{ Wednesday, May 11, 1977 . THE REVIEW

Canned music alternative to live performances

Frustrated musician entertains with electronic sound

By JIM audience with the | originator of Denny’s FLEXIBILITY demand for discosoundhas ¥
RODGERS professional aplomb of | Canned Music, and the This. flexibility and | really helped us boom,” |
Denny Gibbs is a Glen Miller. whole thing got off the playing music people want | said Denny. :

: frustrated musician who “When 1 was younger, ground after doing my first | to hear and not ‘pre- He contends that even §

arranging © an~ evening’s
music before the tastes of
his audience are determined
is the secret of his success.

‘‘Before 1 met Larry
Forbes of the Forbes
Brothers, 1 would approach
an engagement as if 1 were
the audience but Larry
taught me how to play
music for and cater to the.
group I’m supposed to be
entertaining,’’ he said.

“You can’t just.set up
your $7,000 sound system
and play music you want to
hear, you have to. be
prepared to play anything
from top 40 hits to the Blue
Danube Waltz in order to
please your audience,”’ he
continued.

You pick the night in-
dividually and employ disc
jockeys who are friendly
and. mix well with. the
crowd, Denny explained.

FONZIE’S

The formula worked and
Denny’s now — entertains
regularly in a Victoria disco
as: well as taking over for
live bands on vacation and
carrying on their mobile
unit functions.
_The service is available
throughout. B.C... and
canned music plays about
40 dates each year in
Vancouver and have done a
number of jobs as far south

s’ Los Angeles. ‘‘The

* loves to entertain and like | other people were always $7.50 B18 for . Sidney
* old time band leaders who | tinkering with cars yet my | Volunteer Fire Department
< conduct because they can't | interests were focused on | 1963.

play well, Denny supplies | ‘ape recorders. _ and Denny was a member of
“recorded . sounds _ and | Stereophonics,” said the 34 | the volunteer department

i communicates with nis year old owner ana back then and has been a
a — es See resident of the Patricia Bay

area since 1961. ‘‘I’ve done
every dance the volunteers
have had since,’’ he said,
yet his prices have risen
since the first engagement
when the $7.50 went strictly
to cover the costs of renting
a tape recorder.
QUALITY
SOUND

Denny’s father was a
music co-ordinator in
Bermuda... and _ big-band
musician when he was
growing up and his brother
has been active with Naden
band for the past 16 vears.
“1 can play a few  in-
struments but nothing very
well,’’ he commented, but ]
enjoy entertaining people.

The music: background
and. his. showbiz nature
combined to form what is a
highly sophisticated and
professional alternative to
live’ band © performances.
‘“‘When trying to replace a
live performance you can
only. do it: with a quality
sound which isn’t possible
by just setting up. a. home
stereo. outfit and playing
some. records,’? Denny
explained.

after the disco beat fades, #
automated music will #
continue to boom. ‘‘It’s the
thing of the future as people
can no longer afford to hire
live bands,’’ he said. The
only reason we would lose
popularity is if we didn’t
keep up with changes in
audio technology, he ex-
plained.

Denny is trying to get a
local. Disco: called Fonzie’s
Place. going. ‘We will
specialize’ in the music. of
the ‘50’s and ‘60's and want
to cater to the 20 to 40 age
group and local clientele, he
said.

‘We hope people will
come dressed in ‘50's
costumes as we plan. to-
feature twist and hula-hoop -
contests,’’ he continued.
We want to provide good
entertainment with: happy,
personalized service at
reasonable prices, he said.

“Our. service doesn’t
really hurt any professional -
musicians,’’ he said, it only
interferes with the part-
timers who come ‘home
from: work, blow the. dust
off their guitars and try to
do a professional job.

As one musician said ata
recent union. meeting,
“Denny came up with a
unique idea and he makes a’
living at it, so why knock
it?”

WALLACE DR. & W. SAANICH RD.
We Reserve The Right To Limit Quantities

PRICES EFFECTIVE: THURS., FRI., SAT. & SUN., MAY 12, 13, 14 & 15

MEDIUM QUALITY
GROUND BEEF LB. 69°

MAPLE LEAF SOLD BY THE ¢
18.69

BOLOGNA PIECE ONLY

GRADE ‘A’ BONELESS BEEF
OVEN ROASTS

By Sag
@ ' Pr
RUMP > 39
®BARON OF BEEF sta

FRESH CUT FATT’S
CHICKEN SEGMENTS

BREASTS
LEGS
THIGHS
DRUMSTICKS *1"
wincss = 8, 69°
NECKS & BACKS

SLICED

. : me 1
SIDE BACON oe

FAMILY PACK

$71

Frying Chicken

CUT UP

Pork Sausages

MAPLE LEAF

FRESH SLICED
| BABY BEEF LIVER 1, 9°

. “We have 14 disc jockeys |“ -  . - ; 7 : | A _ las ie | e uce
e working for us with our , neem mle py te = ppl he ar tt
FOR SERVICE & QUALITY © # mobile units and to work at Pa Bee ily 7: \CTEVITICS oe
_ Where meats are a specialty, — our regular club dates,’’ he ue coe. oe oo ae ~ SPARTAN: ifn va
not a sideline continued and they are all ‘‘Today’s Family’? is the BIKE HIKE ~ SNOBOY 24 So

