December General Meeting

Guest Speaker:  Mike Daley

Topic:  The Yorkville Scene

Yorkville, in Toronto, in the late 50’s and 60’s, was the incubator and launching pad for a whole generation of Canadian musicians who have gone on to international stardom   The list includes Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Murray McLauchlan, Buffy St. Marie, Ian and Sylvia, and Bruce Cockburn. And it was arguably one of the most important folk music hubs in North America along with New York and L.A.  James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Carly Simon and Kris Kristofferson are just some of the artists who performed there.

The presentation will highlight the history, the artists and the songs which emerged from the Yorkville scene.

Dr. Mike Daley is a freelance popular music history lecturer around Toronto. He holds a Ph.D in musicology and has published widely on a variety of musical subjects. Mike's well-received lectures on the Beatles, Elvis, jazz, folk music and much more have gained him a strong following in the GTA. Mike also offers video lecture series on his website, mikedaleymusic.com and is currently writing a history of live music in the Yorkville coffee house district of Toronto in the 1950s and 1960s. 

Ugly Self-decorated Sweater / Christmas Headgear Contest

Should you choose to participate, come to our December 13 meeting sporting an ugly sweater, which you have decorated yourself (i.e. not a store-bought ugly sweater – that’s too easy) or some Christmas Headgear.  There will be a prize for each category bestowed by our own merry PROBUS elf.