Tommy Banks
Encyclopedia
Thomas Benjamin "Tommy" Banks, OC
, AOE
(born December 17, 1936) is a Canadian
pianist, conductor, arranger, composer, television personality and Senator
.
Born in Calgary
, Alberta
, he moved to Edmonton, Alberta in 1949 where he has resided until the present day. He presented a show on CKUA
called "The Solo Piano of Tommy Banks" in about 1960. Of his time at CKUA, Banks said in an interview, "I'd lurch into the studio on Sunday morning and go and set up the microphone and turn everything on and then sit down and start playing."http://books.google.ca/books?id=0mI8GmHEk_wC&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150&dq=tommy+banks+ckua&source=web&ots=MoSd52il_T&sig=ZHZZmB3G47K-5nW-AjWF6owDSDo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result
He hosted the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC) television show, The Tommy Banks Show, from 1968 until 1983. He was appointed to the Senate by Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson
at the recommendation of Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien
in 2000. He represents the Senatorial division of Edmonton, Alberta. Sitting as a Liberal
, Banks was the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee of the Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources from 2002-2009.
In 1991, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 1993, he was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, AOE
Alberta Order of Excellence
The Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C...
(born December 17, 1936) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
pianist, conductor, arranger, composer, television personality and Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
Born in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, he moved to Edmonton, Alberta in 1949 where he has resided until the present day. He presented a show on CKUA
CKUA
CKUA is a Canadian radio station. Originally located at the University of Alberta in Edmonton , it now broadcasts from studios in downtown Edmonton and south Calgary. CKUA was created in 1927 through a provincial grant which allowed the University of Alberta's Extension Department to purchase the...
called "The Solo Piano of Tommy Banks" in about 1960. Of his time at CKUA, Banks said in an interview, "I'd lurch into the studio on Sunday morning and go and set up the microphone and turn everything on and then sit down and start playing."http://books.google.ca/books?id=0mI8GmHEk_wC&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150&dq=tommy+banks+ckua&source=web&ots=MoSd52il_T&sig=ZHZZmB3G47K-5nW-AjWF6owDSDo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result
He hosted the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
(CBC) television show, The Tommy Banks Show, from 1968 until 1983. He was appointed to the Senate by Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
at the recommendation of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
in 2000. He represents the Senatorial division of Edmonton, Alberta. Sitting as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, Banks was the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee of the Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources from 2002-2009.
In 1991, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 1993, he was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence
Alberta Order of Excellence
The Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C...
.