In Western Canada, the great sound of the Big Band era is synonymous with one man - musician and bandleader Dal Richards.
For more than seven decades, the Dal Richards' Orchestra has delighted Canadians with memorable dance music. Just this past New Year's Eve December 31, 2006, Dal celebrated 72 consecutive years bringing in the New Year swinging.
A Vancouver native, Dal Richards established his musical home in Vancouver event before graduating from Magee High School when he formed a band and was entertainment at clubs and dances around Vancouver in the late 1930s. By 1941 he was leading his band at Vancouver's most popular dance venue, the Panorama Roof at the Hotel Vancouver. The Roof and the band became the centre of Vancouver's social scene for more than 25-years and brought as taste of Vancouver night life to Canadians across the country on live CBC broadcasts from the Roof on Saturday nights.
"That was a REMARKABLE concert. Couldn't have been better. You, Sir, are a wonder! And continue to amaze. Ever the grandest to you."
- Hon. Garde Gardom, Q.C. (former Lt Governor of British Columbia
Dal with Bing Crosby and Lorraine McAllister
When the big band music business slowed in the late sixties, Dal returned to school and received a Diploma of Technology in Hospitality Management from BCIT. A fifteen-year career in the hotel business in Vancouver followed - but as big band swing music regained popularity in the 1980s, Dal resurrected his Orchestra, and the band and Dan have never been busier.
Dal's music is an important part of many corporate events and conventions, community concerts and special occasions like weddings and anniversaries, birthday and reunions. Dal's 14-piece big band is featured daily at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, and his Dal Richards' Combo plays regularly at Chantel's Lounge at the Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam.
Dal has been featured in not one but two national television documentaries. His biography, “Big Band Boom” won a silver medal for documentaries at the 1998 U.S. International Film and Video Festival in Chicago; while a musical special featuring the Dal Richards Orchestra, “What Legends Are Made Of” has been broadcast nationally several times on CTV and Bravo.
Even after more than half a century entertaining Canadians, Dal still runs a full-time business booking and performing with the Dal Richards' Orchestra, and hosts a weekly radio show 'Dal's Place' on 600 AM Radio. Dal is an active volunteer with the Variety Club, the B. C. Entertainment Hall of Fame and Vancouver AM Tourist Services Association.
Dal has received many honours and accolades during his career including honorary doctorates from both the BC Institute of Technology and Open Learning University recognizing his lifelong commitment to learning, which have led to his friends and fans affectionately called him “Dr. Swing”.
Dal is a popular speaker for numerous events and organizations, talking about his experiences in the music business and the important of life-long learning. He still manages to find time to take courses, because, as Dal epitomized, one is never too old to learn something new.
A Vancouver legend, Dal continues to entertain old and young alike at regular engagements and special occasions around town.
- Recognized by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association with his own street art mosaic “The Swing of Things” located on West Georgia Street outside the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
- Awarded the Freedom of the City by Vancouver City Council
- Named the Honorary Doorman of 2005 by the Vancouver Doorman's Association
- Inducted into the BC Lions Wall of Fame at BC Place, honouring his work as producer and music director for BC Lions Football Club half-time shows from 1955-1980.
- Honoured for his 65th consecutive year of entertaining at the annual PNE Fair with his own PNE Bench that is 'the best seat in the house' for his big band performances at the fair.
- Awarded the Order of British Columbia
- Received Tourism Vancouver's Lifetime Achievement Award
- Received the Queen's Jubilee Award
- Awarded an inaugural Spirit of Vancouver Award from the Vancouver Board of Trade
- Received an Honourary Doctorate from the Opening Learning Agency
- Received an Honourary Doctorate from BC Institute of Technology
- Appointed to the Order of Canada
- Presented with the City of Vancouver's Civic Merit Award
- Received Variety International's Presidential Citation
- Inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame
"Thank you so much for being the MC for the Naden Band Christmas Concert. I truly believe having you there as the surprise MS upstaged the Naden Band, to the joyous response of band members and the audience."
- Kathy Mannas, Major Gifts Officer, The Salvation Army
