Don Erskine

I look back on the 40's as a great time of my life. I joined Neil McKay's band and played at the arena - nice picture. In the summer of 1943 I went with the Johnny Downs Band to Hamilton. We lived at Cherry Beach and played Wed Thurs Fri and Sat nights. There were only a limited number of beds so we had to double up. I was Johnny's bed partner. I got a chance to improve my improvizations playing second trumpet, Then in the winter months we played at the Masonic Temple. We had the best trumpet section of any band that I ever played with. Ronny Neil who later joined the Toronto Symphony played 3rd trumpet. I played second, and Jimmy Ford played first. We were very precise and kept trying to be even better. Jimmy was taking special lessons in Detroit and passing the info on to us - breathing etc.

That was a great winter. I then completed my Business course at Western and went into the RCAF in May of 1944. After getting out of the RCAF a year later Johnny Downs called me in Toronto and asked me to rejoin his band. He told me that I could get a job teaching at the Department of Veteran's Affairs and with good pay. So - I returned to London and played once again in the area. (This changed my life and I eventually taught High School for 20 years in the Hamilton area).

Neil Mckay then became head of the CFPL Studio Band with Don Wright as manager of the station. Neil asked me to play in the studio band. This was quite an honor and a difficult choice because it was great being with the Downs Band. Anyway I left Johnny Downs to join Neil's CFPL All Star Band. George Weekes took my place with Johnny and played for the next 25 years or so. George died about 3 years ago, but we kept in touch in Florida for these past 10 years or so.

Neil played over CBC and the Mutual networks. We did a number of CFPL Goes Calling shows, and at the same time the Don Harding Show was on the air. I was working for the London Life Insurance Company and formed a choir. We performed over CFPL and performed for a number of variety shows. Working on Insurance wasn't the most interesting job so I branched out and sold pharmaceutical products for Lederle for 8 years. Then on to teaching Business Education for 20 years.

Now we have been living in Florida for the winters for the past 30 years. Ruth Southern and I have been married 60 years and I just turned 90. That is my story. We are in pretty good health and I now enjoy playing the piano.

Many thanks to Don Erskine for submitting his story May 2012