Ronn Metcalfe

Ronn Metcalfe (July 20, 1930  May 18, 1969) was a Canadian big band leader from St. Catharines[1] and music industry leader.[2]

Ronn Metcalfe
Born(1930-07-20)July 20, 1930
Canada
OriginSt. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
DiedMay 18, 1969(1969-05-18) (aged 38)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)Band leader

He released an LP named after the title track "Twistin' at the Woodchopper's Ball" which garnered him a gold record. He used this success to start a rock and roll band scene in Niagara, Canada. He created Image Artist Representatives booking/managing agency, and opened The Castle in St. Catharines, the premiere club for bands between Buffalo and Toronto.[3]

Another hit from Metcalfe (which he wrote) was a song called "Back to T.O." (T.O. is vernacular for Toronto)

This Niagara scene spawned many musicians such as Neil Peart from Rush, Glen Gratto from Lee Aaron, Bullrush, and The Mad Cats, Gary Storin from The Stampeders, The Hunt's Paul Dickinson, and Brian Gagnon and other music industry "behind the scene" types such as Jimmy Johnson from Rush and Styx.

Some of Metcalfe's band include:

Metcalfe died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 38 while on a business/family trip to Ottawa. At the time he was securing a deal with Polydor Records,for songwriter Pete Dowan and others.

References

  1. Downtowner, Volume 16,No.2 Spring 2000, Here Abouts Series #3, Ronn Metcalfe: Big Band with a Twist http://www.pcn.brocku.ca/SoundsAndScenes/pdfs/hearabouts/Hearabouts%203%20-%20Big%20Band%20With%20A%20Twist.pdf
  2. Downtowner, Volume 16,No.2 Spring 2000, Here Abouts Series #3, Ronn Metcalfe: Big Band with a Twist
  3. "Hearabouts Series #7: The Castle and Its King" (PDF). Downtowner. Retrieved 6 December 2015.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.