Text © by Al Walker Original article appeared in the owen sounder. Click photos to enlarge. Talk about keeping it in the family! When Earl's dad sold the candy store and got into the theatre business he found the musicians trouble and expensive. The last straw was when they stole the silverware and ran away with the favorite niece! The musicians that lived with the Georgas family would play at the Savoy and the Classic two pre-sound movie theatres that needed music to go along with the silent films. The paid musicians where replaced by the ever expanding Georgas family. The ten children where all musical, some more interested than others but all took part in the operation of the theatres. George was a violinist, Bill sax and piano, Louis percussion which included xylophone, bells, traps, Connie, Freda, Helen and Georga all studied conservatory piano and Helen also played mandolin. So when it was time for the calvary to ride to the rescue, the music would rise to the occasion. Earl who was younger did not play music in the theatres, but worked almost every evening until the close in the early 60's. Like all of the children he took tickets, swept the floors, learned the art of projection (most received projection licences) made popcorn, ushered patrons into the dark to be entertained in a pre-television world. Earl was a student of the piano but his heart was always elsewhere. He loved sports like his brothers & sisters. When learning piano he found if he played by ear, he could finish the lesson quickly and get out to play hockey or golf or skiing. When he inherited older brother Louis's drums, a set of Leedy-Ludwiq with calf skin heads which require constant tuning he was heading down his path. On one of the many nights in the theatre he seen a short on Gene Krupa, his inspiration had arrived. With a collection of records and a turntable that allowed the record to be slowed down, Earl learned the snappy rolls and beats that Krupa played so effortlessly. Over and over he would listen and learn. In the early 50's Earl was working at the CNE selling candy apples. Gene Krupa was appearing at the grandstand. Earl loved the way he would play everything, the floor, mic stands, anything on stage. Earl hung around till only Gene was left on stage putting away his kit. He asked him to sign his poster. Gene not only did, but gave Earl a set of sticks! To this day Earl will take extra sticks to give to an interested kid. Earl joined a group called the Swing tette at 14. With Len George-piano, Bev Jones-sax and Bob Hanbidge-trombone they played dances at the old YMCA. It was 10¢ to get in and the dance went from 8-10 because of the war curfew. The band would play "Five foot two eyes of blue", "In the mood" and other popular big band pieces. Soon after Earl and Len teamed up with John Gould-clarinet and called themselves the 3-Gs At the Friday Night Club at the OSCVI the boys would play for a Tea Dance to raise money for the war effort. Soon Earl was a highly sought after drummer. Lloyd Kibbler who at one time played for Guy Lombardo had Earl play. George Fearnal and the Stardusters with Jack Fearnal, trumpet, Harvey Lambert, sax, the Bill Wolfe Band from Chesley and Herb Rutherford Band all used Earl's talents at one time or another. One of the main places these bands played was the City Hall. There was a large hall upstairs. The Rainbow Room was started by Eddie Sargent and the town gained another dance hall for the many groups to entertain. Earl married at 24 to local girl Lois Dillabough. There marriage produced two children LilliAnne and Bradley. Earl is now in his second marriage with Joan Hyatt-Bolton Earl opened up a shop with Jim & Nick in the front of the Classic theatre. He began selling cloths, and sporting goods, his brother Nick strung racquets and they also sold musical instruments. There was always so many around, something was always for sale. Earl also began giving lessons. His long list of students include Eddie Miller who played with Bobby Curtola and would call Earl in the middle of the night for advice from such places as Las Vegas, Rene Clodo with the Ugly Ducklings, Robbie Robinson with Maria's Oracles, Don Bird, Cam Clark, George Burnside, Ronnie Heigelsburger and Rob Town to name only a few. The closure of both theaters moved Earl's Tip Top Talors to it's new location on 2nd Ave. E. at 9th St. Earl branched out musically with all his evenings free. Over the next ten years Earl played with a plethora of musicians. The Fromager brothers, with