Video created with love and ultimate respect by Brian M. Murphy.
ESSENTIAL READING !!!
Doug Riley is family, a lifelong friend..."Doc" is a national treasure in his home country of Canada, he is the rockin' barrelhouse piano player on Bob Segers "Old Time Rock 'n Roll". He is a brilliant jazz pianist in the tradition of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans, and is a serious classical composer, conducting the London Symphony for Placido Domingo and performing his own works with national orchestras. He is also "the baddest B-3 player on the planet". Doug Riley is the complete musician.
- David Clayton Thomas
http://www.davidclaytonthomas.com/news.asp
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I owe a great deal to Doug Riley.
He chose me to be one of the vocalists in the dynamic group, Dr. Music.
Doug believed in my talent enough to choose one of my songs, Gospel Rock,
as the first single release for Dr. Music on which I sang the lead vocal.
I loved the man, his music, and his kindness.
I will always be grateful for his faith in me.
- Brenda Russell
http://www.brendarussell.com/default.html
*************************
Doug "Doc" Riley
April 12, 1945 - August 27, 2007
was a renaissance man
in the truest sense.
He was a great composer, arranger,
pianist, organist, bon vivant,
mentor and close friend
whom I greatly admired
and respected
for more than 30 years.
I was shocked
and greatly saddened
to learn of his passing.
I miss him more
with each passing day.
- Brian Murphy
http://info.brianmurphymusic.com
http://brianmurphymusic.com/main.html
**************************
Thoughts and memories
on the passing of Doug Riley
I have never heard anyone as versatile and well versed and immersed in so
many styles as Doug Riley. He just didn't play a style. He owned it.
You believed when he was playing 'bop' for instance that it was all he ever played. Yet when you heard him wail on R&B and Blues, you never
heard a tinge of Bop. He could play stride piano with a lope, that only comes from playing it your whole life,
yet turn around and play organ like he was raised in a southern baptist choir.
All styles covered. Whether show piano with Michael Burgess or Rock keys with Bob
Seger .... always just right and always so musical.
And THAT is the point. Piano and organ!!
Tell me anyone else who is as fluid and versatile on both, to the point that you could never tell whether he was a pianist who played organ or an
organist playing piano. He had mastered both. This is what made Doug so very special and unique. Doug was a master of his craft and all us
musicians (especially the brotherhood of keyboard players) knew it.
What you may not know about Doug Riley, if you had not had the pleasure of meeting him, was his warmth, honesty and gentle nature.
He was a true gentleman. With his quiet calm he was a rock, and he anchored every session and performance he was on.
When Doug kicked off a tune, it already had a heavy groove before it got to you.
All you had to do was get on board for the ride.
The memory of Doug that I will hold in my heart is the last time Dominic Troiano played at the Orbit Room in T.O. Dominic was in a lot of pain and would die within months. He was weak
but determined to play. Doug gave Dominic the performance of his life that
night and you could see how Dominic's spirits were lifted. Doug was on FIRE! All the keyboard players in the audience (and
I could count ten from where I stood), could only look at each other and shake their heads in disbelief. It was that good. That
unbelievably, freaking good. The master was on that night and we all could just go hang up our organ shoes. Every breathtaking organ solo energized Dominic and he began
to stand taller and soon adopted the famous Troiano stance and attitude. By the end of the first set Donnie was answering in kind. It was a remarkable example of the power of music. and a
beautiful gift that Doug gave his old friend and us all, that night.
I will never forget it.
Doug Riley is a national institution, a national
treasure. His loss is devastating to the Toronto and Canadian music scene. He has single-handedly produced, arranged, recorded and
written on more LP's, CD's, TV and radio shows, jingles and concerts than anybody in Canada, ever. His output was astounding, and his
energy was unsurpassed. Ask the thousands who have benefited from his wonderful musicianship and his gentle nature.
The bar has been set. I can't imagine anyone raising it. Certainly no one with your gentle style, grace, integrity and soul. You used your gifts well, Doug. Thank You.
Lance Anderson
http://www.makeitrealrecords.com/Pages/Shorthanded.htm
http://www.makeitrealrecords.com/Pages/Make%20It%20Real%20page%201.htm
Video created by
http://brianmurphymusic.com/about.html
for Great Eastern Music Productions Inc.
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9:59
DR MUSIC DOUG RILEY part oneby jakebunnymusic8,948 views
Brilliant stuff; I remember checking Doug out many times during his visits to Halifax during the last few years of his life. Thank you for this.
jazzhonk 2 months ago
@hamthorpe ~~ Thats awesome! I went to that highschool not till 1968 but I'm honored to have shared the same halls and classrooms as you guys, Bob!
gordieorr 1 year ago
I hope everyone here knows this guy lived down the road from me and grew up with my dad :D
WalkerMacd393 1 year ago
super, thanks for posting the great retrospective. ! Wrecking crew eat yer hearts outs.
freqazoidiac 1 year ago
does anyone have any way to get i think that weekly show from cbc that aired in early 70s with dr music in it
w9x7cv3vg6 2 years ago
7:05 - that was what inspired me to play jazz piano - the fact that I got to sit beside Doug and perform HIS licks in high school was my greatest moment ever musically...RIP Doug.
SandiByrd 2 years ago
What a talented ensemble! Think about their music almost every day. I wish someone would post 'Sun Goes By'.
*****
cjthemusicman 2 years ago
Doug was the producer of my band "Everyday People" along with "Terry Brown" when they owned and operated "Toronto Sound Studio" back in the late 60s and 70s. He was such a great person along with being the best musician that I ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have so many great memories of him while we were recording our album. He will be greatly missed!
Bruce Wheaton
rockinbruce 3 years ago
And played with Brenda Gordon & the Misfits in Burlington. Her dad, Gus Gordon, was a great singer in his own right (with one of the later editions of the Ink Spots).
bergkamp48 4 years ago
What a wonderful tribute to a very gifted musician. I knew Doug in high school at Burnhamthorpe CI and our early university days. He gained my full respect not only with his musical talents, but also by the gentle humility he maintained while playing with some of Canada's top entertainers. Always proud to say you were a friend and feel Iam a better person for that experience. May I express my deep felt condolences to Jan and the boys, as well as to Cathy and Rick.
Till we meet again
bob needham
hamthorpe 4 years ago