The Music Makers

The band was initially organized by Leon Ross in the 1970’s as the "Geriatric Gentlemen of Jazz". Mac Cameron took over the leadership in the mid 1980’s and changed the name to The Music Makers.

Through the years, they played at many senior’s homes, country clubs and private functions. Doug Keenan assumed leadership around 2005-06 and added a lot of his own arrangements to the book.

Upon Doug’s death in 2012, Ron Gilbert then took over leadership. The band continues to rehearse every Thursday at the Chelsey Park Nursing Home and performs regular gigs at other seniors homes, Parkwood Hospital, country clubs and private functions.

Repertoire is typical big band – swing, ballads, waltzes, latin, blues, jazz, some Dixie, with many new and updated arrangements.

Music Makers at a Retirement Home

Instrumentation:

Alto Sax: George Laidlaw
Tenor Sax: Neil Harrington
Trumpet: Ron Gilbert (Leader)
Trombone: John Thompson
Piano: Dave Hall
Guitar: John Kenny
Bass: John Griffiths as of July 2019. (The photo shows Anne Pin but John is our current bassist)
Drums: Bob Hughes
Vocals: Gill Laidlaw