Dal Richards
A Vancouver native, Dal Richards established his musical home in Vancouver before graduating from Magee High School where he formed a band in the late 1930s. By 1941 he was leading his band at Vancouver’s most popular dance venue, the Panorama Roof at the Hotel Vancouver. The Roof and the band became the centre of Vancouver’s social scene for more than 25 years and brought a taste of Vancouver night life to Canadians across the country on live CBC broadcasts on Saturday nights. In the late sixties, Dal received a Diploma of Technology in Hospitality Management from BCIT and a fifteen-year successful career in the hotel business followed. As big band swing music regained popularity in the 1980s, Dal brought back his Orchestra, and the band has never been busier. Dal’s 14-piece big band is featured daily at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, and his Dal Richards’ Combo plays regularly at Chantel’s Lounge at the Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam. Dal has been featured in two national television documentaries. His biography, “Big Band Boom” won a silver medal for documentaries at the 1990 U.S. International Film and Video Festival in Chicago; while a musical special featuring the Dal Richards Orchestra, “What Legends Are Made Of” has been broadcast nationally several times on CTV and Bravo. Dal runs a full-time business booking and performing with the Dal Richards’ Orchestra, and hosts a weekly radio 600 AM Radio, Dal’s Place. Hel is an active volunteer with the Variety Club, the B. C. Entertainment Hall of Fame and Vancouver AM Tourist Services Association. The great sound of the Big Band era In Western Canada is synonymous with one man Vancouver legend Dal Richards. Dal Richards’ Orchestra delighted Canadians with memorable dance music for over seven decades!
Honours
2006
Recognized by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association with his own street art mosaic “The Swing of Things” located on West Georgia Street outside the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
2005
Awarded the Freedom of the City by Vancouver City Council
Named the Honorary Doorman of 2005 by the Vancouver Doorman’s Association
Inducted into the BC Lions Wall of Fame at BC Place, honouring his work as producer and music director for BC Lions Football Club half-time shows from 1955-1980.
2004
Honoured for his 65th consecutive year of performances at the annual PNE Fair with his own PNE Bench that is ‘the best seat in the house‘ .
2003
Awarded the Order of British Columbia
Received Tourism Vancouver’s Lifetime Achievement Award
2002
Received the Queen’s Jubilee Award
Awarded an inaugural Spirit of Vancouver Award from the Vancouver Board of Trade
2001
Received an Honourary Doctorate from the Opening Learning Agency
1999
Received an Honourary Doctorate from BC Institute of Technology
1995
Appointed to the Order of Canada
1994
Presented with the City of Vancouver’s Civic Merit Award
1993
Received Variety International’s Presidential Citation
1992
Inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame
