When most men his age are either no longer with us or sitting in an easy chair reminiscing about their youth, ninety-one-year old Vancouver bandleader Dal Richards is still busy playing gigs all over the province. After seventy-four-plus years in the business Dal is still one of the busiest musicians in Vancouver... a must-have entertainer for weddings, birthdays, festivals, fund-raising concerts and corporate events. Whether it's a quartet at a senior's centre, a six-piece band at a wedding, a nine or eleven piece swing band for a convention or his fourteen piece big band at the PNE, Dal's music is always enthusiastically received. From classic big band numbers from the thirties and forties to rock and roll, dance numbers and pop tunes, the Dal Richards Orchestra plays music for any occasion and all ages.
"It was a honour to play the drums with you and the band at the Chan Centre during the Masked Ball."
- Tom Chan
Dal with Bing Crosby and Lorraine McAllister
Dal recently completed production of a new big band CD, a co-production with CBC Radio. Joined by his regular big band vocalists, Diane Lines, Jamie Croil, Jennifer Hayes and Bria Skonberg and by special guest artist bluesman Jim Byrnes, the CD 'Dal Richards and Friends; One More Time' features great big band swing favourites like St. Louis Blues and Opus One to A Tisket A Tasket and The Nearness of You, as well as an original piece called 'Swinging with Dal' that was written for Dal's 90th Birthday Celebration Concert, January 5th 2008.
Dal's band played at the opening of Vancouver's exciting new Convention Centre, at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and – for his 70th consecutive year at the PNE - serving up two big-band shows a day for the seventeen day run of the Fair. The next big highlight for Dal is his 75th consecutive New Year's Eve performance….an incredible accomplishment, one likely never to be matched. Dal and his band will be playing for dancing in the Whistler Ballroom at the River Rock Resort and Casino in Richmond, and long-time fans are already lining up for tickets. Late last year Dal's popular radio show 'Dal's Place', a staple on the air-waves in Vancouver for more than twenty-five years, moved to AM650, where it airs Sunday nights from 9 till 10pm. Dal recently completed work on his memoirs with well-known Vancouver writer Jim Taylor – and the book, titled simply 'Dal Richards, One More Time', is in bookstores now.
Dal has been honored many times for his music, and for his commitment to a number of charitable organizations in the city and province in which he lives. He's been awarded an International Presidents' Citation by Variety the Children's Charity, an honorary doctorate by BCIT, lifetime achievement awards from both Tourism Vancouver and the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, and he was inducted into the BC Lions Wall of Fame in acknowledgement of his many years as musical director of the half-time shows for the Lions. Dal a proud recipient of the Order of Canada (1994) and the Order of British Columbia (2003), and was granted the Freedom of the City by Vancouver City Council in 2005. What's next for Dal? 'I'm still having fun leading the band and entertaining British Columbians', Dal states. After celebrating his 92nd birthday on January 5th, Dal will continue to train for his participation in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay as it rolls through Vancouver on February 11th. He was honoured to be chosen by Mary McNeil, MLA for Vancouver False Creek and the Minister of State responsible for the Olympics and ActNow BC., to represent the citizens of downtown Vancouver on this once-in-a-lifetime occasion..
- Recognized by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association with his own street art mosaic “The Swing of Things” located on West Georgia Street outside the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
- Awarded the Freedom of the City by Vancouver City Council
- Named the Honorary Doorman of 2005 by the Vancouver Doorman's Association
- Inducted into the BC Lions Wall of Fame at BC Place, honouring his work as producer and music director for BC Lions Football Club half-time shows from 1955-1980.
- Honoured for his 65th consecutive year of entertaining at the annual PNE Fair with his own PNE Bench that is 'the best seat in the house' for his big band performances at the fair.
- Awarded the Order of British Columbia
- Received Tourism Vancouver's Lifetime Achievement Award
- Received the Queen's Jubilee Award
- Awarded an inaugural Spirit of Vancouver Award from the Vancouver Board of Trade
- Received an Honourary Doctorate from the Opening Learning Agency
- Received an Honourary Doctorate from BC Institute of Technology
- Appointed to the Order of Canada
- Presented with the City of Vancouver's Civic Merit Award
- Received Variety International's Presidential Citation
- Inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame
"For two consecutive years Dal and his Orchestra received standing ovations from audiences in the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows area at what many say was one of the best entertainments of the year. We are hoping Dal's visit to Maple Ridge will become an annual tradition!"
- Mark Taylor, Executive Director, The ACT Maple Ridge.
