I love most live music and one of my favourite instruments has always been the Hammond B3 organ with a Leslie speaker.  For those unfamiliar, this is an electric organ, the B3 version originally created in 1955 for churches as a more inexpensive, portable replacement to the standard pipe organ.  They have 2 different keyboard levels, bass foot pedals and draw bars that provide a dynamic range of sound. Jimmy Smith notably brought this sound to the forefront. A Leslie speaker is a large wood cabinet that has a rotating horn over a stationary treble driver and a rotating baffle beneath a stationary bass woofer. It can be triggered to spin at varying speeds to create wonderful effects.  I remember skating to their sound in many rinks as a young gaffer.

 

These unique sounds could be heard in Jazz, Funk, Rhythm & Blues or Gospel but Rock bands like Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Led Zepplin and Procol Harum often incorporated them. Their wide variety of sound, from single notes to dramatic, grandiose swells or growls give an experienced player incredible opportunities to subtly backfill or take a dramatic lead.

 

I take you through all this because Canada has lost two of its best players this summer.  On July 15th Richard Bell passed away at 61 of cancer.  Most known for his piano playing in Janis Joplin’s Full Tilt Boogie Band, he was on her “Pearl” album and in her band captured in the film documentary Festival Express, released a couple of years ago. He went on to play with Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, John Sebastian, Paul Butterfield, to name only a few. 

 

Growing up in ‘Tranna’ as a kid, one of my neighbours was a soloist with a well known choir, The Leslie Bell Singers, which I’ve since learned was led by Richard’s father, hence the genetic musical gifts.  He was a childhood prodigy who started early with Ronnie Hawkins, moving on to the above mentioned and more recently with The Band, Colin Linden, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and Pork Belly Futures.  He last played Perth several years ago when he backed Colin Linden at the Studio Theatre.  I had a wonderful conversation with him then, held in rapture by his reminisces of his career.  He recorded with so many people; you’ve probably heard him countless times, unknowingly, on piano or organ.

 

On August 27th, 62 year old Doug Riley died after collapsing on a plane at the Calgary Airport, returning from a jazz and blues festival.  Doug was known as “Dr. Music” as he was the creator / leader of this ‘70’s Toronto band whose song ‘Sun Goes By’ is still played on the radio.  Doug was the consummate musician, playing with everyone over the years.  He was offered a place in Ray Charles band in 1968 after collaborating with Ray on his “Doing His Thing” album but didn’t want to leave Canada. He’s recorded with everyone, Moe Koffman, Oscar Peterson, Anne Murray, Ringo Starr, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Seger, as well as writing over 2000 jingles, music for countless tv shows, was a record producer, composer and arranger.  He played, rock, jazz, classical, pop and I understand wrote music for several ballets.  Doug received the Order of Canada in 2004. 

 

I last saw Doug play at a Dominic Troiano Tribute fundraiser in Toronto where he led the band that backed notable vocalists David Clayton-Thomas and George Olliver.  Anyone who was at PDCI to hear Michael Burgess a few years ago would have heard Doug, as he accompanied on grand piano.  We shared stories following that show of Dr. Music days as I used to hear them several times a week in Toronto at the Sapphire and Colonial clubs back in the early 70’s. 

 

So, we lost a couple of world renowned Canadian musicians this summer, coincidentally both incredible keyboard specialists who we’ve probably listened to on countless tunes on the radio and didn’t know. As a bit of trivia, Bob Seger’s song ‘Night Moves’ was originally recorded in Toronto and Doug Riley sat in on piano and organ.

 

Both have left a legacy of shared gifts and I know I’ll miss them.

 

Support Live Music Everywhere