, _ @ -trained by a professional
cL ocal Butchers g disc jockey: and are all
‘# . competent enough to be on:
-. Open Daily 8:00 a.m. to'5:30 p.m. commercial radio.
SS AE SSE SENT TE EA SNP EE SA ee a nn - Currently,” ; Denny’ s
- Canned. Music is catering to
6,000 people each.week-end
‘excluding » regular: ‘club:
‘dates. The back-bone of the: | worker, “Kay Wyckham
business: is. the weddings, | parenting. course . teacher
local dances °-and house--) and -
parties _wheré:we. send our.
“mobile units, he. explained. ae
APPRENTICESHIP
© Business - wasn't always
booming though and Denny
Bf ee eee went. through a. butcher’s
A eI es “apprenticeship. and worked
~~ the place for people with good taste [ H for a supermarket for. six
PR ee Es “la. Bo years during the © sixties
a BS Pe Oe ‘while. perfecting “his then -
on the comer of Beacon & 3rd... J hobby of entertaining folks
aa ae elena : with canned music.
rr Finally, the. dates were
flowing in quite regularly
‘and Denny turned to getting
up at 4 a.m. to deliver milk
for ‘a~ local: distributer) in’
order to finish early enough
H to be at his engagements by
} 6 p.m, “1 was charging $50
pa night in those days,"’ he
1 said.
The break from part- -time

. QUALITY CAKES, a
e ay PASTRIES, BREAD to full: time music came in
| ~~ April 1974 when Denny was

R asked. to.be a music co-
| ordinator of a Victoria:
A. cabaret: “I quit: after only

three days,’” said Denny, as . BILL'S WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE” | ‘

the owners wanted hard- » Residential © Commercial «Industrial

‘topic of ‘a:panel discussion
to beheld from 7 to 8 p.m.
on Channel. 10, May 12.
~Panel: members -are Dr.
Larry. “Armaker,
“psychologist, Chief. Phillip
“Paul, counsellor, .Barbara
Whittington, Saanich social:

A. bike hike leaving or GOLDEN DELICIOUS.
Sanscha Hall at 1 p.m.
Sunday and*a companion
one leaving .. Deep: Cove
“School at the same time.will
tour their local areas then.
join up at Mac Donald Park
and ‘continue. to: ‘the. end,
where there will *
|:dou hnuts Fand? v refresh :
and Barry -Wyckham, mens ie neat
fy "FAMILY ee

program: “supervisor, ;
Saanich... ‘Peninsula a
‘Guidance Association. ce PICNIC”
The second ina series. s of : A Family ° ‘picnic “at.
child raising films is to be | Centennial Park for Central’
Saanich residents is planned
‘for the same day. » Races,

held May 12,‘from’9:30:to |
fa.m. in St. Paul’ 's United 5
Church..:The. films to: be | square dancing, rides on the:
presented: ; are: The ‘fire truck’ ‘and ‘a’ softball’
' game. between ‘the Brent-
‘wood -youth’. group’ ‘and:

Frustrating. 4’s - and

Fascinating 5’s, Jenny is.a.-]) .
Royal Bank employess are
just. a. few of..the things © B

Good Thing - On Nutrition’
planned for the picnic, The

and Child Behavior Equals
Lion's Club andthe Central

You.
Babysitting and refresh- O
ments are available, phone | Saanich recreation. §
department. are’ sponsoring » Ba
| the event, The Lion’s food §

656-1 247 or 656-5531.
PARE iNTING © concession will be operating
i ‘| and: free: hot dogs will .be

- COURSE i
A-new parenting course is available.. Prizes will be i
beginning May..10,-.based © awarded for the best
on Children the Challenge. decoraled. mile, bicycle and,

"2" for the oldest and youngest

Anyone | wishing | ool .

information Saale comact famly. member attending _
Leslie Pike At 656-4334, ‘ the picnic. It is scheduled  @
a a for 10.a.m, to 4 p.m. a

| 1G a i eo l ; “Carrots :
Cabbage - veltet

Potatoes -

cxurona NEW WHITE |

GROCERIES —_

Miracle Whip TMozzarella
~ KRAFT 32 on : Cheese _

on ue

~ CARNATION 16 02.

~ Cheese

JELSIT-

M : Pies :

_ SWANSON 8 02.

| French Fries |
~— CARNATION
os STRAIGHT cuT ae LB, oF

AL rock music exclusively while |) 752 ARDMORE DR. R.R, #2, SIDNEY, B.C. |
4 Denny preferred to - ' F
a 656-10 12 program the music to the ~~. Please Phone 656-1290 *

clientele .in the: club. at the
time,

- Crisco Oil

“18 02.

Pople vice
am WESTERN FAMILY |.
CLEAR 48 OZ,

rae Bags |

GLAD 20's $

“Increase your

"Shirley, Bill. & Kris
load capacity! |

invite you | to our

10m Annhearsary.

Celebrations —
MAY 13 & 14th

ole

Cake > Mixes Catchers —

ROBIN HOOD. PUDDING 8 07

“Margarine

| | wo
~ WESTERN FAMILY

oie FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY
SPECIALS & Put Your Name in
fora DOOR PRIZE _ |

Hh We appreciate the patronage of our
~ valued customers over the past 10.
_ Years.

| BRENTWOOD |
| “Florist 2
| and GARDEN SHOP

| ZLLL WEST SAANICH RD, 652-2131

Beans with
Pork | - WEST BEST

14 02.

Apricot Faes): :

GOLD REEF 14 02.

GoLD REEF % or Sliced.
lM 02. |

Spashettios Red Kidney

f FRANCO:AMERICAN 14 OZ. | Beans + ‘HEINZ 14 07,

ae

~ GOLD REEF 14 02 8