Information/Write-up
Born: March 31, 1914 – London, England
Died: September 21, 1980 – Toronto, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Johnny (John Edward) Burt was a Canadian arranger, composer, pianist, and conductor whose five-decade career spanned dance bands, national broadcasts, orchestral recordings, and a pivotal role in the development of Canadian recorded music. Born in London, England, and raised in Toronto from infancy, Burt studied piano as a child and later pursued composition with John Weinzweig. By the 1930s, he was performing professionally with Toronto dance bands led by Luigi Romanelli, Jack Slatter, and George Wade, while also fronting his own jazz trio on CFRB radio with Murray McEachern on reeds and Danny Perri on guitar.
In 1938, Burt travelled to Great Britain as a member of the Trump Davidson Orchestra under Ray Noble and briefly worked as pianist-arranger for Billy Bissett’s orchestra. Returning to Toronto in 1939, he joined Joe DeCourcy’s dance band and, by 1941, had relocated to the U.S. to serve as an arranger for Paul Whiteman’s orchestra. His wartime years were spent at HMCS York in Toronto, serving in the Royal Canadian Navy and composing for military broadcasts and navy ensembles.
Following the war, Burt emerged as a respected and prolific arranger at the CBC, writing charts for conductors such as Geoffrey Waddington, John Adaskin (Opportunity Knocks), Jean Deslauriers, Samuel Hersenhoren, and Paul Scherman. His trio—now with Stan Wilson on guitar and Sam Levine on bass—was featured on CBC Radio from 1946 to 1948. He also led his own orchestra on national broadcasts including Johnny Burt and Company (1952), and appeared on programs hosted by Elwood Glover, Wally Koster, and Gisèle MacKenzie.
In 1962, Burt was appointed music director of the Canadian Talent Library (CTL), a role he held for a decade. He supervised recordings for dozens of Canadian artists and made numerous LPs of his own. These included his debut Trombone (CTL 5004), Reminiscing (CTL 5014), and Song of the Tropics (CTL 5055), all showcasing his signature blend of lush string writing, jazz-inspired rhythm sections, and tasteful piano work. Trombonist Teddy Roderman was featured prominently on several of these records, including Trombone and Reminiscing, with Burt contributing original compositions like “Theme for Susan” and “Mike Fright.”
His 1964 sessions for Trombone featured an 11-piece ensemble including Roderman, Butch Watanabe, Steve Richards, Frank Reynolds, and Hank Monis, with Mickey Shannon on drums. In 1968, The Big Band of Johnny Burt brought together a stunning cross-section of Canadian jazz talent, including Erich Traugott, Guido Basso, Moe Koffman, Eugene Amaro, Peter Appleyard, and a full string section. This expanded ensemble recorded “From This Moment On” and other standards for RCA and CTL, preserving a distinctly Canadian spin on large-scale orchestral jazz.
In 1972, Burt released one of his most distinctive albums under the name The Johnny Burt Society: …Come Summer (CTL 5160), a sunshine pop/jazz vocal LP featuring six singers (Stephanie Taylor, Lynne McNeil, Kathy Collier, Les Leigh, Harvey Paterson, and Vern Kennedy) and a studio orchestra that included Moe Koffman, Ed Bickert, Peter Appleyard, Guido Basso, and Eugene Amaro. The record offered sparkling renditions of contemporary hits like “Cherish,” “The Candy Man,” and “Speak Softly Love,” and remains one of the rarest and most sought-after releases in the CTL catalog.
He also recorded multiple albums for RCA Camden and RCA Victor, including Dance to the Trombones (RCA CAS-997), Around the World (RCA PCS-1199), and two large-ensemble albums (CTL S-5100 / RCA CTLS-1100) showcasing sophisticated arrangements and Canadian all-star lineups. His final known session, recorded February 28, 1980, again featured many of his regular collaborators—Erich Traugott, Rob McConnell, Arnie Chycoski, Gene Amaro, Ian McDougall, Jack Zaza, Bernie Piltch, and others—performing Burt’s arrangement of “Moonlight Feels Right.”
