Big Bands Past

George Tingey Orchestra

George Tingey started to play trumpet at the age of 10 and after leaving high school played for Johnny Downs, Don Wright, Frank Crowley, Alf Tibbs, Bob Wybrow, Russ Mills, Scottie McLachlan, and Jack Evans. (See George Tingey page in the "Musicians" section of this website). In the late 1940s he joined the Neil McKay All-Stars and then took over the band when Neil left. In George's own words:

"Neil left London in 1953 to get his Doctorate of Music degree at the Eastman School of music, and at Neil's request I took over the band and played two more winters at the Arena and during the summer at Wonderland Gardens. It was at this point that big bands were being used less frequently and it became difficult to keep them busy, but there were still lots of opportunity at the bar scene. As a result, I formed a smaller nine-piece band and played many functions for university dances and local dance halls in Goderich, Grand Bend, Ipperwash, Sarnia, Chatham, Rondeau, Port Stanley, Port Dover, Brantford, Guelph and Stratford etc.

In the late 1950s, I formed a small seven-piece group to do a CFPL TV show called the “Panorama House Party”, featuring the vocals of Emma Dobronyi and Jack Levy with occasional outside guests, for example, Tommy Hunter."

After semi-retirement George joined the Moonlighters for four years in the 1990s. He now enjoys his retirement with his family in London Ont.

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