Peter Appleyard - Working With Benny Goodman and Later Career

Working With Benny Goodman and Later Career

In the early 1970s Appleyard gained wide international notice as a member of Benny Goodman's jazz sextet. With the group he toured in Europe in 1972 and 1974 and in Australia in 1973. Afterwords, he played only periodically with the group for the remainder of the decade, notably playing three performances with the ensemble at Carnegie Hall in the mid to late 1970s. During these years he continued to live in Toronto where he remained a popular performer in nightclubs and hotel lounges, serving as music director for a number of local jazz bands. He was also a leading percussionist in the city's orchestras for both theatre and studio work. Throughout the 1970s, he was a frequent guest to the Colorado Springs Invitation Jazz Party where he preformed with numerous international famous jazz musicians. From 1977-1980 he had his own television program, Peter Appleyard Presents, a jazz and variety show syndicated in North America.

In 1976, Frank Sinatra requested Appleyard to join him in concert with the Count Basie Orchestra and Ella Fitzgerald at the Uris Theatre in New York City. Sinatra made this request based on Appleyard's work with Goodman. Appleyard and Sinatra performed together several years later during a benefit concert in Ottawa that was arranged by Rich Little.

In 1982 Appleyard formed the All Star Swing Band which specializes in performing old pop and jazz tunes, often in medley arrangements by Rick Wilkins. The ensemble's 1982 release Swing Fever earned a gold record certification for sales of 50,000 units within Canada and was nominated for a Juno Award for Instrumental Artist of the Year. The ensemble has toured throughout the world, including making several appearances in New York City (notably appearing with Mel Tormé at Michael's Pub), a 1987 tour to Great Britain, a 1998 tour to Switzerland, and at festivals like the Du Maurier Jazz Festival, Moncton Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and Dick Gibson's Jazz Party in Colorado. The group has also performed in Chicago, Florida, Texas, Scandinavia, Germany, and Japan.

Following the death of Benny Goodman, Appleyard formed the Benny Goodman Tribute Band in 1985 which is composed of a number of Goodman alumni and some great Toronto musicians. Appleyard also is the leader of the "Swing Fever Band". He has also made several concert tours for NATO, most of which have been at his own expense. He has completed four tours at bases in Europe and three tours in Cyprus and the Gaza Strip and has also performed for Canadian and American servicemen at the North Pole Christmas Show in Greenland.

Peter Appleyard performed as a special guest at Carnegie Hall on numerous occasions through the late 90's and onwards under the direction of Skitch Henderson and the New Yorks Pops orchestra. He regularly travels and tours overseas from London to Switzerland to Japan where he was asked by the Japanese Government to do a one-night performance at the Sapporo jazz festival. Mr. Appleyard said it was such a fantastic experience as the treatment and reception was first-class. Peter Appleyard is still touring and performing around the World. He received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee award on 18 June 2012. He currently resides on a farm at Rockwood, Ontario.