Over 20 of Burt’s compositions were published by the Chappell Library of Background Music and recorded by artists such as Henry Cuesta, John Perrone, and Nat Raider. He also composed scores for the National Film Board and contributed to high-profile media campaigns, including the Miss Canada Pageant and its theme song. He served as a central creative force behind CTL’s goal of promoting Canadian content on domestic airwaves—at a time when many of his peers were relocating to the United States or Europe.
Johnny Burt passed away in Toronto on September 21, 1980, at the age of 66. His musical legacy is preserved through dozens of recordings for radio, vinyl, and television—works that shaped mid-century Canadian broadcasting and offered an elegant counterpoint to imported orchestral pop. As arranger, leader, and pianist, Johnny Burt made his mark not just on stage, but in the very structure and sound of Canadian recorded music.
-Robert Williston
JOHNNY BURT’s arrangements for FIVE TROMBONES
Johnny Burt rehearses the trombones in a tricky passage. From left to right – Hughes, Watanabe, Roderman, Burt, Richards, Reynolds.
Watching a parade, dancing in front of a jazz band, or enjoying a concert, it is always a thrilling experience to see and to hear the musicians in the trombone section. Meredith Willson immortalized the slide horn in his Broadway and film production of “The Music Man”, conjuring up no less than “Seventy-six Trombones” for one of the most rousing performances of all time.
After World War II, many musicians joined the big bands – others studied, settee for their own jazz, dance bands – Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Buddy Morrow, Bill Harris, Kai Winding and many more. Some of the soloists graduated from sidemen to leaders of their own small groups and to solo recordings of major international renown. Canada’s top musicians are just as famous. Over the years we would single out faces of Murray McEachern, Jack Teagarden, Pee Wee Hunt, Kai Winding.
Today Canada is blessed with many fine trombonists who could ably hold a chair with one of the solo chairs on any front row in this profession. CTL is proud to bring to the speakers and microphones of Canada a section of six musicians specially arranged for this recording by Johnny Burt.
Teddy Roderman – first trombonist; a native Torontonian whose solo work is well known through his many TV and radio performances and his CTL recordings with the Johnny Burt orchestra (S 5044). Teddy’s grandmother gave him his first trombone and Bob Farnon his first big break. He’s been in demand ever since.
Butch Watanabe – second trombonist in the session was born in New Westminster, B.C. – took up the horn as a hobby. Moving to Montreal when 18 he soon found himself occupied with night club work which he has continued in Toronto during student studies. Butch is heard in several solo passages, notably in “Basin Street Blues”.
Steve Richards – third trombonist is a Torontonian, self taught, over the years he has played with many bands and is one of the most sought among trombone loop men when he has a day off from work at the Royal York Hotel. Ellis McClintock, Mark Kenney and Bert Niosi. He is also a rock ‘n roll star.
The O’Keefe Centre stage plays host to the “Whispering Giant” of trombone Frank Reynolds – artist in school orchestra before he left for Brockville, Ontario. Starting out as a public French horn he studied music in Brockville Rifle Band Orchestra then Paul (Freeman) brought Frank to Toronto and he occupied a chair in several arrangements. Frank lends his support to Johnny Burt’s brilliant blend of “Don’t Blame Me”.
Ron Hughes (featured in solo and in the passage “I Hear Music”) was born in London, Ontario. He studied at Detroit Conservatory and now supports the renowned Johnny Burt orchestra in many TV assignments. Jack Kane was trumpet, which he usually finds himself doing along side recent recording sessions. We hope to find many of his solos in years to come.
Nelson Hinds the last member of the trombone team was born in Jamaica and came to Canada in 1960. Although still in his twenties, Nelson has studied conducting and orchestration. Johnny has guided some of his own compositions and personally selected his career. Along with Johnny’s team are Ted Moses (piano); Mike Allen (bass); Dennis Pendrith (bass); and Eric Robertson (organ) – in the rhythm section, with Don Thompson taking over the melody from the orchestral numbers. On many of these arrangements we hear Peter Appleyard on vibes and guitar. Johnny has added Hank Monis on guitar, Mickey Shannon drums and Bill Britto string bass.
No Comments