I studied singing with Mrs. MacKenzie in Biggar. Then, I went to the Banff School of Fine Arts studying with Dr. Ernesto Vince. From there I went to the Royal Conservatory in Toronto for three years.

I continued studying singing in Milan, Italy with Mistro Franco Feraris for three years after which I sang opera and concerts in the cities of Torino and Florence, Italy.

Later, I sang as soloist at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. I also sang with CBC Television in Toronto. I continued singing in New York Broadway musicals "Silk Stockings", "Fanny", and "The Most Happy Fella". I performed in the Broadway musical "My Fair Lady" which went on the road on a cultural exchange. We toured in the Soviet Union (now Russia) in the cities of Moscow, Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and Kiev.

I worked with the Lawrence Welk, Red Skelton, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Frank Sinatra shows. I later worked with the Johnny Carson Show for five years as lighting control director in NBC television.

I enjoy hunting and fishing but most of all I enjoyed flying my own aircrafts. I flew my aircrafts many times from Los Angeles to Biggar and on to Candle Lake where I now live.


Contributed by Milton C. Jiricka

Photo courtesy of Milton C. Jiricka.

Additional Bibliography:

Kallmann, Helmut (2009). "United States of America". Encyclopedia of Canada. Historica-Dominion. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003519. Retrieved 2009-12-02.