Alan McRae, Ont.: Born in the British Isles, the son of a highland piper, Alan was a gold miner and with ... was instrumental in organizing Canada's first folk club in Vancouver, BC. He moved to Toronto and became the resident singer at Toronto's first "folk bar" the Steeles' Tavern. he played the Horseshoe Tavern most of the summer of 1975. He was a mentor and friend to many Toronto folk musicians through the 60s and 70s before he passed away. T.C. played the Horseshoe the summer of 75 and hung out at my bar. I admire his drive a real folkstar in spite of lack of natural talent.
In the heart of Toronto, I ran an exclusive after-hours bar, a hidden gem known for its unique clientele and enigmatic charm. Gaining entry to this clandestine establishment wasn't easy; you either had to be a celebrity, most notably a musician, or have the privilege of knowing me personally. This unwritten rule provided a layer of secrecy that kept the authorities at bay for a long time. It was a sanctuary for those who craved anonymity and the freedom to unwind without the scrutiny of the public eye. One memorable evening, as I was tending to the door, a tall man donning braids and a large white cowboy hat appeared. He introduced himself in a confident yet humble manner. "Gary, you don't know me. I am Gordon Tootoosis," he said. "I am an actor, and a good actor too, I can play any tribe." His earnest declaration and imposing presence were enough for me to grant him entry. Gordon's reputation preceded him, particularly for his role in the movie Alien Th...
I remember persuading Basil Steele to book Gordon Lightfoot, give him a try for a week. Gordon was at home their for a long time. Hard to be precise about the year in the 1960s but Brita, Gord's first wife brought their first child to Steeles one night, the first night the child was out of the house. During this period Alan's professional home was The Mousehole on Yorkville. I have no memory of Alan singing at Steele's but we lost contact. His personal home was a coach house in the back of a house at the bottom of Poplar Plains where much fun was had. "Leaping, and ballooning and steaming" was Alan's prediction of a good time there. We took him at his word without having any clear sense of his words' meaning. Everybody knew Alan's place. A couple of songs that everybody knows today were at least partially written there but those are not my tales to tell. I would love to know more about what happened to him after my path made a sharp turn in an altogether different direction.
ReplyDeleteI remember when my wife and I used to go to Steele’s Tavern in the later 60’s and listen to Alan MacRae. One song I remember was the Ski Song of what happened to a hapless skier as he hit everything on the way down the slope. It was done to the hymn Glory glory hallelujah.
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