Bernie Porter

A Victoria native, he was born on Caledonia Avenue and the first son of Robert John and Sarah Ethel Porter. His interest in music started with the violin at age 10 and then changed to piano and trumpet. As a youth he worked at Kent's music store on Fort Street in the radio and record section. Soon he started a small group of musicians in the early 30's which later grew to a 17 piece band which included his brother, Vernon on string bass. As the orchestra leader, he played trumpet and his band opened for such names as Harry James, Duke Ellington and Tex Beneke, when they came to the Memorial Arena. He played for dances at the YMCA and The Club Sirocco, where he opened a music and dance studio and was soon teaching his future wife, Lorna. His orchestra would often do charity events such as the "Red Cross Pint Parade" in 1951 at the Odeon Theatre where the only admission fee was to pledge one pint of blood to see a stage show. As the business grew to include the sale of musical instruments, he needed more space and moved to several locations over the years, eventually buying his own building on Caledonia Avenue in 1972. He employed many teachers and sales staff to handle the pupils an... more...