 DANNY CASAVANT
Talkin’ bout our Generation!

Remember those great Sunday nights at the Dover Arms, dancing and singing along to Bob White and the BobCats R&R band as they rocked the room with our favourite hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s? Of course you do!

And if you remember those nights you’ll also remember the Bobcat’s Danny Casavant, on keyboard, guitar, and vocals, an integral part of that quartet, which also included Jean Savoie and Vic Bicego. Those were the days (and nights) my friend!

Well those days ain’t over yet, we’re here to tell you. The West End Community Centre is bringing Danny back into the spotlight for a series of weekly classes enticingly titled, “Talkin’ bout our Generation.” It will run on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon starting January 13.

Danny Casavant brings his musical chops and knowledge of the field’s history to a special series of classes at the West End Community Centre. *(Photo Courtesy of Danny Casavant)*

“The West End Community Centre decided that there should be some programming on the weekend for the older members of our community” explained WECC board member Linda Johnston. “Nearly all our weekend programming is for families, children, and active adults. One of the lecturers at SFU’s 55+ program put me in touch with Danny Casavant, and he agreed to develop a program to appeal to that audience.”

“For those of us of a certain age there exists a shared musical backdrop to our growing up, from teen years into young adulthood,” Danny reminisced. “That back-drop was the popular music of our respective ties, that we experienced through exposure to records, radio, TV, movies, and live performances.”

Danny’s weekly classes will examine the music of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s and beyond. The early Blues and Jazz roots that set the stage for R&B, R&R, Rockabilly, Soul/Motown, the ‘British Invasion’, Folk Rock, and much more will be the topic of lectures and conversations with Danny and a cast of special guest artists.

“The aim,” Danny said, “is to celebrate and learn about the music that helped shape our evolving selves and that still lives on in our hearts and souls.

Danny came west from Winnipeg some 40 years ago. A composer, guitarist, lyricist, and keyboard player, Danny took guitar lessons from the legendary Lenny Breau growing up. He taped those lessons, which led to his involvement with Randy Bachman’s Guitararchives, where he was hired to dig up more tapes, get clearances and ready Breau’s albums for release and rediscovery.

At the time Dany was beginning to be known in Vancouver as an accomplished, versatile guitarist he was doing mainly country, such as Lisa Brokop’s first album, but he also knew blues, rock and soul. He played for seven years in partnership with Mike Henry in the Big Dawg Band and has collaborated with a diverse array of musicians.

Danny doesn’t regard himself as a session musician, though, and notes that he is “under-recorded” as a result. “I consider myself a journeyman,” he states modestly. “We’re all working musicians. We’re all learning from each other.”

During the course of his careeer Danny recorded and toured with such major artists as Graham Shaw ( hit 1980 Canadian radio single "Can I Come Near" on Capitol Records), Billy Cowsill, McLean and McLean, Fred Penner, Amos Garrett and many more.

More than 20 years ago, Danny and fellow Winnipeger Bob White formed the BobCats, a partnership that endured until White’s death in 2017. During their years headlining at the Dover Arms and other Vancouver venues, including the Comox Street Long Bar and Grill, the BobCats built a loyal following, many of whom are sure to be found enjoying the “Talkin’ bout our Generation” classes.

“The important thing about being a live player is that you make people happy,” Danny notes. “People need to have a galvanizing thing. Music brings people together.”

Danny’s upcoming classes are sure to do that. Every Saturday from January 13 through March 23, classes are $66 for all 11 sessions or $10 per drop-in, with five spots open for drop-ins each week.

Ready to sign up? Registration opens December 5 after 7 p.m. here or in person at the West End Community Centre.