Phillip NIMMONS

Phil was born in Kamloops, BC, and died peacefully, at home in Toronto, ON. He was predeceased by his wife, Dr. Noreen Liëse Spencer Nimmons; and his sisters, Jayne Gillies (Nimmons) and Arlene Pach (Nimmons). He will be missed by his children, Holly (Victor), Carey and Spencer; his grandchildren, Sean, Justin, Melinda (Sandy), Sasha (Fenyrose), Phillip (Mallie), and Colleen; his great-grandchild, Atticus; and countless more whom he considered family. Phil studied at the University of British Columbia before heading to the Juilliard School of Music in New York, and then to the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He became part of a visionary community of musicians who worked to preserve and promote Canadian music through the Canadian League of Composers and then the Canadian Music Centre. Phil worked as a composer, bandleader, clarinettist, and educator. He was known for his big bands, "Nimmons 'N' Nine" and "Nimmons 'N' Nine Plus Six" that were regularly featured on CBC Radio. Phil influenced, inspired, and mentored generations of musicians, music teachers and audiences since the 1950s through his radio shows, recordings, nationwide tours, band clinics, workshops and programs in universities and summer camps. He was a prolific composer and arranger with over 400 original jazz compositions and several classical works. He wrote for his own big bands and small groups, as well as for film, radio, TV, stage productions. Phil received Canada's highest honour for an artist, the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, as well as the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, a JUNO Award for "Musical Excellence in Jazz" for The Atlantic Suite, and many other awards. He was inducted into the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) Hall of Fame. One of Canada's pioneer composers, and one of a handful of musicians who solidly established the country's status in the world of jazz, Phil helped launch major initiatives that to this day, support Canadian contemporary music. He helped start several music education programs, including programs at the University of Toronto, Western University (Ontario), the University of New Brunswick and the Banff Centre for Fine Arts. In the 1960s, along with his good friends, Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown, he started the Advanced School of Contemporary Music in Toronto. Phil dedicated himself over six decades to students and musicians in Canada, encouraging generations of professional musicians and teachers who contribute significantly to our nation's arts and culture. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honour Phil's life's work and support the continuation of his dedication towards generations of new artists, please contribute to "The Phil Nimmons Legacy Fund" (www.cmccanada.org/phil-nimmons). As Phil would say, "he's gone to the land of 2 'n' 4". A celebration of his life and music will be planned in the coming months. For more information about Phil Nimmons, to stay up to date on events honouring Phil, or to leave a message or memory go to: philnimmons.ca