Return to "Past Big Bands" Page
Elmer (Al) Keen Orchestra
Elmer Keen was a pupil of Professor Venuta and studied all the reed instrunents with him. He then played with several leading orchestras in the USA before returning to London in the thirties when he formed the Al Keen Orchestra. They played at Grand Bend's Lakeview Casino, Stork Club Port Stanley, Wonderland Gardens and Hotel London.
When WW2 broke out Elmer enlisted in the Canadian Army and was posted overseas to the UK where he became heavily involved with the music and entertainment branch of the armed forces.
Details of Elmer Keen's activities after WW2 are unknown to this reviewer.