- by  Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

A full house and then some were at the Owen Sound Legion yesterday to give Bill Murdoch what he would have loved, an afternoon of music made by some of his favourite people, all in support of his beloved Bruce Grey Music Hall of Fame. 

Indeed Murdoch, who passed away last month, chose every musician in the show as he organized the concert with his long-time producing partner and friend Arnie Clark. They were both hoping he would be able to attend the show, but were equally determined it would take place as scheduled.

The afternoon was hosted by old CFOS radio colleagues of Bill's, Ross Kentner and John Christie, who intruduced each of the musicians and special guests, putting them into the context of Bill's long association with music promotion.  There were lots of thanks and remembrances throughout the afternoon, but the non-musical highlight was definitely when Bill's wife Sue and daughter Karen, Bill's sister Elizabeth and brother John, took to the stage to receive Bill Murdoch's induction into the Bruce Grey Music Hall of Fame that he created and loved.

If you wish you'd been there, or were and want to see it again, Rogers has generously archived it for you.

True Country Show Band: Ken Fromager, Dave Farrah,  Gord Cottrill, Tyler Beckett, Ian Leith, Jim Caesar, Arnie Clark, Doug Isman, Karen May, Justine Farrar; Walker and Friends: Al Walker, Dave Fearnall, Kevin Dandeno, Dave Farrar ; Guest vocalists/Musicians: Larry Dickinson, Bruce Worthington, Larry Jensen, Lloyd Williamson, Richard Knechtel, Ted Graper, Dennis Scott, Neil Glenn, Bryan Leckie, John Beckett; The Tombstones: Dave Fearnall, Ted Graper, Arnie Clark, Neil Glenn, Dennis Scott ; Special Guest Performers: Larry Mercey, Al Widmeyer, Peter Irwin, Dewayne Stroebel, Crystal Shawanda

From the program:

Even as far back as Bill Murdoch's early OSCVI secondary school days, he was a visionary, a leader.
He pursued a Head Boy election at the school, and was successful, even though the principal of the day stated emphatically that there would be no Head Boy-Head Girl campaigning on school property. Murdoch took exception, waltzed into the principal's office and demanded why? The principal wouldn't budge. So Bill, already setting the stage as a “Maverick” took the Head Boy campaign off the school property and up and down Owen Sound's main street. He handily won the campaign. After the big win, Bill would go on to tell his friends, “Someday, I'm going to enter politics.”

Following his Head Boy leadership campaign, Bill took up another challenge again, an early indication of his leadership skills. He offered to manage a group of fellow OSCVI students/musicians that would become the legendary Tombstones. Under his management, the rock and blues band went on to achieve years of performances across southern Ontario. The band name remains as popular today as it did through the 1960s.

Then there was the ever popular Bognar Jam musicfest which Bill and his wife Sue, hosted on their Bognar area Murdoch Village Ranch for several years. A mini-”Woodstock”, at its peak, the summertime weekend bash would host up to 4000 music lovers and numerous local musical acts. Proceeds were donated to Summerfolk.

But the history of the Bognar Jam didn't end at the Murdoch Ranch. Bill continued to carry the name, including entertainment venues, for man years period. Today, it's now Bognar Jam Production, Promotion & Consulting. Bill has remained producer. Long time friend and original Tombstoner, Arnie Clark, holds the title of Associate Producer. Together, they have been trailblazers, forging years of unprecedented entertainment venues throughout Grey Bruce and in other parts of Ontario, even the far north.

The True Country Show, A Bit O' Country, A Bit O' Blues, The River Ridge Ramblers, '69 Revisited, Peter Irwin and the Jailhouse Rock Show, The Grand Ole Hepworth North Opry Show, The Rocklyn Creek Ramblers, Scarecrow Hoedown, and the annual Country Christmas Show...these are just some of the examples of the Bognar Jam, Murdoch-Clark team's achievements.

The crowning jewel, the one that was particularly special to Bill Murdoch, is the Bruce Grey Music Hall of Fame...a shrine, a museum that was established in the Hepworth Shallow Lake Auditorium, to recognize so many talented, home-grown entertainers...legends like Alfie Fromager, Harry Parker, Brian W. Pawley, Earl Georgas, Jim Patterson, Al Widmeyer, Hughie Elder, Elmer and Wilma Beckett, Clare Adlam and many more. Then disaster struck in January 2022. An early morning fire consumed and destroyed the Legion and all its contents. The entire Music HOF collection was lost. Overwhelmed by the tragedy, Bill said to Arnie, “We're done, we worked so hard and now it's all gone.” But then slowly, a groundswell started...there was community HOF support, pledges of donations to help rebuild a “new” shrine. Said Bill, “Maybe we should rethink our position.” All through Bill's long illness and up to his final days, he was still promoting, still a man with vision...keep donating to help fund and restore the HOF.

Mail-in donations welcome.
Bruce Grey Music Hall of Fame
P.O. Box 911 ~ Station Main
Owen Sound, Ontario
N4K 6H6
519- 371-1152
[email protected]

 picture of Bill Murdoch from the Tribute program