Big Bands Past

Dalton Walpole Orchestra

Dalton Walpole’s source of inspiration was the piano player who played background music for the silent movies.  His father eventually got him the piano when he was 6 1/2 years old. He made rapid progress and at 12 years old was soon playing with other musicians including making broadcasts from the local radio station.

In 1935 he became a member of the Johnny Chevalier orchestra in Sarnia, then a stint with the Bruce Print orchestra, where he learned to play boogie-woogie piano. He then joined the Johnny Carr band in London that toured the resort areas.

WW2 came along and like many others.Dalton joined the RCAF where he played in the service dance bands. He was sent overseas with the bands and broadcast from the UK on the BBC.

When the war ended Dalton returned home and moved to London Ontario to become pianist with CFPL’s Don Wright chorus broadcasting every week on the coast-to-coast network of the CBC. He also worked with Scottie McLachlan, Barney Venuta, Alf Tibbs, and also led his own band for a while.  He played with Glenn Bricklin for seven years and with Johnny Downs for another seven years.

Dalton then retired from band work and became a piano teacher which he pursued for the next 30 years He became associated with charitable endeavours and has raised thousands of dollars for local charities over the years

Dalton Walpole passed away Friday, October 8, 2010 in his 92nd year.

Audio

Dalton Walpole with Johnny Downs Orchestra

1 - Well All Right
2 - Tenderly
3 - P. S. I Love You
4 - You Do Something To Me
5 - Java
6 - Sams Song
7 - Montego Bay

Dalton Walpole with Glen Bricklin All-Stars

1 - Darktown Strutters Ball
2 - High Society
3 - Vocal Medley by Gayle Gordon

Dalton Walpole Orchestra

Personnel

Saxes :         John Serratore, Joe Lewicki, ?, Ron Young, Frank Serratore.
Trumpets :   ?, Bob Sandos, Frank Senese
Trombone :  ?.
Rhthym :       Don Volley drums, Dalton Walpole piano.
Singer :         Rose