SONG OF THE DAY

“Sun Goes By” by Dr. Music (Dr. Music, GRT of Canada, Ltd. Record Company, 1972).

INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)

– Dr. Music was a Toronto jazz group founded in 1969 by producer, arranger and performer Doug Riley.

– The band recorded three albums and toured across Canada.

– The personnel of the band changed throughout its history, with Doug Riley remaining at the core of the group.

– In 1969, Doug Riley became the music director for the television show “The Ray Stevens Show”. He was asked to put together a group of musicians to play for the 1969-1970 season of the show. Riley’s 16-piece vocal and instrumental band became known as Dr. Music. When the show was cancelled in 1970, Dr. Music remained together to record and tour Western Canada.

– Dr. Music joined forced with the Canadian duo Terry Black and Laurel Ward, which led to a more vocal-driven sound for the band. In 1972, GRT Record Company released the group’s first recording entitled Dr. Music, which included the hits “Sun Goes By”, “One More Mountain to Climb”, and “Try A Little Harder”.

– Because of the number of singers in the band, this album had a gospel-rock feel, although it still fit within the jazz rock genre.

– Shortly after Dr. Music’s album release, the group disbanded, despite the success of the single “Sun Goes By”. This gave Riley an opportunity to concentrate on his studio position at Toronto Sound Recording.

– Many of the members of Dr. Music went on to fulfill their own musical careers. For example, Don Thompson continued with a prominent career as a jazz bassist and piano player, winning two Juno awards. Keith Jollimore and Bruce Cassidy became members of the Canadian rock band, Lighthouse.

– Doug Riley, who became known by the nickname Dr. Music, continued to perform, compose, and arrange. He collaborated on more than 300 recordings with musicians such as Moe Koffman, Anne Murray, David Clayton-Thomas, Gordon Lightfoot, the Brecker Brothers, Bob Seger, Ray Charles, Molly Johnson, and Natalie MacMaster. He also recorded a number of solo albums. In 2003 he became a member of the Order of Canada.

VIDEO OF THE DAY