(Pictured Above: Back Row (l to r) Dick, , Bob & Bruce. Front Row (l to r): Breanne, Tom & )



The Band - Breanne wants you to "Meet the guys"!

The Southern Flyer Band is made up of, perhaps, one of the best group of musicians in Southern Alberta. And lucky for Breanne, she has captured their hearts, and their talents to back her up. Be sure to check the schedule page for their up and coming show dates and times and if you are in the area, head on out to see them!

Bruce MacKay

Bruce has memories of hearing music from the Don Messer Show and Hank Snow when he was still in diapers in Nova Scotia.  This, and a musical Mom, led to piano lessons when Lethbridge became home in the late 1960s.  Optimistic about a musical career, he started as a music major at the University of Lethbridge in the 1970s, but classical piano was not his bag and he gave it all up to play keyboards in a rock band based in Victoria, B.C. and then a country group called The Great Divide while living in Ottawa.  Together with a couple of old friends from Lethbridge, this outfit did pretty well, even backing up Al Cherny, Tommy Hunter’s famed fiddle player.  Eventually Bruce realized that life on the road weren’t no kind of life for a married man and so he returned to his university studies, eventually obtaining a PhD and becoming a professor at the University of Lethbridge.  While recently seeking some musical therapy, Bruce dusted off his keys, and after playing some good ole rock classics for a while, shifted to the re-formed Southern Flyer when his country music roots began to show.  This is the strongest vocal group he’s ever been with.  And best of all, he’s finding that the good music, good fun, and good friends are even loosening up the stiffness in his fingers.

Tom Hudson

For as long as Tom can remember, singing and performing has always been a part of his life. Entertaining others is a great joy for Tom, never dull or boring, always exciting and challenging. He has performed “folk” music in the 60's with the group the Point of Interest; “rock” music in the 70’s with our current drummer Bob Gammon; more “folk” and “country rock” music in the 80’s and 90’s with Dick Allison and the original Southern Flyer. Tom has even done a little musical theatre over the years. However, the current edition of Southern Flyer was formed after Tom had been out of the music scene for almost two years and he can honestly say that Bob, Bruce, John, Paul, Dick have made that painful gap in musical time a distant memory.

Dick Allison

Along with Tom Hudson, Dick is one of two original “Southern Flyers” that is still playing and singing and having fun doing it. Dick was a founding member of the group in 1983 and has always played rhythm guitar – both six and 12 string. He sings mostly high harmony, but sings bass as well. He is sometimes referred to as the “best rhythm guitar player on his block”. Dick is the “old guy” in the group and the new members call him “Mom”, but he says “Somebody has to organize ‘the kids’”! Dick is retired from the Alberta Government and currently works part-time as a water management consultant. This gives him some time to practice golf and music. Currently, his golf game is getting worse but he claims his guitar playing is improving. He says “it’s nice to know that something is still getting better at my age”. Southern Flyer initially got together as a “folk “group, but soon expanded to 60’s and 70’s rock and roll and country. Today the band plays a lot of the old rock, country, new country and some of the old folk stuff with a country beat. And practices are usually just as fun than an actual “gig”.

Bob Gammon

Born and raised in Lethbridge, Bob played drums in the Point of Interest and Acme Music in the 1970’s. After a stint in another local band he most recently joined up with original members Tom Hudson and Dick Allison and others in the reformed Southern Flyer. He enjoys the country/rock flavor of the new band and takes pleasure in the entertaining and energetic atmosphere that surrounds their live performances.

John Malcolm

John got his start walking around the house singing old Beatles tunes…when he was 3. It’s been an ongoing love affair with music ever since. He started playing guitar at about 12 and had dreams of being a rock star like his hero, Eddie Van Halen. He played in lots of bands through high school and university and even quit university for a year to go on the road with a rock band. They made it as far as Vancouver and did very well, opening for acts like Harlequin, but his mother still reminds him of the scare the "quitting university" thing gave her. The leather pants don’t fit anymore anyways.

John got more into the country vein about 15 years ago and has played in local variety bands ever since. When the opportunity to play with a revived Southern Flyer came his way, he jumped at it and loves every minute of it. "This is a talented bunch of guys (and gal)."