Bobby Gimby

Gimby (pronounced Jim-bee) was born in Cabri, Saskatchewan, a small town of about 300 people."Ca-na-da's Pied Piper Bobby Gimby Dies." Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator, June 22, 1998, p. A13. He came from a musical family: his father Albert S. Gimby "Social and Personal." Chilliwack (B.C.) Progress, July 11, 1951, p. 18. played fiddle, his mother played piano, and his sister played guitar."Musician Led Canada in Song in Centennial Year." Toronto Globe & Mail, June 22, 1998, p. A 3. His father ran a hardware store, but after it burned in a fire the family struggled financially. They left Saskatchewan to live near relatives in British Columbia.Judy Williams. "Finding Family Tree was Worthwhile Says Jean." Chilliwack (B.C.) Progress, December 28, 1977, p/ 60. The family moved to Chilliwack, B.C., where they lived throughout the 1930s, and where Gimby attended Chilliwack High School."Big March Publicizes Carnival." Chilliwack (B.C.) Progress, April 26, 1967, p. 1.

In Chilliwack he was a member of the Town Band, a popular group which played at local dances."Ca-na-da Composer Didn't Forget Chilliwack Connection." Chilliwack (B.C.) Progress, September 15, 1998, p. 7. In 1941, he joined the touring orchestra of Canadian bandleader Mart Kenney. He played trumpet (the press of that time referred to him as "The Wizard of the Trumpet") "Kinsman Brings Kenney Here for Fund Dances." Winnipeg Tribune, March 29, 1941, p. 29. and he went on the road with Mart Kenney's Western Gentlemen, working mainly in Vancouver and western Canada.Liam Lacey. "Catchy Song Still Echoes for Ca-na-da- Pied Piper Gimby." Toronto Globe & Mail, July 24, 1987, p. A2.

Around 1944, Gimby moved to Toronto. He founded his own band and became popular playing for teenagers. Thanks to his sponsor, the Simpson's store, he was able to entertain at various teen events during the mid-1940s."Keen-Teens Have Keen Time at Teen Turnouts." Toronto Globe & Mail, March 23, 1946, p. 5. In the late 1940s, he and his band made several recordings.Lotta Dempsey. "New Songs, New Singer, Solid Senders." Toronto Globe & Mail, March 24, 1949, p. 17. In 1945, he became a member of the long-running radio program the Happy Gang.Liam Lacey. "Catchy Song Still Echoes for Ca-na-da- Pied Piper Gimby." Toronto Globe & Mail, July 24, 1987, p. A2. He remained with the Gang for thirteen years, until April 1959.Bob Burgess. "TV and Radio." Ottawa (Ontario) Journal, April 16, 1959, p. 30. In 1949, he was given his own program on CBC Radio; his band at that time was called the Rodeo Rascals.Hugh Fraser. "Start Smiling Again, Says Canada's Pied Piper." Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator, May 27, 1992, p. D3. In addition to continuing to lead his own orchestra, Gimby appeared on CBC Television in the late 1950s and hosted a show on CTV in the mid-1970s. On that show, he concentrated on big band and pop songs that would appeal to viewers who remembered him from the 1940s and 1950s.Clarence Metcalfe. "TV Reveals His Real Career." Ottawa (Ontario) Journal, February 1, 1975, p. TV4.

In the early 1960s, Gimby was working as a songwriter; he also worked for an advertising agency, writing jingles for commercials. In 1962, while in Singapore on business, he wrote a patriotic song about the impending independence of the country. It was called "Malaysia Forever" and it celebrated the formation of Malaysian Federation in 1963. The song became very popular, spurred by frequent radio play, and was thought of as the new country's first national anthem.Alan Walker. "Bobby's Commercial Now National Anthem." Brandon (Manitoba) Sun, October 30, 1962, p. 9.

Gimby came to be known as "The Pied Piper of Canada", a role he embraced: he would perform his music dressed up in a Pied Piper costume, wearing a cape.F.A. Rosser. "Sun Beams." Brandon (Manitoba) Sun, April 22, 1967, p. 2. His popularity soared after he wrote a 1967 song called "Ca-na-da," which commemorated the Canadian Centennial. He wrote the bilingual song (also known as "Canada") using children's voices to sing the chorus; wherever he performed it, he would invite local school kids up on stage to sing it with him.Liam Lacey. "Catchy Song Still Echoes for Ca-na-da's Pied Piper Gimby." Toronto Globe & Mail, July 24, 1987, p. A2. More than 50 recordings were made of the song, plus more than 250 Canadian school choirs and bands recorded it. The song was written for a documentary about the Centennial, but teachers loved the patriotic message of "Ca-na-da" and led the demand to release it as a single. Throughout 1967 the song remained at the top of the Canadian music charts."Ca-na-da's Pied Piper Bobby Gimby Dies." Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator, June 22, 1998, p. A13. In 1971, Gimby donated the song's manuscript and all future royalties to Scouts Canada.

Gimby was a prolific songwriter throughout his career. In addition to his country's Centennial song, his compositions included centennial songs for the provinces of Manitoba and British Columbia. He wrote pop songs that were recorded by Peggy Lee, Georgia Gibbs, and Ray Bolger."Musician Led Canada in Song in Centennial Year." Toronto Globe & Mail, June 22, 1998, p. A3.

Gimby performed many concerts for young audiences, and was often praised for his ability to connect with kids."Heritage Days Program Planned." Cumberland (MD) News, June 4, 1976, p. 10. He often participated in events where he would lead a parade of singing children to a county fairgrounds and then perform for the fair's attendees."Gimby to Visit Killarney." Brandon (Manitoba) Sun, June 15, 1970, p. 3. Gimby also traveled to military bases in foreign countries, where he would entertain the children of service personnel who were stationed overseas."Canada's Pied Piper Still Leads the Children." Chilliwack (B.C.) Progress, December 23, 1968, p. 11. In recognition of his musical contribution to his country, Gimby received the Medal of Service, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1968.Scott Button. "Yankee Doodled Dandy." Brandon (Manitoba) Sun, January 5, 1968, p. 9.

In a Wayne and Shuster skit about a mail-in record offer, the comedians offer a collection containing the entire works of "Brahms, Beethoven, Strauss, Wagner and Bobby Gimby!"

Gimby died in 1998 in a nursing home in North Bay, Ontario, at age 79."Ca-na-da's Pied Piper Bobby Gimby Dies." Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator, June 22, 1998, p. A13. He was interred in Plot T, Lot 1933 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.

• Expo 67

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.bobbygimby.com Bobby Gimby Official Website]
• {{OCC|636}}
• {{find a Grave|10861581}}
• {{IMDb name|1268573}}
• {{discogs artist|Bobby Gimby}}
• [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bobby-gimby-emc Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca]
• {{IMDb title|6234414|The Bobby Gimby Story}}

• {{YouTube|xjiIvGpbYX8|1985 CBC Television clip}} looking back at the "Ca-na-da" song, and the 'ruins' of the Expo site. The opening features Bob Gimby performing his song.
• [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-69-100-531/life_society/expo_67/clip6 CBC TV archives]
• [http://expo67.ncf.ca/ Expo 67 in Montreal] Information, audio clip and a magazine interview featuring Bobby Gimby.

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gimby, Bobby}}

Category:1918 births

Category:1998 deaths

Category:Canadian male trumpeters

Category:Canadian male songwriters

Category:Officers of the Order of Canada

Category:Musicians from Saskatchewan

Category:20th-century Canadian trumpeters

Category:20th-century Canadian male musicians