Jerry Toth
Encyclopedia
Jerry Toth was a Canadian saxophonist, clarinet
ist, flutist, arranger
, composer
, and record producer
.
, Toth was the son of violinist and cimbalom maker Carl Toth, the brother of musicians Rudy Toth
and Tony Toth, and the brother-in-law of violin
ist and lyricist
Josephine Toth. He studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music with Frank Hiron (saxophone) and Herbert Pye (clarinet). He pursued further woodwind studies with Dale Eisenhuth in Los Angeles in 1953.
From 1945–1953 Toth played the alto saxophone
in numerous dance band
s in Toronto, including those led by Stan Patton, Bobby Gimby
, and Trump Davidson
. From 1952–1957 he co-led a 17-piece jazz band
with trombonist Ross Culley and saxophonist Roy Smith. From 1956–1974 he studied orchestration with Phil Nimmons
during which time he also played and recorded music as a member of Nimmons' jazz bands. From 1970–1990 he was a member of the Boss Brass, a group which often featured him on the alto saxophone in jazz ballads both in performance and on record. He also performed in Toronto clubs with his own jazz quartet. In the latter part of his career, he was highly active as a studio musician and record producer in Toronto.
Toth also worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
in a variety of roles during his career. In 1954 he began playing in several CBC orchestra
s conducted by Jack Kane
. From 1957–1960 he served as chief arranger and music director for the CBC program Parade. In the mid-1960s he began writing jingle
s for CBC Radio
and Television
with his brother Rudy. He notably orchestrated both the theme music for Hockey Night in Canada
and the unofficial anthem of Ontario A Place to Stand, A Place to Grow
(featured at Expo 67
). He also served as an audio consultant for many TV productions and contributed music to Rich Little
's Emmy Award
-winning television production of A Christmas Carol
.
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist, flutist, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Life and career
Born Jaroslav Toth in Windsor, OntarioWindsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Toth was the son of violinist and cimbalom maker Carl Toth, the brother of musicians Rudy Toth
Rudy Toth
Rudy Toth was a Canadian composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, and cimbalom player of Czech birth. As a composer he wrote works mainly for television and the radio, working frequently for the Canadian Broadcasting Company for over three decades...
and Tony Toth, and the brother-in-law of violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
Josephine Toth. He studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music with Frank Hiron (saxophone) and Herbert Pye (clarinet). He pursued further woodwind studies with Dale Eisenhuth in Los Angeles in 1953.
From 1945–1953 Toth played the alto saxophone
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
in numerous dance band
Dance band
Dance band can be one of several kinds of musical ensemble:* British dance band* Dansband, a Swedish pop genre* A Eurodance band...
s in Toronto, including those led by Stan Patton, Bobby Gimby
Bobby Gimby
Bobby Gimby, was a Canadian orchestra leader, trumpeter, and singer/songwriter.-Biography:He was born Robert Stead Gimby in Cabri, Saskatchewan where he played in a boys' band. He was a member of the popular radio show The Happy Gang...
, and Trump Davidson
Trump Davidson
James Douglas "Trump" Davidson was a Canadian jazz bandleader and cornetist.Davidson formed one of Canada's earliest jazz bands in 1925, under the name The Melody Five...
. From 1952–1957 he co-led a 17-piece jazz band
Jazz band
A jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...
with trombonist Ross Culley and saxophonist Roy Smith. From 1956–1974 he studied orchestration with Phil Nimmons
Phil Nimmons
Phillip Rista Nimmons, is a Canadian jazz clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and academic.Born in Kamloops, British Columbia, the son of George Rista and Hilda Louise , he attended Lord Byng Secondary School, graduating in 1940. He then received a B.A. from the University of British Columbia in...
during which time he also played and recorded music as a member of Nimmons' jazz bands. From 1970–1990 he was a member of the Boss Brass, a group which often featured him on the alto saxophone in jazz ballads both in performance and on record. He also performed in Toronto clubs with his own jazz quartet. In the latter part of his career, he was highly active as a studio musician and record producer in Toronto.
Toth also worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in a variety of roles during his career. In 1954 he began playing in several CBC orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
s conducted by Jack Kane
Jack Kane (composer)
Jack Kane was a Canadian arranger, conductor, clarinetist, and composer of English birth. His 1958 recording Kane is Able was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra. He was highly active as an arranger and music director for Canadian...
. From 1957–1960 he served as chief arranger and music director for the CBC program Parade. In the mid-1960s he began writing jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
s for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
and Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
with his brother Rudy. He notably orchestrated both the theme music for Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
and the unofficial anthem of Ontario A Place to Stand, A Place to Grow
A Place to Stand, A Place to Grow
A Place to Stand, A Place to Grow was an unofficial anthem of the Canadian province of Ontario. The song was written as the signature tune for a movie of the same name that was featured at the Expo 67 Ontario pavilion....
(featured at Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
). He also served as an audio consultant for many TV productions and contributed music to Rich Little
Rich Little
Richard Caruthers "Rich" Little is a Canadian-American impressionist and voice actor. He has long been known throughout the world as a top impersonator of famous people, resulting in his nickname, "The Man of a Thousand Voices"....
's Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning television production of A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
.