Kilties, touring band (1902-1933)(Also known as the Regimental Band of the Gordon Highlanders)
Formed in Toronto, by members of the 48th Highlanders Band, to keep some touring commitments of that group, the Kilties Band of Belleville, Ontario, was one of Canada's most popular international touring bands of its day. Thomas P.J. Power and William F. Robinson were its first bandmasters, and its membership at times included cornetist, Mr. Voss, and pipe sergeant, David Ferguson (who also recorded bagpipe solos for Berliner). Playing at parks and touring on the vaudeville circuit, they eventually performed in 20 countries, appearing at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 and giving two Royal Command Performances in Britain. From 1908 to 1910 they went around the world, and in 1915 played to great critical acclaim at the Panama-San Diego Exposition. Their recordings include "Selections from Robert Bruce" and the popular march, "Soldiers of the Queen". Their distinctive record labels were a colourful plaid with black lettering. A discography can be found in Roll Back the Years. For more information on the Kilties' recordings, please consult the Virtual Gramophone database References"Bands - Civilian bands". -- Encyclopedia of music in Canada. -- Edited by Helmut Kallmann et al. -- 2nd ed. -- Toronto : University of Toronto Press, c1992. -- xxxii, 1524 p. -- AMICUS No. 12048560 Moogk, Edward B. -- Roll back the years : history of Canadian recorded sound and its legacy : genesis to 1930. -- Ottawa : National Library of Canada, 1975. -- xii, 443 p. -- AMICUS No. 80154. -- Also published in French under the title: En remontant les années : l'histoire et l'héritage de l'enregistrement sonore au Canada, des débuts à 1930 |