Room Full of Sound presents: Tommy Banks with Elbow River

I had the privilege of sitting in on a rehearsal at the RPAC Saturday afternoon listening to Tommy Banks and Bruce Innes as they played a few songs with that blues/jazzy feel Tommy Banks is known for and I had the opportunity to speak with them. These two talented Albertans have been friends for years and were thrilled to be sharing the stage again at the RPAC before a sold out house on November 14, 2015

Here is a bit of the rehearsal and conversation we had:

See below for the complete bio and details of the musicians involved in that nights entertainment line-up, as presented by Room Full of Sound. Many thanks to Rick Harding for the huge part he played in making this event happen. I am looking forward to the future Room Full of Sound performances.

Tommy Banks

The Honorable Thomas Benjamin Banks, OC, AOE, pianist, conductor, arranger, composer, TV personality, actor, producer, politician (born 17 December 1936 in Calgary, Alberta). The multi-talented Tommy Banks has had an unparalleled, multi-faceted career spanning more than 60 years in virtually every aspect of the entertainment industry in Canada. A professional jazz pianist at age 14, he went on to lead his own bands, conduct symphony orchestras around the world, direct musical ceremonies at international events, host his own long-running television show and act in film and television. He also served nearly 12 years in the senate as a member of the Liberal Parliamentary Caucus.

Elbow River

Leanne Copithorne is joined by daughter, Kaitlynn Copithorne (accordion, vocals), son Charlie Copithorne (mandolin), Brandon Smith (bass) and seasoned multi-instrumentalist and producer, Tim Jeffery (lead guitar, dobro) — who also brings his capacious experience to the table, adding Elbow River’s premier release to his lengthy list of production credits.

Named after the Majestic River that rages through the Rocky Mountains and flows east through Calgary — each band member is strongly rooted in the rich stories of the past and present that ebb and flow through the seasons.Their song writing is centred on universal observations that transcend generational boundaries.

Host: Bruce Innes

Bruce Innes has a musical heritage that includes 2 gold records (Mr. Monday and the iconic hit One Tin Solider), as well as other top ten and top forty hits in Canada, the US, Australia and Japan. In a captivating show he weaves a tapestry of original songs, soulful blues and classic hits into an evening of unforgettable music, laughter and song.

~ Tracy