Mike Pretty
"Pretty-Boy Floyd"

The picture above was taken at Chez Marcel circa 1960. Mike Pretty grew up in Great Britain and learned to play the drums there. He was so young when he first started playing that he had to take his drums by double-decker bus or get his Dad to drive him to the gigs. By the time Mike was 15 he was playing in a semi-pro jazz group. At 17, he joined Dick Murrow's eight-piece(?) Big Band. In 1947, Mike moved to Victoria B.C. with his parents. In 1949, he had his first gig at the Lantern Inn (Four Mile House) which lasted six months. That same year, he formed a group with Buddy Glover, Doug Peaker and Bill Heybroeck. This group, however, enjoyed only limited success. In 1950, Mike also rehearsed with Buddy Glover's Big Band which participated in the 1950 “ Parade of Bands" at The Crystal Gardens. According to Mike, Buddy's group made quite an impression on the older generation of jazz players in town that day. In 1950, Mike also joined Reg Wood's band which was the house band at the Club Sirocco. Club Sirocco featured imported floor shows and local female dancers. Wood's band included members Ian McDougal, Don Clark, Ray Petch, Doug Peaker and Mike. Other personnel in this... more...