The Man Who Built a City’s Soundtrack: How Tommy Banks Became Edmonton’s Heartbeat

In the story of Edmonton, few names resonate with the force and warmth of Tommy Banks.

 

He was more than a musician; he was an architect of culture, a relentless champion for the arts, and a statesman who carried the rhythm of his city to the highest offices in the land.

 

To say he helped define the local arts scene is an understatement; for many, Tommy Banks was the scene.

 

His story began not in Edmonton, but in Calgary in 1936, though he would become his adopted city's most passionate advocate after his family moved in 1949.

 

His talent was prodigious and undeniable.

 

By the tender age of 14, he was already a professional jazz pianist, touring with saxophonist Don Thompson's band and immersing himself in the vibrant, raw energy of live performance.

 

This early start wasn't just a biographical detail; it was the foundation of a life spent in service to music.

 

Even then, his ambition wasn't just to play music, but to create spaces for it to flourish.

 

That drive led to one of his most enduring legacies: the Yardbird Suite.

 

In 1957, he helped found the original club, a haven for musicians to gather and play the music they loved after their paid gigs were over.

 

Today, located on a street that fittingly bears his name, Tommy Banks Way, the Yardbird Suite stands as one of Canada's oldest and most respected jazz venues, a living testament to his foundational vision.

 

But the confines of a jazz club could never hold his sprawling talent.

 

Tommy Banks became a household name across Canada as the host of 'The Tommy Banks Show,' which ran for years on CBC and in syndication.

 

Broadcasting from Edmonton, he brought the world to his city, featuring an incredible roster of guests that ranged from musical icons like Tom Jones and Aretha Franklin to a young David Foster, who would later call Banks his greatest mentor.

 

This wasn't just a talk show; it was a cultural broadcast that put Edmonton on the national map.

 

It proved that world-class entertainment could originate from Western Canada, a bold statement at the time.

 

He created something where nothing existed before, building a television and music production hub that employed countless local artists and technicians.

 

His work with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra further cemented his status as a cultural giant.

 

As a conductor and arranger for their pops programs, he bridged the worlds of classical and popular music, making the symphony accessible and exciting for a broader audience.

 

He conducted command performances for Queen Elizabeth II and President Ronald Reagan, and served as musical director for massive international events, including the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Expo 86 in Vancouver, and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

 

Each event was an opportunity for him to showcase Canadian talent on a global stage, a role he cherished.

 

His belief in Edmonton was unwavering.

 

Colleagues recalled that while he had countless opportunities to move to larger, more established cultural centers, he always refused.

 

His response was always the same: "We're going to do that, but we're going to do it here."

 

This conviction fueled his advocacy, most notably in the campaign for a dedicated concert hall.

 

In the 1980s, he declared that Edmonton was "too big and too good a city not to have a concert hall."

 

He chaired the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation, tirelessly fundraising and lobbying until that vision became the magnificent Francis Winspear Centre for Music, which opened in 1997.

 

In a fitting tribute, the education wing of the centre is now named The Tommy Banks Centre for Musical Creativity.

 

His commitment to nurturing future generations was also evident in his work at MacEwan University, where he helped shape the music program and mentored countless young musicians, including his own granddaughter, jazz singer Mallory Chipman.

 

Then came the second act of his public life, one that surprised many but seemed a natural extension of his advocacy.

 

In 2000, Tommy Banks was appointed to the Senate of Canada.

 

For nearly 12 years, he served as Senator Banks, bringing his characteristic integrity, sharp intellect, and passion to national affairs.

 

He served on critical committees, including those for National Security and Defence and Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, always providing a thoughtful and pragmatic voice for Alberta and for the country.

 

His transition from the bandstand to the Senate floor was seamless because he was driven by the same principle: public service.

 

Whether he was arranging a complex piece of music or dissecting a piece of legislation, his goal was to create harmony and build something of lasting value.

 

When Tommy Banks passed away in 2018 at the age of 81, the outpouring of grief in Edmonton and across the nation was immense.

 

Tributes flowed from every corner, from local musicians who he paid well and on time, to international stars like David Foster who called him a "gentleman and a gentle man," to politicians who respected his deep commitment to Canada.

 

His legacy is not just in the Juno and Gemini awards he won, the Order of Canada he received, or the street that bears his name.

 

It lives in the sound of a big band swinging at the Yardbird Suite.

 

It echoes in the flawless acoustics of the Winspear Centre.

 

It thrives in the careers of the musicians he mentored and the vibrancy of the arts scene he built from the ground up.

 

Tommy Banks could have lived anywhere in the world, but he chose Edmonton.

 

And in doing so, he gave the city a rhythm, a voice, and a soul that will play on forever.

 

Our reader's top 3 questions:

 

What was Tommy Banks most known for in Edmonton?

 

Tommy Banks was most known in Edmonton as a foundational figure in the city's arts and culture scene. He was a celebrated jazz musician, the host of the nationally broadcast 'The Tommy Banks Show,' a founder of the iconic Yardbird Suite jazz club, and a key force behind the construction of the Winspear Centre for Music.

 

How did Tommy Banks contribute to Canada outside of music?

 

Outside of his immense musical contributions, Tommy Banks served with distinction in the Senate of Canada for nearly 12 years, from 2000 to 2011. He represented Alberta and was an active member of several influential committees, including those on National Finance, National Security and Defence, and Energy.

 

What is the legacy of 'The Tommy Banks Show'?

 

'The Tommy Banks Show' was a landmark television program that broadcast from Edmonton to a national and international audience. Its legacy is significant as it proved that a major cultural production could be successfully based in Western Canada, helping to establish Edmonton as a credible arts hub and providing a platform for countless Canadian and international artists.