Long and impressive musical resumé covered virtually every aspect of Canadian entertainment The Canadian Press · Posted: Jan 26, 2018 2:45 AM MT | Last Updated: January 26, 2018
Tommy
Banks, a founding chairman of the Alberta Foundation for the Performing
Arts, former chair of the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation, and an
Officer of the Order of Canada, has died. He was 81. (National Music Centre/YouTube) Tommy Banks, a renowned Edmonton jazz pianist and former senator, has died at the age of 81.
His
family has issued a statement saying Banks died peacefully Thursday
surrounded by family and staff at the Grey Nuns palliative care unit in
Edmonton.
Banks's long and impressive musical resumé, which began with his
professional debut in 1950, covered virtually every aspect of Canadian
entertainment through the years.
He won both a Juno and Gemini award, hosted The Tommy Banks Show from 1968-83 and numerous other TV programs, and performed throughout North America and around the world.
Officer of the Order of Canada The accomplishments
listed on Banks's website includes his role as a guest conductor for
numerous symphony orchestras, including 12 in Canada, and his musical
direction for Olympic and Commonwealth Games and for such dignitaries as
Queen Elizabeth and Pope John Paul. Banks was also the musical director
for Expo 86 in Vancouver.
He was a founding chairman of the
Alberta Foundation for the Performing Arts, was chair of the Edmonton
Concert Hall Foundation from 1989-91, and an officer of the Order of
Canada.
Banks was appointed to the Senate in 2000 and served on
several committees until his term ended in 2011. He also served on a
panel which advised the government during the North American Free Trade
Agreement negotiations.
"Great sadness here in Edmonton at the
news that the legendary and much loved Tommy Banks has died," said
former prime minister Kim Campbell on Twitter.
Great sadness here in Edmonton at the news that the legendary and much loved Tommy Banks has died. Brilliant musician, Senator, Mentor at PLLC and generous sharer of his many talents. A wonderful man!RIP
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'A gentleman and a gentle man' "The world has lost
one of the true musical greats tonite, my mentor and dear friend,"
tweeted Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster. "A gentleman and a
gentle man."
Edmonton's Winspear Centre tweeted that Banks
"changed the landscape of the Edmonton music scene and will be forever
remembered for his incredible talent & passion."
Sharman King, a musician in Vancouver, was a friend and colleague of Banks for more than four decades.
They
played music together in the city, with King on the trombone, and later
went on to found the discounted bookstore chain Book Warehouse.
"He's been very important in the musical history of Vancouver," King said. "Whatever he touched, he made better."
Banks's
family said a celebration of life will be announced in the coming weeks
and asked that their privacy be respected at this time.
Gretzky on his teammates, his love of soap operas and being superstitious. 7:49
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/tommy-banks-obit-1.4504961
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