The legendary Dal Richards spoke with Joseph Planta about his music, his career, and his hometown, Vancouver.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

We could spend the next hour and a half listing Dal Richards’s many accomplishments, activities, awards, and honours.

For five nights a week, for a 25 year run, from 1940 to 1965, the Dal Richards Orchestra headlined at the Panorama Roof of the Hotel Vancouver, as well as broadcast weekly on the CBC. After that, he went to BCIT and earned his Diploma of Technology in Hospitality Management, thus ensued a career in the hotel business.

Then in the late 1980s, with big band swing music in vogue again, the Dal Richards Orchestra returned, and he hasn’t looked back. The fourteen-piece big band performs at corporate events, conventions, as well, daily at the Pacific National Exhibition, which Dal has done now for 65 summers. He’s busier than ever, and besides gigs all over town, he’s the host of Dal’s Place, a program he hosts on 600 AM. That’s on Saturdays at 6.00.

Maestro Richards is a member of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, a recipient of the City of Vancouver’s Civic Merit Award, as well he’s received the Variety Club’s Heart Award. In 1995, a grateful country honoured him with an appointment to the Order of Canada, and last year, he became a member of the Order of British Columbia. Add to that countless other awards, including two honorary doctorates from BCIT and the Open Learning Agency.

He’s a Vancouver legend. It’s my pleasure to welcome to thecommentary.ca, Canada’s “King of Swing” Dal Richards. Good afternoon, Dr. Richards.

This segment was produced by Joseph Planta; with assistance from Richie Leung.

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