Senior EDMONTON
March 2014
Your Senior Connection in the Capital Region
Volume 24, No. 6
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A lasting voice Local crooner has been serenading showgoers for more than 50 years By Danielle Higdon Bob Jones was born in Edmonton in 1945, in what many Edmontonians refer to as the “old Royal Alex Hospital”. Now 68 years old, Edmonton remains home for Bob, and the city is a little more vibrant for it – as he has been sharing his vocal talents with anyone who will listen for more than fifty years. As a child, Bob says music just naturally resonated with him. He enjoyed the sounds of Patsy Cline and Elvis, and began singing at a young age. In the early 50’s, he was featured on Kiddies on Camera, a television program on CFRN-TV, at the time. “That was the first time I ever sang publicly,” he remembers. “From there I was hooked. I sang wherever I could.” Throughout the 60’s, Bob sang with various friends in makeshift bands. But it wasn’t until his brother’s wedding in 1971 that everything truly changed. “My brother had hired a band for his wedding reception,” Bob says. “I asked if I could sing a couple of songs, and they said sure. After the party, they asked me to sing in the band. Three weeks later, I was hired.” During the day, Bob was working a 9-5 job as a social worker, and he says his weekends and evenings singing with the band were his way of finding release. “It was a great time in my life,” he said. “To deal with such serious issues all week and then be able to sing it all away on the weekends, it was a beautiful balance.” It was during this time that Bob says he experienced one of the proudest moments of his career, when he was invited to open for the Roy Orbison show at the old Edmon-
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ton Gardens. “I was so young and the thrill was so overwhelming,” Roy remembers of that time. “That is a moment I could never forget.” Since then, Bob has performed at a variety of venues in the Edmonton area, including weddings, parties, and local stages. Most recently, he performed on Valentine’s Day to a group of captivated seniors at the Central Lions Recreation Centre. To Bob, age doesn’t mean slowing down. He says he plans to continue performing for as long as possible. “I keep coming back because I am a different person on stage,” he says. “When you sing, with the melody, and the memories, it all triggers something. It has an impact. I can’t imagine giving that up just yet.” And with his velvety crooning voice and lively stage presence, people keep coming back to see him too. “I think people enjoy it so much because they can see that I love what I do,” he says. “I remember how much I loved The Beatles, because you could see the enjoyment they got just from being on stage. That’s what makes them want to see you again.” As long as he is able to bring that enjoyment to his audience, Bob says that he will continue to take the stage. “My ultimate goal over the years has been to be a lasting voice,” he says. “I never wanted to be a quick hit – like the Justin Bieber of today. I always wanted to be like Patsy Cline, Neil Diamond, Elvis, and artists like that. Those people still have people today, who weren’t even born when they were around, that love them. That was always my hope, to be able to cross those generational barriers and just connect with people.” Although Bob says he never quite
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Bob Jones, seen here performing at the Central Lions Recreation Centre on February 14th, 2014, has been singing in the Edmonton area for over 50 years. Photo by Robert Hawkins
made it to the “big time”, here in Edmonton there are thousands of folks who have seen him perform over the years, and who continue to fill seats to hear him sing the reminiscent melodies of his 1000-plus-song repertoire. “It’s so easy to be discouraged, today more than ever,” he says. “But one of the things I’ve learned is that
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as long as you enjoy what you are doing, it may not be at the top level, but it is important. If you can remember that, your courage will remain intact.” And when it comes to his own career, Bob says that courage keeps him striving towards one goal. “To just bring joy. To spread joy as much as I possibly can.” lunch menu starting at
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