Dr. Music was a Toronto jazz group founded in 1969 by producer, arranger and performer

Doug Riley Douglas Brian Riley, CM (April 12, 1945 – August 27, 2007) was a Canadian musician, also known as Dr. Music. He spent two decades with the Famous People Players as its musical director, besides his participation on over 300 album projects ...

. The band recorded three albums and toured across Canada. The personnel of the band changed throughout its history, with Riley remaining at the core of the group.

History

In 1969, Doug Riley became the music director for the television show "The Ray Stevens Show". He was asked to put together a group of musicians to play for the 1969–1970 season of the show. Riley's 16-piece vocal and instrumental band became known as Dr. Music. When the show was cancelled in 1970, Dr. Music remained together to record and tour Western Canada. Riley became partners with producer Terry Brown to form the Toronto Sound Recording Studio where Dr. Music recorded from 1970 to 1971. At this point, Dr. Music joined forces with the Canadian duo

Terry Black Terry Black (February 3, 1949 – June 28, 2009) was a Canadian pop singer and teen idol, born in Vancouver, British Columbia. Career Black's debut U.S. single, " Unless You Care", was released in 1964, when Black was 15. The song was writ ...

and Laurel Ward, which led to a more vocal-driven sound for the band. In 1972, GRT Record Company released the group's first recording entitled ''Dr. Music'', which included the hits "Sun Goes By", "

One More Mountain to Climb "One More Mountain to Climb" is the 14th Diamond Records single for Ronnie Dove. Background Released in 1967, this single peaked at #45 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. It was his first single since 1964’s Hello Pretty Girl to miss the Billbo ...

", and "Try a Little Harder". This album was produced by Riley and co-arranged by Riley and Steve Kennedy. Because of the number of singers in the band, this album had a gospel-rock feel, although it still fit within the jazz rock genre. Shortly after Dr. Music's album release, the group disbanded, despite the success of the single "Sun Goes By". This gave Riley an opportunity to concentrate on his studio position at Toronto Sound Recording. In 1973, Doug Riley assembled a second version of Dr. Music. This group, however, was only a seven-piece ensemble. This new version of Dr. Music toured Western and Eastern Canada and released a new album, ''Dr. Music II'' . The group split up in 1974. Riley continued to produce and arrange for television shows. From 1973 to 1974, he worked as a music director on Keith Hampshire's television series "Music Machine". In 1974, he formed the third version of Dr. Music which became the house band of the show. This group recorded the album ''Bedtime Story'' at Toronto Sound Studios during February and March 1974. ''Bedtime Story'' consisted of jazz compositions by Riley and his band members, Claude Ranger and Don Thompson, and belonged to the genre of progressive jazz rock. Dr. Music continued to be a leading jazz band within Toronto throughout the 1970s but formally disbanded in 1977. In 1984, Riley resurrected the idea Dr. Music by creating a group composed of his musical friends. Together they recorded the album ''Dr. Music Circa 1984.''

Members of Dr. Music

1972 ''Dr. Music'':

(keyboards), Laurel Ward (vocals), Rhonda Silver (vocals), Brenda Gordon (vocals),

(vocals, harmonica),

Diane Brooks Gwendolyn Dianne Brooks (January 3, 1939 – April 29, 2005), was a soul, r&b and jazz singer from New Jersey. With the Three Playmates, Brooks recorded several songs in 1957. She moved to Toronto shortly thereafter. Her part in Canadian soul m ...

(vocals),

Trudy Desmond Trudy Desmond (October 11, 1945 – 19 February 1999) was a Canadian jazz singer. Career After moving from New York to Toronto, she worked as an actress, interior designer, club manager, and theatrical producer. She was one of the 16 original me ...

(vocals), Michael Kennedy (congas), Steve Kennedy (vocals, tenor sax, flute), Brian Russell (vocals), Terry Clarke (drums),

Kenny Marco Kenny Marco is a Canadian guitarist who has been a member of historical Canadian rock groups such as Grant Smith & The Power, Motherlode and Dr. Music. He was also a member of Blood, Sweat And Tears. Background He has been described as the most p ...

