Information/Write-up
Robert Wesley “Bob” McMullin was born on April 29, 1921, in Lewiston, Utah, and moved with his family to Raymond, Alberta, at the age of four. Raised in a musical household, he and his four siblings were all talented performers. By age eleven, Bob was playing drums in the family band, and over the years he became proficient on clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and percussion. A naturalized Canadian citizen in 1946, he was known in musical circles as “Mr. Versatility,” a title earned through his ability to excel as a performer, conductor, arranger, composer, and musical director across multiple genres.
During the Second World War, McMullin served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, leading and touring Europe with an RCAF dance band. Following the war, he settled in Edmonton, working as an arranger and composer for network radio shows while performing on trumpet and clarinet. With the advent of television, he moved to Winnipeg in 1955, which remained his base for the rest of his career.
McMullin’s output was prolific, with over 150 original compositions spanning classical, jazz, variety, musical comedy, and rock ’n’ roll. Many of his works were used as themes or background cues for CBC programs, network radio, and fourteen film documentaries. As musical director for Winnipeg’s Rainbow Stage, he conducted productions of West Side Story, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and other Broadway favourites, backing artists such as Gordon MacRae, Anita Bryant, Shirley Harmer, Tommy Hunter, Denny Vaughan, and The Four Lads. He also appeared at New York’s Carnegie Hall, culminating in a recording with American singer Enzo Stuarti, and conducted the Richard Club’s collaborations with the Winnipeg University Glee Club.
McMullin was equally active in television and film, serving as musical director for King of Kensington, House of Pride, The Collaborators, and Sidestreet, as well as composing for films including On the Edge of the Ice Pack (1972), Race Home to Die (1973), and The Shadow of the Hawk (1976). Known for his quick wit, humility, and consummate professionalism, he was admired as much for his personal warmth as for his musical accomplishments.
Bob McMullin passed away on January 3, 1995, in Regina, Saskatchewan. His career left a lasting imprint on Canadian music, particularly in Winnipeg, where he was celebrated as one of the city’s most versatile and accomplished musicians.
-Robert Williston
Moe Koffman: saxes (doubles on flute & clarinet)
Bernie Piltch: saxes (doubles on flute & clarinet)
Jack Zaza: saxes (doubles on flute & clarinet)
Roy Smith: saxes (doubles on flute & clarinet)
Moe Schneider: saxes (doubles on flute & clarinet)
Erich Traquair: trumpet
Don Johnson: trumpet
Charlie Davidson: trumpet
Teddy Roderman: trombone
Butch Watanabe: trombone
Bob McConnell: trombone
Ray Tizzard: French horn
Stan Kolar: French horn
Peter Appleyard: tuba
Bobby Edwards: guitar
Peter Appleyard: percussion
Tibor Zelig: strings (leader)
Joe Niosi: strings
Recorded in Toronto, Ontario, June 4, 1966
Liner notes:
In musical circles in Western Canada, Bob McMullin is regarded as "Mr. Versatility"—and not only the modern-day refinement of that proverbial one-man band but a blend of many talents, the sum of a score of specialists. He is an orchestra leader and a performing musician. He can play clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and drums. A composer of scores for every type of music and musical media, his classical and variety, musical comedy to jazz, rock 'n roll, he has over one hundred and fifty pieces to his credit including many used as lining backgrounds for fourteen film documentaries and a host of network radio shows.
As musical director for Winnipeg's Rainbow Stage productions, McMullin has conducted such shows as West Side Story, Oklahoma, South Pacific and other Broadway successes. On stage, he has provided the backing for people like Gordon MacRae, Anita Bryant, Shirley Harmer, Tommy Hunter, Denny Vaughan, The Four Lads, to mention a few.
His assignments have taken him to New York's Carnegie Hall, culminating in a recording by the popular American singer, Enzo Stuarti. Both a choral and orchestral conductor, McMullin has taken charge of the Richard Club's association with the Winnipeg University Glee Club's music shows. Hardly a concert, stage show, capital or network has occurred in a wide variety of TV specials without some acknowledgement to his many talents.
Robert McMullin spent his childhood in Raymond, Alberta, where, with his four talented sisters and brothers, he received education from experienced and professional musicians all. The Second World War took Bob overseas in charge of an RCAF dance band that toured Europe. On his discharge, he settled in Edmonton, arranging and composing music for network radio shows. With the advent of television, he switched his base to Winnipeg, where his career as an arranger and conductor, musical director, orchestral leader and composer has fully blossomed.
This recording for the Canadian Talent Library affords listeners all over Canada the opportunity of becoming even better acquainted with this accomplished Canadian musician, as a conductor, arranger, and composer. All thirteen selections on this transcription were arranged by McMullin. Five are his own compositions recorded for the first time. The members of the orchestra were especially selected from the cream of Canada's top instrumentalists. Thus, on this one recording, CTL has combined the artistry of some of the finest group of musicians ever assembled in one studio. This is the music of Bob McMullin—the ultimate in modern musical enjoyment. In the production of this recording, CTL acknowledges with sincere thanks the cooperation and assistance provided by CJOB and CJOB-FM, Winnipeg, charter subscribers to The Canadian Talent Library.
No Comments