven sound for the band. In 1972, GRT Record Company released the group’s first recording entitled Dr. Music, which included the hits “Sun Goes By”, “One More Mountain to Climb”, and “Try A Little Harder”. This album was produced by Doug Riley and co-arranged by Riley and Steve Kennedy. Because of the number of singers in the band, this album had a gospel-rock feel, although it still fit within the jazz rock genre.
Shortly after Dr. Music’s album release, the group disbanded, despite the success of the single "Sun Goes By". This gave Riley an opportunity to concentrate on his studio position at Toronto Sound Recording. In 1973, Doug Riley assembled a second version of Dr. Music. This group, however, was only a seven-piece ensemble. This new version of Dr. Music toured Western and Eastern Canada and released a new album, Dr. Music II . The group split up in 1974.
Riley continued to produce and arrange for television shows. From 1973 to 1974, he worked as a music director on Keith Hampshire’s television series “Music Machine”. In 1974, he formed the third version of Dr. Music which became the house band of the show. This group recorded the album Bedtime Story at Toronto Sound Studios during February and March 1974. Bedtime Story consisted of jazz compositions by Riley and his band members, Claude Ranger and Don Thompson
Don Thompson
Donald Thompson, Donald Thomson, Don Thompson or Don Thomson may refer to:-Sports personalities:* Don Thompson , American player for the Los Angeles Buccaneers in 1926...
and fell under the genre of progressive jazz rock.
Dr. Music continued to be a leading jazz band within Toronto throughout the 1970s but formally disbanded in 1977. In 1984, Doug Riley resurrected the idea Dr. Music by creating a group composed of his musical friends. Together they recorded the album Dr. Music Circa 1984.
Members of Dr. Music
1972 Dr. Music:Doug Riley (keyboards)
Laurel Ward (vocals),
Rhonda Silver (vocals),
Brenda Gordon (vocals),
Terry Black
Terry Black
Terry Black was a Canadian pop singer and teen idol, born in Vancouver, British Columbia.-Career:Black's debut U.S. single, "Unless You Care", was released in 1964, when Black was 15. The song was written and produced by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri and featured backing from Glen Campbell and Leon...
(vocals, harmonica),
Diane Brooks (vocals),
Trudy Desmond
Trudy Desmond
Trudy Desmond was a Canadian jazz singer who moved from New York to Toronto around 1970, and over the following years, while working as an actress, an interior designer, club manager, and theatrical producer, she rose to prominence as one of Canada’s outstanding jazz vocalists.She performed as a...
(vocals),
Michael Kennedy
Michael Kennedy
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy , was the sixth of eleven children of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy.-Education:...
(congas),
Steve Kennedy
Steve Kennedy
Stephen "Steve" Kennedy is a retired English professional footballer who played as a full back.-External links:* at clarets-mad.co.uk...
(vocals, tenor sax, flute),
Brian Russell (vocals),
Terry Clarke (drums),
Kenny Marco (guitar),
Doug Mallory (vocals, guitar),
Don Thompson
Don Thompson
Donald Thompson, Donald Thomson, Don Thompson or Don Thomson may refer to:-Sports personalities:* Don Thompson , American player for the Los Angeles Buccaneers in 1926...
(bass, vibes, percussion),
Bruce Cassidy
Bruce Cassidy
Bruce James Cassidy is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks...
(trumpet, flugelhorn),
Gary Morgan (clarinet, baritone sax, alto flute),
Keith Jollimore (vocals, baritone, alto & tenor sax, flute), and
Barrie Tallman (trombone)
1973 Dr. Music II:
Doug Riley (keyboards),
Doug Mallory (lead vocals, guitar),
Wayne Stone (drums),
Michael Kennedy (vocals, percussion),
Steve Kennedy (vocals, tenor & alto sax, flute),
Keith Jollimore (vocals; baritone, tenor sax; flute),
Barrie Tallman (trombone),
1974 Bedtime Story:
Doug Riley (keyboards),
Doug Mallory (lead vocals, guitar),
Claude Ranger (drums),
Bruce Cassidy (trumpet, fluegel horn),
Don Thompson (electric & acoustic bass),
Dave Brown (drums),
Steve Kennedy (vocals, tenor sax, flute),
Keith Jollimore (vocals, baritone, alto sax, flute), and
Barrie Tallman (trombone)
Albums
- Dr. Music (GRT of Canada, Ltd. Record Company) (1972)
- Dr. Music II (GRT) (1973)
- Bedtime Story (GRT) (1974)
- Dr. Music Circa 1984 (CTL, Canadian Talent Library Trust) (1985)
Post Dr. Music
Many of the members of Dr. Music went on to fulfill their own musical careers. For example, Don Thompson continued with a prominent career as a jazz bassist and piano player, winning two Juno awards. Keith Jollimore and Bruce CassidyBruce Cassidy
Bruce James Cassidy is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks...
became members of the Canadian rock band, Lighthouse. Doug Riley, who became known by the nickname Dr. Music, continued to perform, compose, and arrange. He collaborated on more than 300 recordings with musicians such as Moe Koffman
Moe Koffman
Moe Koffman, OC was a Canadian jazz musician and composer. He played the flute, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone and clarinet...
, Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
, David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas is a Canadian musician and singer best known as the lead vocalist for the American band; Blood, Sweat & Tears...
, Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
, the Brecker Brothers, Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Molly Johnson
Molly Johnson
Molly Johnson, OC is a Canadian Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter of pop and jazz.-Biography:Johnson began as a child performer, receiving formal training from the National Ballet School and the Banff School of Fine Arts...
, and Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
. He also recorded a number of solo albums including Dreams (1976), Freedom (1990), Con Alma (1994), and A Lazy Afternoon (1997). Doug Riley won Jazz Report’s “jazz organist of the year” from 1993 to 2000. In 2003 he became a member of the Order of Canada.