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Bert Niosi
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Fonds 80; Series 4; Item 12
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 80
- Series
- 4
- Item
- 12
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- Feb. 1944
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 10 cm and 12 x 8 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- Bert Niosi (b. London, Ontario, February 10, 1909) was a Canadian bandleader, clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and arranger, known as "Canada's King of Swing".
- He began studying flute and saxophone at age nine with Pasquale Venuta in London, Ont, and for a time in his teens played with Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians in Cleveland. He then toured on the Loew's vaudeville circuit with his own band, the McPhillips Buescher Boys' Orchestra, which included his brother Joe (bassist, b London, Ont, 26 May 1906, d Toronto 14 May 1977), Tony Briglia (drummer, later a founding member of the Casa Loma Orchestra), and Hugo D'Ippolito (pianist, later a member of the Royal Canadians).
- In 1931 Niosi formed a nine-piece band to play at the Embassy Club in Toronto. In 1932 he expanded the band and moved to the Palais Royale dance hall where, in an 18-year residence, he became an institution in Canadian pop music. The band was heard nationally on CBC broadcasts and toured Canada in 1945 and 1946. It included Niosi's brother Johnnie (drummer, b London, Ont, 26 Sep 1914, d Toronto 21 Nov 1965).
- Niosi next embarked on a career with the CBC, first as a member 1952-9 of the Happy Gang, and then as music director of the TV series 'Four for the Show,' 'Cross-Canada Hit Parade,' and, 1965-76, 'The Tommy Hunter Show'. He continued to lead a dance band on occasion and returned to the Palais Royale for appearances as late as 1979.
- A versatile musician, Niosi was proficient on trumpet and trombone as well as with the alto saxophone and clarinet; accompanied by his brothers he played all four instruments on a CBC TV show ca 1957. On an earlier occasion (1950) he played Mozart's Clarinet Quintet with the Solway String Quartet for CBC radio.
- Niosi's recordings included several 78s from the 1940s with a jazz sextet for RCA Victor and Musicana, and one with his orchestra for Zephyr. He also made an LP as leader of the Jack Kane Band (1963, CTL CTLS-5036) and others as a soloist with the Albert Pratz Orchestra (RCI 173 and 174) and with the Johnny Burt Strings (1964, CTL CTLS-5044). His compositions have been recorded by Lucio Agostini and by the pianist Alexander 'Ragtime' Read.
- Niosi died in 1987 in Mississauga.
- Scope and Content
- This item is a portrait of Bert Niosi.
- Name Access
- Niosi, Bert, 1909-1987
- Subjects
- Musicians
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions