Reg Gibson

Gibson, Reg

Reg (Reginald Milton) Gibson. Singer, composer, b Carman, south of Winnipeg, 13 Jan 1932. He made his debut at five as 'The Little Yodelling Cowboy' at the Beacon Theatre, Winnipeg, and continued to appear in vaudeville until 1942. After entertaining troops stationed in western Canada during World War II, he sang on radio with Andy DeJarlis and began a long CBC career in 1950 on CBW, Winnipeg, with the program 'Rhythm on the Range'. He subsequently appeared 1951-4 on 'Here Comes the Band' (radio) and in a duo with the guitarist Jim Pirie on such shows as 'Shenandoah' (radio 1961) and 'Ballads and Bards' (TV 1962-3). Gibson was 'The Ramblin' Man' (radio 1960-3) and the host for 'Red River Jamboree' (TV 1965) and 'The Group' (TV, summers 1968-70). In later years he made only occasional TV appearances. He also travelled in 1966, 1967, and 1968 to Canadian armed forces bases in Germany and on the Gaza Strip. Gibson composed and performed theme music for the CBC TV films Once upon a Marsh (1966, for which he won a CBC Wilderness Award), Death of a Nobody (1968), Whistling Wings (1970), Nis'ku (1970, for which he won a second Wilderness Award) and Seaton's (1974). His recordings include the LP That Country Feeling (1970, CBC LM-76). Gibson was a member 1959-73 of the national executive, and 1971-3 president, of ACTRA.