Bert Niosi

Bert Niosi was born on February 10, 1909, in London, Ontario. He studied with Prof. Pasquale Venuta, who also taught Guy, Carmen and Lebert Lombardo and many other muscians who became famous both domestically and internationally. When he was 12 years old, Bert was playing in a Chinese cafe. When he was 14 years old he was able to play sax, clarinet and flute and was touring with the Lombardo orchestra. He went with the Lombardos to the USA in 1923 for a successful six week stand in Cleveland and was prepared to move to Chicago with them but had to return home at his mothers insistance.

When he was 17, he formed his first orchestra with his two brothers Joseph (bass) and Johnny (drums) to play the Port Stanley summer resorts, where he stayed until 1931. That year, he also formed a 9 piece band which was booked into Toronto's Embassy Club. In 1932, he expanded and opened at the Palais Royal Toronto and remained resident there until 1950, becoming known as "Canada's King Of Swing". During this time the band also made summer trips to Port Stanley, Crystal Beach and The Brant Inn.

During the war he worked with conductor Eric Wild on the RCAF Recruitment Show and toured armed forces bases with his band

Bert proved to be an incredibly talented musician in that he could play the piano and almost any wind instrument which was offered to him, his favourite being the clarinet. Many of the top big band leaders such as Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa and Glen Gray made him offers to play in their bands but Bert was more interested in his own group.

Niosi next embarked on a career with the CBC, first as a member 1952-9 of the Happy Gang, and then as music director of the TV series 'Four for the Show,' 'Cross-Canada Hit Parade,' and, 1965-76, 'The Tommy Hunter Show'. He continued to lead a dance band on occasion and returned to the Palais Royale for appearances as late as 1979.

On a CBC TV show in 1957 he played trumpet, trombone, alto saxophone and clarinet accompanied by his brothers . On an earlier occasion (1950) he played Mozart's Clarinet Quintet with the Solway String Quartet for CBC radio.

Bert Niosi died at Mississauga, Ont, 3 Aug 1987. One obituary stated 'He was likely listened to by more people who had more different interests than any other musician we have ever produced'.