Remember The Bird Dance!
For many people that international dance also known as the chicken dance is a timeless hit and one that grandparents pass down to their grandchildren, teaching them the moves that are sure to guarantee lots of fun and laughter.
The Emeralds, the band that came out with the famous Bird Dance which is featured in the Paramount Pictures motion picture Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius are coming to Rimbey.
On Sat., Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. Rimbey Lions Club will present Oktoberfest featuring none other than The Emeralds.
The Emeralds have been around a long time. They were formed in 1970, brought together with a passion for performing and a deep love of music. The band originated in Edmonton, but since that time they have traveled extensively bringing their own particular style of music to New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Trinidad and the United States.
They have recorded 29 albums, and won six gold, two platinum and one double platinum award.
In 1997, the Emeralds were inducted into the City of Edmonton’s Cultural Hall of Fame.
The band’s leader, Allan Broder plays tenor saxophone and sings harmony in the group in addition to managing the band. The founding member of the band, he has spent countless hours of administrative duties to help them reach their projected goals.
Wallis Petruk also plays tenor saxophone for the band. He also plays violin, flute and clarinet and does vocals. Petruk is the band’s arranger, producer and educator. He has performed with the orchestras of Bob Hope, Della Reese and Tommy Banks and many more including The University of Alberta Symphony and String Ensemble.
Don Remeika has been in the Canadian music industry for more than 40 years and the majority of that time he has been with The Emeralds. He has played with such well-known groups as Wes Dakus and the Rebels and The Nomads.
Terry Kole plays lead and rythym guitar, banjo and performs vocals and voice impressions.
Kole played the mandolin at the age of four thanks to his mother whom he says was his musical inspiration.
In the early ’60s he played rock instrumentals by well-known bands such as The Ventures and The Shadows..
While attending high school he was the lead guitarist and singer with a rock ‘n roll band called The Kiss of Death. Some of the bands he performed with included The Strawberry Ridge, Barricade, nevada and Garry Lee and Showdown.
Rick Morgenstern, the Emeralds keyboard player joined the band in May. He had originally played with the band, but later decided to set out on his own in Arizona.
Broder said The Emeralds are happy to have him back.
“I phoned him up and said ‘do you want your old job back?’ He agreed to come back.
The Emeralds manager said October is the band’s busiest month and the musicians are playing in Hinton, Lacombe, Edmonton, Lloydminister and Whitecourt as well as Rimbey.
“We still have a following. There are very few bands like us left,” said Broder.