Blue-Ribbon Badgley

Bill Badgley’s first recording for The Canadian Talent Library was so enthusiastically acclaimed by broadcasters and listeners alike, that this second disc was a surety. Had Bill pursued his first-chosen career as a radio announcer, probably neither of these pleasure-giving platters would have been produced, and Canada would have had one less accomplished performing artist to offer the world. However, after disc jockey and newscaster stints in Sudbury, Guelph, St. Catharines and Sarnia, Badgley embarked on a teaching career that took him to Guelph, Coburg and Toronto as a music supervisor. Following engagements at the Hart House and Crest Theatre, he decided to exchange his professional pursuits for a piano keyboard and a professional role as a performer.

His many credits include CBC-TV’s “Country Hoedown”, The Marine Room of the Seaway Hotel, The Chez Paree and the O’Keefe Variety Show. In 1964, Bill opened the Caesar Room of Toronto’s posh Ports of Call, and he’s been there ever since. In the interval, he has entertained hundreds of thousands of Canadians and foreign visitors who have dined at this popular spot.

His popularity reached nation-wide proportions in 1966 on the release of his initial CTL disc, as subscribing stations from sea to sea began to include his numbers in their programming.

In this new recording, Bill has going for him the same magic formula that contributed to his first success — orchestrations by Johnny Dobson and Johnny Burt, and an orchestra of nineteen of Canada’s finest musicians, comprising 9 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, flute (doubling on piccolo), French horn, guitar, drums, bass and percussion.

Produced by J. Lyman Potts
Recording Engineer: Bill Giles
Recording Supervisor: Johnny Burt

Transferred by Robert Williston on July 4, 2025 using Made in England Rega Planar 8 turntable with Apheta 3 moving coil cartridge, Rega Aria MK3 phono preamp, and RME Fireface UFX III Audio Interface at 96kHz/24-bit.