Tommy Banks

Full biography Tommy Banks

Tommy Banks was a highly talented and accomplished Canadian musician, composer, and conductor. He was born in 1936 in Calgary, Alberta, and showed an early aptitude for music, playing piano at a young age. Banks attended the University of Alberta and graduated with a degree in music in 1959.

Throughout his career, Banks worked in many different genres of music, including jazz, classical, and pop. He was the leader of the Tommy Banks Big Band, which gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. Banks wrote and arranged music for his band and composed several musical fantasies, including "The Lady" and "The Legend of Hagoromo."

Banks was also a well-known television personality, hosting several music shows, such as "The Tommy Banks Show" and "The Piano Party." In 2000, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate and served as a senator for nine years.

Tommy Banks was a highly respected figure in the Canadian music scene and was widely recognized for his contributions to the industry. He received many honors and awards throughout his career, including the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, and several Juno Awards.

Banks passed away in January 2018, at the age of 81, leaving a legacy as a gifted musician, composer, and conductor. His contributions to Canadian music will be remembered for generations to come.