Ruddy Couture and Ken Ducharme, Bobby Osadzuk in the Take 5 with Rob Cameron, Bob Chaisson, John Lodge, The Viberations with Gary Mayel, Rod Clark, The Change of Life with Dave Fearnall, Neil Glenn, George Dahmer, The Georgas Brothers Orchestra with brothers Jim, Nick and Jack Jerome, Phil Lamarche. Earl played with all these bands and all types of music. There was the sweet country harmonies of the Neil and Alf Fromager, the 50's rockabilly of Bob Osadzuk and the Take 5, the hard rock edge of The Viberations and the big band sounds of the Georgas Brothers Orchestra. But behind all the stylings was Earl's desire for jazz. Earl managed to meet Edmund Thigpen a black jazz drummer with Oscar Peterson. Earl and Edmund struck up a friendship. Earl the eager student and Edmund struck by Earl's genuine love of jazz and it's players. Edmund was about to record in New York and asked Earl to come along. Earl spent the weekend in heaven. He spent long hours in the studio seeing first hand the sessions of "From out of a Storm" with players Ron Carter-bass, Herbie Hancock-keys, Clark Terry-trumpet, Kenny Burrell-guitar and Edmund-percussion. Earl ran for snacks, cigarettes and coffee and seen the magic of multi-tracking in then "state of the art Verve studios". After the daily sessions ended it was out to such hangouts as "The Blue Note", "Embers", "Hickory House" and the "Five Spot". At the "Bell Book & Candle" Earl was introduced to Jona Jones jazz legend trumpet player. Earl cherishes these memories. Like assalting mountain and reaching the summit. He still has a picture of Dizzy Gillespie who he met in 1952 in his wallet. There was the time that Duke Ellington's Band played the old arena in Owen Sound. The family home was right across the street. Earl was with was the local Union band who were paid to show "in case". With everything going fine Earl invited the Duke's band over to the house to sample some homemade wine. Years later when the Duke's band appeared down the line, someone in the crowd shouted "Owen Sound" and clearly the band shook their heads as if someone was replaying a vivid memory. Earl's love of jazz could not be contained. He played with the Empire Stove & Furnace Band in which his sweet rhythms played along with Eddie Hubble-trombonist, Don Stone-trumpet, Rudy Couture/Tom Gowan-bass, Dick Noya-piano, Ron Childs-banjo, Jim Montgomery-clarinet, Ken Rodmell-trombone. Their stints at Duffy's in Hepworth with Paul Rimstead of Toronto Sun fame showing up to drum occasionally were legendary, well locally anyway. Don Buchanan's Orchestra in the 80's brought Earl even closer to his sound. Playing the big band era's music with Don Buchanan-tenor sax, Jack Fleming-tenor sax, Jack Jerome-tenor sax, Frank Clark-trumpet, Doug Farmer-trumpet, Nick Georgas-trombone, George Alderman-trombone, Ev Ireland-piano, Dave Parsons-bass and Earl swinging on the drums. Early on Earl learned to play with the brushes. With only scant horns and piano holding down the melody and chords, Earl's early bands need Earl's percussion to be distinct but quiet. Earl attributes this soft touch to his well rounded abilities now on the drums. The Earl Georgas Band was finally born in the late 80's. Earl who was content most of his life to playing with groups finally attached his name to group. With Dick Noya-piano, Peter Rissi-trombone, Don Freeman-alto sax, Bob Lowe-tenor sax, Ted Thompson-trumpet/vibes and Fred Parsons-bass Earl played and continues to play his sweet jazz/popular music that is enjoyed with some lineup changes to this day. The instant live music is played it is gone, no remaining canvas, no product like pottery or a quilt, no photograph to remind the viewer of the artistry. Live music has the immediate joy for the other musicians and the crowd, but then it's gone. The E.G. Jazz tape produced and arranged in 1993 by Don Buchanan features covers like "Take the A train" (Duke Ellington), "C Jam Blues" (Count Basie) captures the artist Earl. It is the only tape that Earl is available on. The tape may be a collectors item as there are virtually non still available. Earl continues to be a musicians' musician. He studies, goes to jazz camps, all to further his interests. Earl can be found in the area playing or at his "Earl Georgas Ski Shop". Catch Earl and listen to a master on the drums and a lover of music and musicians. A true artist. From a series of articles written by guitarist Al Walker, for the owen sounder. HOME
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