On Monday September 4th, 1944 the AEF (Allied Expeditionary Force) Radio network brought to the air for the first time the Canada Show and introduced the new Canadian Band under the direction of well known radio personality Robert Farnon.

The program became one of the most listened radio broadcasts in Europe during the period of its existence from July 1944 to December 1945. Even the enemy listened when the Canadians played. Germans also tuned into the AEF broadcasts.

Farnon who took over the reins of the band from *Reg Newton in July 1944 was most well known as one of Canada’s outstanding young conductor-composers and arrangers and will be remembered by thousands of Canadians as a member of the famous CBC Happy Gang (knock- knock whose there it’s the HAPPY GANG). In the realm of popular and band music Farnon was a brilliant arranger and his striking orchestral effects became a feature of the Canada Show.

The Canada Show joined it’s equally famous sister show "The Glenn Miller Show" as two very popular musical entities on the AEF network.

The Canada Show unit consisted of fifty musicians and entertainers and the group arrived in Britain on July 26th 1944. The group consisted of an orchestra of 30 musicians, a 14 piece mixed chorus, two soloists and a group of actor-announcers. The group was a representative ensemble with Woman’s Army Corps performers , as well many army musicians and performers from Army shows. The group represented every province in Canada . Many of the roster of performers and musicians were household names in Canada and parts of the United States. Joanne Dallas a Canadian Singing sensation of the 1940’s was a solo vocalist with the ensemble and along with another Canadian personality Paul Carpenter (Carpentier).

The first show under Farnon’s direction aired on September 4th 1944. As in the case of all the radio shows the broadcasts were live. Transcriptions were made of each show for later use but all of the original shows were a live performance . The initial broadcast was from the Queensbury All Services Club in Soho and subsequent programs were heard on the air waves from the BBC broadcast center at Maida Vale.

The Canadian band was a complete unit and could perform in every medium. Big band, Dixieland , orchestral, concert band and the band could really swing. Many of the vocalists and musicians went on to great careers after the war in Canada and the USA. Vocalist Cam Ritchie was well known as a cabaret singer and television performer. Trumpeter Fred Davis became a well known TV personality and was seen on many high profile Television shows.

Saxophonist George Naylor went on to lead the PPCLI band and has became a very respected member of the musical fraternity in Alberta. Pianist Denny Vaughn became a well known band leader in the 1950’s in Canada and was also a TV personality. Other performers in the group to obtain star status were Lois Marshal and Robert Beatty.

Farnon himself led many groups as well as becoming staff arranger for some very big name British groups including the Ted Heath Orchestra and George Melechrino. He enjoyed his sojourn to England so much that he stayed on after the war. He passed away in 2007.

He has written numerous compositions including The Westminster Waltz and the theme from Colditz. He  lived in the Channel Islands in semi-retierment and passed away in 2007.

The transcriptions of the shows are still in existence . The final show in the series was on Saturday December 15th 1945 from the Cinema, Lower Regent St in London, and was titled Farewell AFN. The Show included some smash hits of the period including SHOO SHOO BABY, BEGIN THE BEGUINE, I'LL BE SEEING YOU , MEN OF ARNHEM , SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY and as a final the band and audience AULD LANG SYNE.

The group were the elite of Canadian performers and performed over 50 shows and are remembered for their ability to entertain and for their rare high standard of excellence.

By Jack Kopstein CD
With files from the book "BIG BANDS GO TO WAR" -Chris Way. Vertical files from the Vancouver Public library .
*Our Australian  band buffs will remember  Colonel Reg Newman as he served with great honor in the Australian Army as a Director of Music for several years.