Musicians of the Midnight Sun

Gary Tees was a founding member and Bass player in one of Yellowknife’s first rock bands “Stained Glass Illusion” in the late 1960s. He also played with the band “Northbound Freeway” for decades.

See photos of Gary and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/gary-tees

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

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Penny Ballantyne played piano between 1969 – 1971 with Yellowknife bands “Stained Glass Illusion” and in bands with her school teachers, Alex Czarnecki and Wilf Schidlowsky in “Easy Street” and “The Alley Cats”.

See photos of Penny and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/penny-ballantyne

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Randy Demmon grew up in Salmon Arm, BC and moved to Yellowknife with his family in 1969 to teach music. He performed with the band “Rainbow Valley”. Randy left Yellowknife to join the RCMP band in 1973.  He taught the first school music programs at Mildred Hall, Sir John Franklin and St. Patrick’s schools from 1969 to 1972. In that time, Randy also played in the bars with many local musicians, most notably the band ”Rainbow Valley”.

See photos of Randy and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/randy-demmon

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

John (JT) Telgen grew up in Prescott, ON and played with bands in the Toronto area before moving north in 1973. He drummed with many Yellowknife groups, most notably, the band “Friends” through the 1970s and 1980s.

See photos of John and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/john-telgen

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Metis musician Peter Lafferty hails from Łı́ı́dlı̨ Kų́ę́/Fort Simpson, NT. He started playing guitar at 13 years old and toured southern Canada in the 1960s and 1970s before settling in Whitehorse, YT.

See photos of Peter and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/peter-lafferty

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

John Sigvaldason moved to Yellowknife with his family in 1969. He taught himself how to play guitar and went on to lead the band “Stonehenge” through his high school years before leaving to study music.

See photos of John and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/john-sigvaldason

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Singer Pat Burke grew up in Tthebacha / Fort Smith, NT. In 1966, he went to high school in Yellowknife and boarded at Akaitcho Hall. Pat’s powerful voice has been featured on many stages and recordings over the decades.

See photos of Pat and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/pat-burke

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

In 1973, Roy Menagh and his family moved to Yellowknife where he taught music at Sir John Franklin High school. Roy was a tour de force, encouraging and facilitating community engagement with the arts throughout the north.

See photos of Johnny and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/Roy-Menagh

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Johnny Landry began writing music in the early 1980s, fusing Dehghaot’ine tea dance songs with popular music. In 1995, his song, “Hina Na Ho Hine” was recorded by NU artist, Susan Aglukark. Johnny continues to write and perform in the Dene Zhatié language.

See photos of Johnny and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/johnny-landry

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Johnny Landry began writing music in the early 1980s, fusing Dehghaot’ine tea dance songs with popular music. In 1995, his song, “Hina Na Ho Hine” was recorded by NU artist, Susan Aglukark. Johnny continues to write and perform in the Dene Zhatié language.

See photos of Johnny and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/johnny-landry

Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate

Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/