Johnny Cowell

ARTS AND CULTURE

Trumpeter, composer, arranger and long-time resident of Scarborough, Johnny Cowell was bitten by the performing bug at the age of six when he played his first trumpet solo with the Tillsonburg Town Band. Largely self-taught, Cowell joined the Toronto Symphony Band as trumpet soloist in 1942. Following World War II, Cowell returned to Canada where he was a member of the Royal Canadian Navy Band in Victoria B.C. and also with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra where he played first trumpet from 1943-45. He lent his musical talents to several dance bands including those of Stanley St. John, Art Hallman, the Spitfire Band, and played with Jack Denton’s Palais Royale Orchestra. In the mid-1970s he joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and stayed until 1991. Cowell always maintained an air of independence as a trumpeter and performed solos with various orchestras and bands throughout his career. Aside from performing, composing music was a passion of Cowell’s. Writing music for others saw him become one of Canada’s most successful songwriters. His song ‘Walk Hand in Hand’ was recorded by a handful of different artists and became a major hit here in North America and in Britain. Of the 200 songs Cowell wrote, more than 150 have been recorded. In 1997, Cowell was awarded the Civic Award of Merit by former Scarborough Mayor Frank Faubertfor his international success in the world of music.