Special to The Chief
In early April, audiences in Nanaimo and Victoria cheered for the Royal Hudson - not the much loved steam engine, but rather for the song of the same name written by former Squamish resident Dave Baker.
Diane Loomer, the director of the prize winning Vancouver men's choir Chor Leoni, said, "the audience loved it!" Royal Hudson and a second tune Baker wrote, Kettle Valley Railroad, are included on Canadian Safari II, a two-disc collection released by the choir in October 2004.
Canadian Safari II is like taking a trip across the country. It doesn't get more Canadian than, The Maple Leaf Forever, April in Whitehorse, Springtime in Alberta and the William's Lake Stampede. Baker feels honoured to be included alongside writers such as Stan Rogers, Gordon Lightfoot, and Ian Tyson. He says, "I just feel really humble. I couldn't ask for anything better."
Baker, who now lives in Port Coquitlam, wrote Royal Hudson in 1977 when he lived in Squamish. "I saw it {the train} all the time and thought it needed a rousing tune." The Folk Song Circle that met in the 1980s, used to sing it regularly. Three members of the group, Derek Wilkinson, Detlef Rudolph, and Carol Grolman, performed on the original recording, Songs and Sounds of Canadian Steam.
The Royal Hudson locomotive is now being restored at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish. The completion date set for April 2006. Baker thinks it's "absolutely great!" and feels the train has a great future.
Baker wrote the Kettle Valley Railroad back in 1969. The song talks about the passing of an era. Little did Baker realize that the words he penned 37 years ago about the "ghosts of Myra Canyon" would echo hauntingly after a disastrous fire in 2003 destroyed many of the historic trestles. Baker says it's like "the loss of a friend. I revered those trestles. I went over all of them in a speederthe whole of Myra Canyon."
Chor Leoni will perform Baker's songs when the choir comes to Squamish for one concert on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005. Canadian Safari II is now available at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
Dave Baker may be reached at [email protected] or visit his website at www.daveebaker.com.
