I count it a privilege to be able to write the story on Dennis Pidwerbeski’s life and musical career. He is a remarkable individual and musician, having played a key role in the great Mellotones dance band for many years. He has also played in a number of smaller bands since 1967. And, he was exceptional as a solo artist. Dennis and I met a number of times at the Writer’s Café (Co-op Cafeteria) over multiple cups of coffee. I got the full story.
Dennis Pidwerbeski was born on Aug. 27, 1943 to Steve Pidwerbeski (who emigrated to Canada from Ukraine in 1914) and Dora Pidwerbeski (nee Srayko) on the home farm with a midwife in attendance. Dennis came from a large family of three brothers and four sisters (one brother died in infancy). He was the youngest child in the family.
Dennis took grades one through eight at Dominion School located three and one-half miles southwest of the Pidwerbeski farm. He generally walked to school. Sometimes it was too muddy. In winter, the children drove to school in a sleigh pulled by horses. In the summer, transportation was by horse and buggy. He then attended the North Battleford Collegiate Institute completing Grades 9 to 12 and graduated in 1961. He vividly remembers the “unforgettable” Harry Sharp, principal, vice-principal Mr. McGinnis and English teacher, Miss Fletcher.
Dennis farmed eight and a half miles south of Whitkow (five miles south of Redfield) – a mixed farming operation first, and then straight grain. Dennis married the love of his life, Greta (nee Waters) on Oct, 18, 1969. They have two adopted children (now adults) and two grandchildren.
When Dennis was 14, his brother, Roman, gave him a hollow body, acoustic guitar. This certainly was one of the best presents Dennis could have received. He was fortunate to have a teacher, Phil Babish, give him three lessons – a few open chords and how to chord and sing. In high school, Dennis got together at a house with some friends (Rick Kildaw on guitar and his brother, Allen, on the bongo drums). He also jammed with Cliff Nesset (who became one of the Battlefords’ premier guitar pickers). These were wonderfully enjoyable times. And the youthful musicians learned about music and playing in a band.
Dennis exhibited ingenuity and mechanical ability when, at one point, he built and installed a pick up in Roman’s guitar, thereby transforming it into an electric guitar. Then he built an amplifier from a kit with about 10 watts of power. That was some accomplishment for a teenaged boy.
In 1963, Phil Leibel asked Dennis to step in with his band, Phil Leibel and the Knights of Rhythm. He played guitar and bass guitar with the Knights for four years. It was a great experience. In 1967, Russ Iwanchuk, band leader with the newly formed Mellotones, asked Dennis to join the band. Dennis immediately accepted. He wasn’t about to turn down an opportunity to play with the greatest dance band in the Northwest and one of the best bands in the province.
His first dance with the Mellotones was in Meadow Lake. Dennis was somewhat unsure, nervous and sweaty. Who wouldn’t be? Still, it was a big thrill and a learning opportunity. Dennis still lacked the experience he needed to play with this phenomenal band, but he learned quickly and soon acquired the reputation as a great musician and one of the Mellotones key anchors. As a musician, Dennis had a great work ethic. He never missed practices, which were held in Russ Iwanchuk’s basement every Monday night.
The Mellotones became one of the most popular bands in Western Canada. Their new style of music included old time, Latin-American, rock, jazz and everything in between. They were exceptionally versatile. Appearance and conduct was of first order importance to the band. They dressed smartly in Las Vegas style sports jackets and ties.
They played for weddings and anniversary dances, RCMP, Beta Sigma Phi, firemen, Kinsmen, New Year’s Eve and Knights of Columbus balls, and for an array of dance clubs, The Mellotones were one of the first bands to play the Auditorium Hotel Lounge. The Auditorium was the first hotel in the Battlefords to provide music for its patrons.
The Mellotones played in many different communities throughout the province.
Dennis said he learned the most about music and playing in a band when he was with the Mellotones, from Russ Iwanchuk and Garnet Speer.
