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Big Bands Past
Doug Baker Orchestra Doug Baker was born on January 17, 1919 in St Thomas, Ontario. He showed an early interest in music and took up the trombone as his instrument of choice. Musicians were in great demand at this time to cater to the dance craze that swept the land and Doug’s first engagements were with the Martyn Yorke Orchestra and then with the well-established Benny Palmer Band of St Thomas, where in addition to playing trombone he also sang with the aid of a megaphone. After a while he was offered a position in the foremost band in London at that time, the Frank Crowley Band. Their playing venues included the Port Stanley Pavilion, Wonderland Gardens and Hotel London Doug Baker then took over, formed the band in his own style and called it the Doug Baker MerryMen. It quickly made a name for itself and became house band at Port Stanley Pavilion, playing six nights a week. These were the war years of course, and the Pavilion became the venue for many servicemen from Armed Forces bases in the St Thomas & London area - a place where they could meet other people,relax, forget their problems and. dance the night away. As the war progressed Doug decided to play his part and volunteered for the Armed Forces. He was accepted, went through his basic training but was eventually discharged on medical grounds. He then reformed his band and resumed playing at the Stork Club in Port Stanley. The band was very successful and in great demand for the next 8 years. Many of his arrangements were written by musicians such as Eddie Graf, who was to become a renowned international arranger, and by Reg Saville who’s talents were cut short by an untimely death After the war years audiences gradually declined and Doug dissolved his band in 1949. He continued to be an active musician and vocalist well in to the 1980s after which he took well deserved retirement. Doug Baker died in 2004 at the age of 85. Many thanks to Doug’s daughter Bev Yurek for the information, photographs and audio. Audio 1 - I'll See You In My Dreams Photographs Click here (Right-click mouse and choose "Open in new window") for photographic slide show
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. This band had many talented players including Jack Fallon, later to become a bass player of world renown, and Archie Cunningham a sax player of enormous talent. Doug thrived amongst all these players and by the time he was 20 years old was lead trombone with the group. The band was not to last however, as Frank Crowley had health problems that became progressively worse, and after several very successful seasons it eventually broke up in 1940.