JAMES EDWIN DALE

JAMES EDWIN DALE Musician/Car Collector Passes at age 81 Born in London, England in 1935, Jim moved to Canada with his family at the age of 11, in 1947. After attending the Royal Conservatory of Music and studying composition with Gordon Delamont, he played in Peter Appleyard's band then went on to work as a musical director on many of CBC's prime time and late night shows in the 1960s. Moving to Los Angeles in 1969, he continued as musical director on the Smothers Brothers, Andy Williams and Sonny and Cher shows, and began to pursue his great second passion in the acquisition of rare vintage automobiles. Jim's father, Harold, was a tool and die maker and Jim learned to love all things mechanical, but he especially loved cars. From 1970 through the next 20 years, Jim would pursue his hobby of automobile collecting and restoration, with more than 40 rare and collectible cars passing through his hands. Jim and Steve McQueen had one thing in common in the early 1970s: they both burned up the streets of Los Angeles in a Jaguar XKSS, two of only sixteen such cars in the world. Upon returning to Toronto in 1972, Jimmy joined his old friends Rob McConnell and Guido Basso as the pianist in Rob's band, The Boss Brass and also continued as a force in the Canadian jazz and TV scenes. A Juno award winner for his work with the Boss Brass, Jim was also nominated for Emmy and Grammy awards. Versatile in any medium, Jim also composed and arranged for film, theatre and live shows. For the last 20 years of his life, he made his home in Naples, Florida, where Jim kept a recording studio and a grand piano in the house, along with a spectacular four-car garage that has produced a few amazing auto restorations. Same passions, better weather! Sadly, James left this mortal plane suddenly last weekend, after a lovely lunch with his good friend Lew Del Gatto. Lew and Jim's wife Beverley said he was in great spirits that day, so it's good to know he went with a smile on his face. Jim leaves behind his loving wife Beverley, who has taken especially great care of him through these last few years of medical challenges. His sons Miles (Sylvie) and Jeremy (Joanne), as well as his first wife Irene, are filled with many great memories from TV and recording studios, racetracks and all the adventures in between. He will be missed by his grandchildren Mathew and Diana, who enjoyed holidays and music lessons in Naples. Jim is also survived by his sister Jennifer Young and was unfortunately recently predeceased by his younger brother John Dale, who passed away just two months ago. In keeping with Jim's request, the boys will scatter his ashes in the Gulf of Mexico. A celebration of Jim's life will be planned for the Toronto area in the near future. In lieu of flowers or donations, Jimmy would suggest that you go and listen to some live music. "Without music," the famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote, "life would be a mistake." Jimmy Dale would agree.