(guitar), Doug Mallory (vocals, guitar), Don Thompson (bass, vibes, percussion), Bruce Cassidy (trumpet, flugelhorn), Gary Morgan (clarinet, baritone sax, alto flute), Keith Jollimore (vocals, baritone, alto & tenor sax, flute), and Barrie Tallman (trombone) 1973 ''Dr. Music II'':
Doug Riley (keyboards), Doug Mallory (lead vocals, guitar), Wayne Stone (drums), Michael Kennedy (vocals, percussion), Steve Kennedy (vocals, tenor & alto sax, flute), Keith Jollimore (vocals; baritone, tenor sax; flute), Barrie Tallman (trombone), 1974 ''Bedtime Story'':
Doug Riley (keyboards), Doug Mallory (lead vocals, guitar), Claude Ranger (drums), Bruce Cassidy (trumpet, fluegel horn), Don Thompson (electric & acoustic bass), Dave Brown (drums), Steve Kennedy (vocals, tenor sax, flute), Keith Jollimore (vocals, baritone, alto sax, flute), and Barrie Tallman (trombone)

Discography

Albums

*''Dr. Music'' (GRT of Canada, Ltd. Record Company) (1972) #23 CAN *''Dr. Music II'' (GRT) (1973) #78 CAN *''Bedtime Story'' (GRT) (1974) *''Dr. Music Circa 1984'' (CTL, Canadian Talent Library Trust) (1985)

Compilations

*''Retrospective'' (GRT) (1975)

Singles

*''Try A Little Harder'' (GRT) 1971 #78 CAN *''

One More Mountain To Climb "One More Mountain to Climb" is the 14th Diamond Records single for Ronnie Dove. Background Released in 1967, this single peaked at #45 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. It was his first single since 1964’s Hello Pretty Girl to miss the Billbo ...

'' (GRT) 1971 #14 CAN *''Gospel Rock'' (GRT) (1972) #65 CAN *''Sun Goes By'' (GRT) (1972) #23 CAN *''Long Time Comin' Home'' (GRT) (1972) #28 CAN

Post Dr. Music

Many of the members of Dr. Music went on to pursue their own musical careers. Don Thompson continued as a jazz bassist and piano player, winning two Juno awards. Keith Jollimore and Bruce Cassidy became members of the Canadian rock band,

Lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mar ...

. Doug Riley, who became known by the nickname Dr. Music, continued to perform, compose, and arrange. He collaborated on more than 300 recordings with musicians such as Moe Koffman,

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, David Clayton-Thomas,

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, Molly Johnson, and

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. He also recorded a number of solo albums including ''Dreams'' (1976), ''Freedom'' (1990), ''Con Alma'' (1994), and ''A Lazy Afternoon'' (1997). Riley won Jazz Report's "jazz organist of the year" from 1993 to 2000. In 2003 he became a member of

the Order of Canada ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

Brenda Russell Brenda Russell (née Gordon; born April 8, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical range which encompasses R&B, pop, soul, dance, and jazz. She has received five Grammy nominations. Li ...

(née Gordon), a member of Dr. Music in 1972, recorded nine solo albums and wrote "

Piano in the Dark "Piano in the Dark" is a song by American singer-songwriter Brenda Russell (featuring backing vocals by Joe Esposito). It was the first single to be taken from Russell's 1988 album, '' Get Here''. Song information Russell, believing "that in ev ...

," which received three Grammy Award nominations. The title track of Brenda's 4th album "Get Here" was covered by

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and became a worldwide hit. Together with lyricists-composers Allee Willis and

Stephen Bray Stephen Pate Bray (born December 23, 1956) is an American songwriter, drummer, and record producer. He is best known for his collaborations with Madonna, being a member of the band Breakfast Club, and for winning the 2017 Grammy Award for the ...

, she wrote the score for the 2005 Broadway musical version of Alice Walker's

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, produced by

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954), or simply Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', br ...

. Russell and her co-writers were nominated for a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

(for Best Score) and a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

(in the Best Musical Show Album category).

References

External Links

Riley
at Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
Entry at canadianbands.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dr Music Musical groups established in 1969 Musical groups disestablished in 1977 Musical groups reestablished in 1984 Musical groups disestablished in 1984 Musical groups from Toronto Canadian jazz ensembles Canadian jazz rock groups 1969 establishments in Ontario 1977 disestablishments in Ontario 1984 establishments in Ontario 1984 disestablishments in Ontario