Ginger Post

1937

Music was always a staple in the Chan Dun family of Victoria, B.C. It helped ease the long, hard days after working in the Panama Café located on Government Street. It loosened the stress and the tension of the day and gave them some freedom and relaxation when they played their instruments in practice and performance. The band was made up of family and friends. They got together for several hours once or twice weekly on the second floor of the café. The patriarch, Chan Dun himself was an accomplished violinist. Some said he could play as well as Jack Benny.

In 1937, the Chan brothers, all born in Victoria and second generation Canadians started as the Mandarins with Al Price fronting the troupe. Philip played violin. Ira, Herby, and Kan were on saxophone while Allan tickled the piano. Roy blew trumpet and Paul cracked the drums. Other band members were Matthew Bong on trombone, John Bong and Alice Gee being creative on the violin, and Henry Gee massaged the guitar. One of their first gigs was at the Chinese Methodist (United) Church in Victoria Chinatown. In addition to modern, classical, and hymn music, their varied repertoire included Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5.

In 1938, band members began playing what the crowd, especially modern Chinese Canadians, wanted: popular swing music of the day. The “Hit Parade” with its weekly songs and the venerable Jazz magazine, “Downbeat” were the inspirations behind many of their new repertoire.

That year, 1938 was also a fateful one because Bill Johnston saw something unique about the Chan brothers playing swing. A local musician who had fronted many bands, Johnston figured that these Chinese Canadian musicians had something special. He persuaded them to move over with him to form Bill Johnston & the Celestial Gents.

The Celestial Gents was Canada’s first modern Chinese Canadian swing band even though the leader was European Canadian. Bill played saxophone and clarinet. Allan continued on piano; Ira on saxophone; Roy on trumpet; Herby on saxophone and trumpet; and Paul on drums; There were other Chinese Canadians too. Bill Chow wailed on saxophone; John Yuen and Limmie Lee strummed the bass, and Lloyd Chow provided the vocals.

The Celestial Gents performed regularly at Terry’s Dine and Dance Restaurant in Victoria. They also gigged in Vancouver where Herby Chan recalls that there was “not too much money” for bands. They played at the Panama Dance Hall where Canada Place is now located. On May 13, 1939, they performed at the Hastings Auditorium in Vancouver for a dance party.

Gigging in Vancouver and working in Victoria at the Panama Café meant that they had a tight schedule of playing in the evening and rushing back to work early the next morning. Catching the earliest ferry was always a challenge.

They also played at the Palomar Ballroom in Vancouver. On July 17, 1939, they performed at the wedding of Henry and Gladys Gee. This was at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Victoria. Ira was the best man and also played lead saxophone that evening. On Dec. 26 they signed for a Boxing Day dance at the Paramount. On Nov. 17, 1940 they played for a basketball dance when a visiting Seattle Chinese team played a Victoria Chinese team. Other Victoria gigs were at the Crystal Gardens and various church halls.

Some of the tunes they played at that time were huge hits like Boo Hoo, Let’s Fall in Love, Desert Song, All Alone, All I Do is Dream of You, Blueberry Hill, Bewitched, Careless Hands, Honeymoon Hotel, Heart and Soul, I Dream of You, If You Were the Only Girl, I’ll be Seeing You, Is it True What They Say About Dixie, On the Sentimental Side, Make-Believe, While the Cigarette was Burning, and Till I Waltz Again with You.

By 1941, World War II came to North America via Pearl Harbor and the Celestial Gents disbanded. The Chan brothers of Herby, Ira, Roy, and Paul felt there was a higher calling than simply playing instruments.

They all enlisted. Four brothers from one family, all overseas!

This was one of the few instances in Canada where so many enlisted from one family. This caused many anxious moments in the Chan Dun family. Chinese Canadians in the war, of course, helped persuade the Canadian government that they were worthy of citizenship. That was bestowed in 1947 to all Chinese, born in Canada.

After the war, all four brothers returned to Canada. Roy continued with his trumpet playing in the Victoria Shriner Band until his passing. Herby moved to Winnipeg and played trombone in the Air Force Band. At the end of the war, he became a member of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles band where he played clarinet for 20 years. In 1958 he fronted his own big band called the Harmonies. That lasted for 18 years. Herby also played trombone in the Winnipeg Shriner’s Orchestra and sang in the choirs at two churches: Saint Stephen’s and John Black. The Celestial Gents was the beginning of long musical careers for many of the Chan brothers from Victoria.