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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2001-07-18, Page 5News ti Big bands become big project for Copeland Seaforth man producing CDs in his home By Susan Hundsrtmark Expositor Staff Sitting in the audience of this year's Stratford Festival performance of Noel Coward's Private Lives, Paul and Anne Copeland received a wonderful surprise. When the lights went down at the end of intermission, they were delighted to hear the crooning voice of Al Bowlly singing By The Fireside, a track from the CD they recently recorded, launching their own record company Rathbone Records two years ago. "I was sitting in the balcony and it just knocked me out. They played three of the songs off the CD and at the curtain call, I heard a woman say she liked the music," says Copeland in his Seaforth living room. Copeland had written director Brian Bedford earlier suggesting the use of his CD What a Perfect Combination, The Ray Noble Orchestra featuring Al Bowlly since playwright Noel Coward and 1930s British orchestra leader Ray Noble had recorded twice together in 1931 and 1932. "(The CD) would enhance Private Lives and give your ,audiences an unexpected pleasure because almost every person attending Private Lives would be hearing marvellous 'unknown' popular music for the first time," says his letter to Bedford. "Obviously, he agreed but he never wrote me back," says Copeland. Since then, Copeland has been typing out labels to adhere to his CD making the connection between the music and this year's production of Private Lives, a link he's hoping will help sell more of the music he's convinced the Festival to sell in its theatre store. Copeland, 72, loves the big band and jazz music of the 1930s and 1940s, especially the music of Ray Noble, who along with vocalist Al Bowlly, brought their British big band sound to the U.S. during the Depression. While the two are better known in England, Noble is " lane IsAm tat Paul Copeland remembered by anyone over 70 for his speaking parts as the stereotypical Englishman in skits on the George Burns and Gracie Allan radio show. He's also known for the songs he wrote including Love is the Sweetest Thing, The Very Thought of You, The Touch of Your Lips and others. Bowlly, who returned to England in 1937, made 1,005 records until his death in 1941 during an air raid on London in the Second World War. Because no one else was re-releasing his favorite music, Copeland, who was considering getting his own record collection put on CD, decided to have 1,000 copies made and begin his own business. "I had spent several thousand dollars to have the music remastered and the quality of the sound improved and I thought, 'Why not press 1,000'?' I had the money and it was not that big a risk. It will take a bit of time to sell them," he says. Because the records are older than 50 years, they are in the public domain and Copeland didn't have to pay the original recording companies to make his CD. However. he still has to pay Noble's estate - Noble died in 1978 - for the use of his songs since composers own their songs for 50 years after they die. • And. as far as he knows, he's the only person in North America putting Noble's music on disc. Copeland says most people don't know Noble's music, although he guesses one in 1,000 might know about the recordings he made in England. Copeland remembers listening to Noble and Bowlly's recordings in his early teens and attending big hand performances in Toronto during the 1940s. "Atter all these years, I think the music really stands up well. And, even people who don't know him like his music," he says. He adds that there's no Study shows many exposed to deadly levels of ozone To the Editor: A national study reported that almost every Canadian is exposed to ozone levels that could kill them or put them in the hospital (McCann, 1999). Smog's harmful effects are common to those who live in cities where the air is polluted. Contrary to popular belief, smog does not only affect those who live in cities. People living in rural areas or spending time at the cottage can be exposed to smog. Aching lungs, wheezing, coughing and headaches are all symptoms resulting from exposure to smog. Those who already suffer from asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis are greatly susceptible to smog. However, in 1990, mounting evidence was found to suggest that smog also affects healthy, exercising adults much more than previously believed. Emissions from automobiles, planes, ships, trains and factories all contribute to air pollution. The invisible gas ozone, forms when nitrogen oxides from fuel combustion and organic gases from evaporated petroleum products, react in the presence of sunshine. Nitrogen oxides are produced