Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [February 1969?] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 ms. score (22 p.) : pencil + 9 parts : ink
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Rick (Herbert Richard) Wilkins is a Canadian arranger, composer, conductor and tenor saxophonist. Born in Hamilton, Ontario on February 1, 1937, he played in and arranged for various dance bands in Hamilton and Burlington before moving to Toronto in 1957. In Toronto, he performed with Benny Louis' dance band among others, and was an arranger for Jack Kane's CBC orchestra. He briefly studied arranging with Phil Nimmons at the Advanced School of Contemporary Music in Toronto.
Throughout his career, he prepared and conducted music for a number of CBC and CTV specials, including scoring Oscar Peterson's Canadiana Suite for a 1979 CBC TV presentation. During a stint in Los Angeles, he was a music director at CBS TV for a series and several specials featuring the Jackson Five. In addition to his work as an arranger, Wilkins also composed a number of original scores for CBC TV dramas, documentaries, and the opening ceremonies at the Calgary Olympics, to name a few.
As a performer, Wilkins worked with various Toronto studio orchestras and was a member of the Boss Brass, Nimmons 'N' Nine Plus Six, and other ensembles.
Wilkins was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2002.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Phil Nimmons (2017).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
File contains score and parts, arranged by Rick Wilkins for Nimmons 'N' Nine Plus Six and vocalist Tommy Ambrose.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
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Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Score is not signed or dated. Phil Nimmons verbally dates this score as mid- to late-1960s.
Note
Possibly written for a performance by Nimmons 'N' Nine Plus Six with Tommy Ambrose at Harbord Collegiate with host Fred Davis, which aired on CBC's "On Stage" (February 18, 1969).