B-side Apostles offer snapshots of memory

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/10/2022 (223 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After 40 years as a broadcaster for CBC, CJOB, Power 97 and CITI FM, Larry Updike chose an active retirement. Now he entertains seniors and others, with the kind of music he loves to sing. Over the past eight years he has teamed up with drummer/manager Eric Boorman to travel the highways and byways of the city and surrounding towns. In the past, the duo has played up to 200 concerts per year.

In great demand once again, the country-style entertainers play songs of the ‘40’s to the ‘70’s that were made popular by Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Nat King Cole, just to name a few. Updike. who sings in a deep Base voice, says the whole idea is to recall happy memories. He is thrilled when his audiences sing along to decades-old melodies that take listeners back to earlier times.

“Our repertoire is so vast” informs Updike, who has performed World War Two refrains from Vera Lynn to “countrified” versions of Dean Martin favourites.

Updike, 68 gives a special nod to the younger Boorman.

“He does all the heavy lifting and the bookings. I owe everything to Eric, who is a ‘people-person’ and a master organizer. (He) is the reason for our success.”

Boorman has 40 years of experience working all over the globe with assorted bands and major talent.=“

I’ve learned a lot from him,” Updike said.

Some places the B-Side Apostles have performed are the Boulton Retirement Residence, River Ridge One and Two, Fred Douglas Lodge, Siloam Mission and Heritage Lodge.

Updike said he finds his present role extremely fulfilling.

“Our activities give meaning to my retirement,” he said. “I’ve made many friends and met wonderful people.”

His aim, said the singer/guitarist, is to bring joy. However, he stressed: “Make no mistake – our show is rockin’

“This is the way I want to go.”