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(Pictured Above: Back Row (l to r) Bob, Alex, Tom &
Dick. Front
Row (l to r): Bruce, Brea & John)
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!
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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”.
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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.
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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.
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Les
Kesler |
Breanne would like to welcome the newest
member of Southern Flyer, Les Kesler.
With 30 plus years of experience in the
music industry Les keeps a solid bottom line in any type of
music he plays. His
musical influence through the years has been blues and classic
rock but enjoys most styles of music.
Les has been part of several musical
collaborations throughout his musical career such as Joyride,
Cabin Fever, Nightshift and Blackjack.
He also is currently playing acoustic roots music with
the Dirty Hat Band. The
Dirty Hat Band was interviewed and played live on David
Ward’s final bluegrass program on CKUA.
The Dirty Hat Band and Charlie Ewing have released two
CD’s which Les was involved in all steps of the production
of the CD’s.
Les enjoys playing electric Bass, the
Upright Bass and acoustic guitar, and can be heard singing
lead or harmony. He
has a love and passion for music and enjoys the creative
process and therapy it provides. “The guys in Southern Flyer
are very talented, supportive and a GAS to work with.”
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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.
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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)."
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