by the burning of Japanese children arrive in Seaforth for two week visit To the )Editor: It's with excitement that I approach this week. On Wednesday evening 14 youth and two adults from Japan will arrive in our community to stay with families who have graciously opened their homes to them. These two weeks filled with wonderful plans are brimming with opportunities for our Japanese guests to experience Canadian culture and I hope there will be an immense appreciation of both cultures gained through this visit. I extend best wishes to all involved for a fun, meaningful experience. • Andrea Rlbey fossil fuels in automobiles, power plants, furnaces and turbines. Clearly something must he done to protect the health of all people who are susceptible to the effects of smog. Health advisories are issued. warning adults and children to avoid prolonged vigorous outdoor exercise. It seems that something more must he done. not only to protect the health of the population. hut also to stop the smog epidemic from increasing. before it becomes too great to manage. We must think of future generations and attempt to preserve our environment. Erin Rock Monitoring needs to be done From Page 4 Some sort of monitoring needs to be done mainly by the suppliers when selling this chemical. The consumer needs to know the risks involved when exposed to 2, 4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Education is a necessity when protecting the public from this harmful herbicide. Amy Gordon reason Noble's music couldn't find new tans ome they hear it. "Twenty years from now. Mozart is going to get new fans and he's been dead hundreds of years." says Copeland. "It (the Noble CD) often sells when someone hears it playing in a shop. Everything is brand new when you're hearing it for the first time." he says. Copeland has had a lot of luck recently getting local theatres to sell his CD at their stores. Last year. he wrote the artistic director at the Shaw Festival at Niagara -on -the - Lake. sending him a copyof the CD and suggesting it he sold at the theatre store and was surprised to receive a call for orders in June. August and again this May. He's also had luck at classical music shops. including The Wandering Minstrel in Stratford and Sam the Record Man's classical section in Toronto. Radio stations that offer jazz and classical programs have also been good about playing Copeland's CD. One day while listening to a program out of Oakville. he heard the disc jockey plug his CD and received an order on the phone five minutes afterwards. Recently, he's discovered a distributing company for independent record companies and is hopeful it will help him sell his CDs across Canada. Because he has only 400 of the original 1.000 CDs still at home, Copeland is encouraged enough to plan to record and sell 10 more CDs of Noble's work. "I have no great illusions that I'm going to get rich. We're not talking about Shania Twain and sales of 36 million copies. I could he spending my money on a trip or the golf course hut instead. I'm doing this. It's a labour of love. a hobby." he says. "But, I must say I'm having a lot of fun." LAWN QUESTIONS? Call. ITAXIMaie 524-2424 1 THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 18, 2001-5 Becky Campbell Thera*Registered Massage MON., E 9 am toe pm; Fridays 9amto5pm Add a regular massage to your resolution for better health n 2001! 527-2058 It only hurts, it you don't call!' NOTICE For the convenience of our clients SEA FORTH VETERINARY CLINIC will be open THURSDAY EVENINGS by appointment only Please call for appointments 519-527-1760 Allan Carter, Broker • Home • Auto • Commercial • Farm 522-0399 Seaforth FORD DICKISON (2000) INC. 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Parish Assistance Call 522-0929 or 345-2023 Catholic Church Saturday - 5:15 pm St. James Parish, Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday - 9:00 am St. Michael's Parish, Blyth Sunday - 11:00 am St. James Parish, Seaforth Father Dino Salvador Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth SundayWorshipHour 10 am Adventure Club for Kids & Youth Groups Wednesdays 7 p.m. Egmondville United Church Rev. Judith Springett Sunday, natJuPy 15 Congregational Picnic at Van Egmond House Worship 10 am FoGames 11 am llowed by Potluck Lunch Please bring dishes & lawn chairs. NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Rev. Sheila Macgregor - Minister 9:30 a.m. Cavan 11:00 a.m. Northside Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W. 527-2635 or 527-1449 Month of July Northside and Cavan Worship with First Presbyterian 1 1 I Lose up to 2 I I pounds daily I I without exercising 1 1 or dieting I LOOK GOOD! I FEEL GREAT! www.Saving4U.com IONLINE -COUPON$ I. 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