Return to "Past Big Bands" Page

The Bill Sherry Big Band

At a St Thomas Collegiate Institute reunion in 1967, a group of alumni who were musicians decided to form an ensemble to play music from the Big Band era With the help of Don Mckellar, the head of the University of Western Ontario music department, the Saint Thomas Concert ensemble was formed.

In 1970 the original director Brian Roberts was not available after getting married and moving to Newfoundland therefore leaving the ensemble to member Bill Sherry. With the change of director came the change of the name to the Good Neighbor Stage Band. The final name change to the Bill Sherry Big Band came about in the nineties.

The band has had a lengthy list of members who have participated in the evolution of the Bill Sherry Big Band. The band attracted many of the finest musicians in London. Some members came and went while others remained over the years.

Several practice locations were tried including several churches and a school before finally settling in at the Saint Thomas memorial Arena auditorium. This was also the location of the many Bill Sherry Big Band dances which occurred each spring and fall to the delight of senior couples from Saint Thomas and area yearning for the chance to dance again as it did in their youth.

The Bill Sherry Big Band participated in a number of musical events in Saint Thomas and the surrounding area. They were regulars at the Aylmer band shell as well as Saint Thomas taking part in the summer music program at Pinafore Park.

Other events included the Big Band Festival in London, and Canada day celebrations in both Saint Thomas and Port Stanley. One of the most prestigious events was ushering in the new millennium at the Memorial Arena. The Arena had been transformed to look and feel like the Port Stanley Stork Club dance hall. What a celebration that was!

The Bill Sherry Big Band's final gig was in London at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in November of 2009. The band came to a close shortly after this event in December of the same year after 42 years of keeping big band music alive.