[ Robert (Bob) Langlois Orch. ]
One of the very first White, Francophone, bandleaders in Montreal. He came from a musical family, where his brothers and cousins all played the piano. His idol was another pianist, Willie Eckstein. He would often skip classes to hear Eckstein playing at the Strand Theater. As a twelve year old, he summoned the courage to visit Eckstein, where he played his harmonica for the pianist. (He had learned to play the harmonic by ear.) Eckstein was so impressed he had Langlois play on his radio show. It was this direct contact with Eckstein that inspired Langlois to take up the piano

His father disapproved of his son's ambitions fearing that the boy would eventually succomb to the alcohol and drugs, often associated with musicians. He sold the family piano hoping to discourage his son from this career. The young boy began to secret study on a neighbor's piano. At fifteen, he quit school. Taking a job delivering Bailiff's notices, he saved up enough to buy a piano which he had installed at home, much to his father's consternation. He continued his piano studies with dance band pianist Pierre Drolet. Drolet often took the boy along on his gigs, and also took Langlois around to the after hours Black Jazz clubs. It was at the Club Clef that Langlois met Fats Waller; Adrien Paradis, and Willy Girard. These three white musicians often 'jammed' with their Black contemporaries.

Langlois and Willie Eckstein often performed as a two-piano team occasionally accompanied by a 'house' orchestra. Langlois' 1941 orchestra (playing at the Chateau St. Rose) consisted of Langlois and Eckstein on the twin pianos; Willy Gerard on violin; Marcel Scherer on trumpet; a trombone (unknown); Adrien Paradis on Tenor, clarinet, and flute; with Tony Sabetta and Stan Simons on alto saxes. The rhythm section had Roy Decair on drums with Pete Gravel on Bass.

Langlois retired in 1981. Respected by Montreal's Francophone musicians, he was only little known to the English speaking musical community.

      [ Horace Lapp Orch ], (20's)
Horace started his career in the early 1920's playing piano with the Jack Arthur Orchestra at Shea''s Hippodrome. He was also playing piano for the Silent Film theatres, and and this helped him in learning how to improvise music. Next, he worked for Luigi Romanelli in the afternoons, when Luigi was MD at the Allen Theater (later the Tivoli). In the evenings, Horace would play with Luigi's Trio at the King Edward Hotel's Dinner Dance.

In 1934, Horace's first orchestra was booked into the Royal Muskoka Hotel. In 1936, the band was booked into the Royal York Hotel, staying for 9 years, -right through WWII. Here's a photograph of The Lappe Orch., frolicking in a pool. The photo is from a 1938 edition of the Toronto Star Weekly. The snow-capped Rocky Mountains in the background would indicate Banff, Alberta, and the pool is most probably at the Banff Springs Hotel where Lappe's band worked during summers.

It was 14 piece band with sidemen including: Trump Davidson; Gordon Day (his mother was sister of flutist Teck Culley); Bobby Gimby; Bill McCauley; Cliff McKay; and Moe Koffman (who later became famous for his version of the "Swinging Shephard Blues).

Horace taught the sidemen to tap dance, - all show business, "we'de announce, Ladies and Gentlemen, the floor show, and the musicians would get out on the floor and dance, It was terrible."
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      [ Monty Levine's Orch ], (40's) Currently no information available.

      [ Johnny Lindon Orch ], (50's)
Johnny's was a Toronto Society Orch., that played at weddings and social events. The band did have an 11 year run at the Imperial Room of the Royal York Hotel. June Sheath was the vocalist.

      [ Benny Louis Orch ], (40's)
b. Niagara Falls. d.
Studied with John Weinzweig. Played with Ellis McClintock band; Don Romanelli orch, and the Bobby Gimby band. Formed his own band in 1946.