Tom Thompson - Vocals

Tom Thompson started singing as a boy soprano in church choirs in Toronto. He has had an interest in popular and jazz singing since the 1930’s and has made many guest appearances with the Cameo and other jazz bands before formally joining the Cameo Jazz Band in the fall of 2004. With his addition to the Band, our musical repertoire has been broadened to include many popular standards from the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s, making it possible to provide programs suitable for a wider range of audiences.

Ken Biggers - Drums/vocals

Ken is originally from Montreal where he played drums in both military and show bands. After moving to Brampton, Ontario in 1977 he played in “Live On Stage”, a Mississauga variety show that ran for 10 years. Ken has always been interested in traditional jazz, especially in the traditional style. Since moving to Ontario he has played with the Red Beans & Rice Jazz Band, The Riverside Jazz Band, The Credit Valley Jazz Cats, the Strutters Quartet, as well as the Jalapeño Jazz Band. Ken has appeared at the “Ragtime Jazztime Festival” at Alexandria Bay, New York, for the past four years.

Bill Bricknell - Clarinet

Bill became interested in traditional jazz when he was a young man in Britain, listening to the likes of Chris Barber and Kenny Ball. He did not switch from piano to clarinet, however, until his late thirties, followed by the alto and tenor saxophones (concert and dance bands, small jazz groups). Over the last ten years he revisited his early interest in traditional jazz, playing with various groups until he met up with the musicians who subsequently formed the Cameo Jazz Band.

Allan Colter - Cornet

Allan is a retired Chemistry professor. He was introduced to the cornet in the Edmonton Schoolboy’s band in 1942. From 1947 to 1951 he was introduced to jazz through the early recordings of Muggsy Spanier and Louis Armstrong. While attending UCLA he played in several jazz bands, most notably the Pepper Jass Band, together with many developing jazz musicians who today play in well known US jazz bands such as the Golden Eagle JB, the Paramount JB of Boston, and others. In 1967/68 he played with the Exit Jazz Band in Boston. In 1968 his career brought him to Guelph, where he played in several local bands and occasionally as a substitute in the Sensation Jazz Band and other groups. In 1994 Allan retired and has been able to concentrate on his love of jazz. Before joining the Cameo Jazz Band he played with the Sharpe Five and briefly with the Jalapeño Jazz Band before the formation of the Cameo Jazz Band.

Tom Elliott - Tuba

Tom started playing cornet at 7 years of age, later switching to baritone and trombone, playing in brass bands. His playing took him around Canada and the USA. He later played the baritone horn and trombone in military and concert bands, as well as other groups in the Montreal area. In 1977 Tom and his family moved to Brampton, Ontario, where he was soon playing with concert and stage bands. With his interest in jazz becoming paramount, Tom took up the tuba in 1988 and played with the Brampton Clown Band, the Dixieland Six Jazz Band, and the Credit Valley Jazz Cats. The tuba gave Tom the opportunity to back up banjo groups and soloists and to form the Strutters Quartet, which performed regularly at Roy Thompson Hall, and to join the Jalapeño Jazz Band.

Peter Emmans - Trombone and Manager

Peter started playing piano at 7 years of age and progressed to pub playing before emigrating from the UK to Canada in 1954. In 1950 he began trombone lessons in London from Bobby Mickleburg, a fine European jazzman of Winchester Cathedral fame. In Canada he played piano in various dance bands with his father, who played trumpet, while playing trombone with the Oakville Symphony Orchestra and the Brampton Town Band. Since 1980 Peter has played jazz trombone exclusively. He formed the Dixieland Six Jazz Band and later the Credit Valley Jazz Cats in Mississauga, then joined the Brampton Clown Band for two years. After moving to Woodstock in 1989 he joined the Sultan Six Jazz Band until it amalgamated with the Easy Life Jazz Band to become the Sultans Easylife Jazz Band. Peter was business manager of the Jalapeño Jazz Band and continues this position with the Cameo Jazz Band.

Jim Groulx - Banjo/Guitar

Jim started on harmonica as a boy. In his teens he learned ukelele. He took lessons on tenor banjo from Doc White who studied with his friend Paul Whiteman in St. Louis. He later studied guitar and electric bass and began playing professionally in 1965. He has performed at major attractions such as Canada’s Wonderland, The Royal Winter Fair and The Western Fair. He has taught music (strings) and written original music for live theatre. When the Cameo Jazz Band was formed he was selected as the resident banjo player.

Home | Members | Dates | Recordings | Testimonials | Contact