Peter Appleyard, O.C. (born 26 August 1928), is a Canadian jazz vibraphonist and percussionist. He is also a composer of English descent. He spent his entire life in Toronto, where he was a popular performer in nightclubs and hotels for many years. He has also recorded and played with many of Toronto’s orchestras. He has been featured on numerous Canadian radio and television programs. He was well-known for his performances with Benny Goodman’s jazz sextet, which he performed internationally in the 1970s. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1992 for his international vibraphonist status. After being forced from school to become a boatbuilder, Appleyard was born in Lincolnshire. The popularity of American Big Band music in England was increasing at that time, especially due to a significant influx of recordings from America made by jazz greats such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Appleyard was influenced by these recordings and decided to become a jazz musician. His career began in the 1940s as a drummer in the Boys Brigade youth organization. He continued his career as a drummer in many other British dance bands in the 1940s. While he was a Royal Air Force member in the mid 1940s he also played in RAF bands. Appleyard immigrated to Bermuda in 1949, where he lived for 2 years. He spent his holiday in Canada while there and picked up his first set vibes. Canada impressed him so much that he decided to move to Toronto when he was ready to leave Bermuda. Appleyard was initially unable to obtain a union card in Toronto. He worked as a room booking clerk at King Edward Hotel and a salesman at Simpson’s department store. After studying music with Gordon Delamont, Appleyard began to play the vibraphone at concerts with Billy O’Connor in early 1950s. He played in a Park Plaza Hotel band from 1954 to 1956 and appeared on CBC Radio many times with Calvin Jackson, a jazz pianist. In 1957, he formed his own jazz group that performed in Toronto and toured North America. They also appeared on American television in the 1960s. Jimmy Dale, a pianist and arranger, was one of the original members. For a year, the group was accompanied by Gloria DeHaven. Appleyard co-hosted the CBC Radio radio program Patti and Peter from 1961-1962. He spent the majority of his mid-60s touring. He returned to Toronto in the late sixties after he had stopped touring and resumed his regular schedule. He returned to the Park Plaza Hotel and began playing again. He hosted the CBC TV program ‘Mallets and Brass’ with Guido Basso in 1969. He also began to study timpani and percussion, which greatly expanded his musical knowledge. Appleyard was a member Benny Goodman’s jazz sextet in the 1970s, and gained international attention. He toured Europe in 1972, 1974 and Australia in 1973 with the group. He continued to play with the group only occasionally for the remainder of the decade. His most notable performances were three at Carnegie Hall in mid-to late 1970s. He remained in Toronto for the remainder of his life, where he was a regular performer at nightclubs and in hotel lounges. He also served as music director for several local jazz bands. He was also a prominent percussionist in both the theatre and studio orchestras of Toronto. He had his own television show, Peter Appleyard Presents. It was a variety and jazz program that was syndicated across North America from 1977 to 1980. Frank Sinatra asked Appleyard in 1976 to perform with him at the Uris Theatre, New York City. This request was based on Appleyard’s work with Goodman. Rich Little arranged a benefit concert in Ottawa where Sinatra and Appleyard performed together many years later. Appleyard founded the All Star Swing Band in 1982. They specialize in old jazz and pop tunes. Rick Wilkins often arranges medley arrangements. Swing Fever, the 1982 album by Appleyard, was certified gold for its sales of 50,000 units in Canada. It was also nominated for the Juno Award for Instrumental Artists of The Year. The group has performed all over the globe, including several performances in New York City with Mel Torme at Michael’s Pub, a 1987 trip to Great Britain, and a 1998 tour of Switzerland. They also played at festivals such as the Du Maurier Jazz Festival and Moncton Jazz Festival, Dick Gibson’s Jazz Party in Colorado, and Moncton Jazz Festival. The group has performed in Japan, Florida, Texas and Scandinavia as well as Germany, Germany, Germany, and Scandinavia. Appleyard, a former Benny Goodman student, formed the Benny Goodman tribute band in 1985. It is made up of several Goodman alumni as well as some top Toronto musicians. Appleyard is also the leader of “Swing Fever Band”. Appleyard has also been on several concert tours for NATO. Most of these were at his expense. He has performed at the North Pole Christmas Show in Greenland for both Canadian and American military personnel. Through the late 1990’s, Peter Appleyard was a Carnegie Hall special guest. He performed many times under the baton of Skitch Henderson and his New Yorks Pops Orchestra. He frequently travels overseas, from London to Switzerland to Japan. The Japanese Government asked him to perform at the Sapporo Jazz Festival for one night. It was a wonderful experience, Mr. Appleyard stated. The treatment and reception were first-class. Peter Appleyard continues to tour and perform around the World. On June 18, 2012, he was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award. He currently resides in Rockwood, Ontario. From Wikipedia