Dennis played with the Mellotones for 17 years until 1984, when the great band broke up. The reason was that they couldn’t get a drummer. Actually, the Mellotones didn’t break up permanently because the Battlefords and area citizenry wouldn’t let them. So they picked up established drummers from dance bands, or unattached musicians, as necessary. They were lucky to book Don Tatchell on occasion, who was without question the best drummer ever to come out of the Battlefords.
The greatest singer the Battlefords ever produced, George Armstrong, was with the Mellotones from their inception until the band called it quits in 1984. Then he joined Blue Denim. George now lives in Victoria, B.C.
Every dance band experiences some unusual and humorous happenings and the Mellotones were no exception. Dennis said on one occasion the band was travelling to Meadow Lake when the trailer full of equipment lost a wheel. The trailer fishtailed and rolled over on its side. The back door was wrenched open and Dennis’s bass amplifier flew out and into the ditch. Fortunately, the amplifier was not damaged other than a few surface scratches. The band loaded all of their equipment on the truck and made it to Meadow Lake in time for the dance.
Singer, Ken Magnuson, died from a heart attack in the winter of 1974. It was a tremendous loss and a terrible shock to the band. The band had been working on an album. Sadly, Ken never got to hear it. The band dedicated the album posthumously to Ken.
Dennis played with the Mellotones until 2001, switching to a toned-down version of the 1960s and ‘70s band, when Leon Charabin died. Leon’s passing and the break up of the Mellotones began a new chapter in Dennis’s musical journey.
Dennis played with the North Battleford Dixieland Jazz Band, anchored by percussionist Don Tatchell, from 1985 to 1986. The band also included Garnet Speer, Jack Tatchell, Russ Iwanchuk, David Dekker and Maurice Shaw.
They even entered a float in the annual North Battleford Exhibition Parade and played Dixieland music to the crowd. It was a warm day and the band was concerned about dehydration so arrangements were made to have plenty of refreshments on board the float. One of the refreshments was not legal in public. One creative and enterprising band member came to the rescue. He placed a two gallon jug inside the covered truck box with a small submersible pump with a small hose attached that ran to the back of the trailer. All that the band members had to do was turn on the tap. By the time the parade was over, the band was well hydrated.
From 2005 to 2008, Dennis, Garnet Speer, Russell Iwanchuk, and Don Wakeland formed the Melody Four dance band. The quartet played seniors’ facilities, lodges and nursing facilities and were very well received. Russ Iwanchuk died in 2008 and the Melody Four disbanded.
In 2006, Larry Symynuk asked Dennis to step in with him and Don Heppner in a three-piece band called Keeping it Country. The band consisted of members Larry Symynuk on rhythm guitar and vocals and Dennis on electric bass guitar and vocals. Don Heppner unfortunately passed away and Duane Heinz (steel guitar and fiddle) replaced him. The trio played primarily classic 1960s and ‘70s country. Dennis is still with this band. They’re popular and solidly booked.
Dennis also plays with another group called Cool Creek. Band members include John Archer (guitar and vocals) and Jeanette Beckman (vocals).
He has also put together a CD entitled Just Me. Dennis is the only musician on the CD, which features 14 songs. The CD was recorded in Dennis’s home studio in his basement and produced and pressed in Rosetown. And he is by no means finished, because he has another CD in the works. It should be out by the end of March
Dennis bought a Fender bass guitar from Gordon Racicot in 1967 for $400. It is now worth more than $3,000. He also purchased a German-made, big and heavy bass amplifier.
In his other life, Dennis was always interested in flying. He got his pilot’s licence in 1998 and took flight training from Fran Becotte. Dennis owned two ultralight planes. He took his ultralight training at the Cormon airport and got his licence in 1990. He also built a gyroplane from a kit made in Kindersley. He also took his gyroplane training at the Kindersley airport. After he sold the ultralight gyroplane, Dennis bought a fixed-wing Pelican plane kit.
Music has been good to Dennis over the years. But with every good thing comes a price. Dennis said he missed out on a great deal of family life and community functions and is thankful for his wife Greta and their children for standing by him through the years.
I have truly enjoyed getting to know and discuss the life and musical career of one of the Battlefords great musicians – Dennis Pidwerbeski.
