what musicians in the 1950's and 60's - J.Dowson

This is what musicians in the 1950's and 60's did to earn money between jobs...

It was better than working at Eaton's or what Lenny Wright did working in the "cage" at a Domion security trades'. Wally Dean a fiddle player in a country band use to be a dealer when the Big Card Games came to town he was called to deal. He always got a cut of the pot. I use to go after the gig and watch the game, in 1957 the pots were $1,500 to $5,000 big money when a beer was a buck at the bar.

In October 1961 Alex Lazaroff hired me as a bass player at the Edison house band called "Alex and the Rebels" 

Tommy Danton and the Echoes were in Europe doing shows at the US army bases USO clubs. I chose not to go and you had to pay your own way. The tour went bust after only four weeks and the guys were broke and stranded in London England fortunately Tommy was a Londoner and he got relatives and friends to put them up. They played a few gigs locally but wanted to return.

I remember the musicians on Yonge street started a collection to pay for the fares for Gordy Glass, Lenny Wright and Johnny Stockfish who all took a long boat trip back home to Toronto. We had a celebration when they got back. I believe Gordy Glass left a drum he hocked in London. Tommy and the piano player Frank Cilochi had relatives to help them out.

I met Vic Costantino in the Edison just before Christmas 1960 and he hired me as a insurance agent to go out to Vancouver with him Vic; was the sales Manager. I left Toronto on March 31 1961 50 years ago and I didn't return until August 1974, with a wife and seven year old child.

I have been in the insurance business since then all up and down financially. This is my 50th year in the insurance business. And now you know the rest of the story.