Moon Dancer plays for Relay For Life

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Moon Dancer may not be a familiar name for people frequenting Lethbridge’s live music club scene, but they are familiar faces at many charity  events. They are always willing to lend their hand and musical talent to good causes.

Their next charity show will be the Relay of Life Run for Cancer, June 8, when they are scheduled to play from 11:45 p.m. to just after 1 a.m.Moon Dancer plays the Relay For Life, June 8. Photo submitted
“We’ve put together a rocking set. There’s won’t be any ballads in that set. We don’t want them falling asleep.

We want to keep their energy up, so it will be pretty lively stuff,” said lead vocalist Dory Rossiter. They were scheduled to play Relay For Life last year, but were unable to due to a scheduling conflict as one of the members got a job outside the country.


 They have played for a number of charitable groups including the Odd Fellows, the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk plus events like Heritage Days at Exhibition Park.


Last year they were able to combine rock influences with gospel music at the Gospel Music Jamboree in Granum.


“That was a lot of fun. We played ‘Let It Be’. We added some rock and roll to traditional  music,” she continued.


 They learned to play ’30s and ’40s music for another gig.


“My parents gave me original ’30s and ’40s sheet music, so we were able to use that,” she said.
They also play at the the Nord Bridge Senior’s Centre  and Edith Cavell Centre.


“We don’t bring all of the equipment then and you might not think you’re reaching them, but you are, when you see them do this,” she said, clapping her hands.


 The group, Rossiter, bassist/ vocalist Tracy Edgar, vocalist and harmonica player Darrell Croft, guitarist/ vocalist Allan Wilson, drummer Keith Duff and pianist/ vocalist Brad Gillespie, met while playing with McKillop United Church’s Catch the Spirit singing group.


“We’d always hang out and jam afterwards. But in Fall 2009, Darrell Croft, our musical director was asked to get a band together to play for charity for the food bank In Taber where he’s from,” Rossiter related.
“We like both secular and non-secular music. We playold time rock and roll,” she said adding though they just play covers, they make sure they put their own stamp on them.


“We like to play covers, but we like to take them and reinvent them,” she said. For example when you hear ‘Old Time Rock and Roll,’ you expect to hear Bob Seger singing it. But when we play it, I sing it,” she said.
“And we’ll play songs like “Let it Be,” and even “the Weight,” so sometimes the lines are a little blurred,” she said.
 They all have day jobs of course. Rossiter is a well known TV personality,  Keith Duff is an auctioneer and realtor, bassist Tracey Edgar works construction, two of the members are teachers and one is a social worker. Because they all have pretty much 9 to 5 jobs, they religiously practice Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons at Rossiter’s house.


“ We’re pretty dedicated. And my husband is so supportive. We have a music room now because he sacrificed his darkroom and turned it into a jam space for us. He put in drywall and soundproofed it, so we don’t have to haul equipment. They just come in and play. And we don’t disturb the neighbours, which is important,” she said adding sometimes they have to reschedule as duty calls for Rossiter, who is often out and about covering community events.
Rossiter noted people are often surprised she can sing.


“ People will often say ‘hey, that’s Dori. ’ As a kid I used to sing in the Kiwanis Music Festival, but I had to put that on the back-burner until I started singing in church,” she continued.


 They are putting the finishing touches on a new CD of their covers.
They have the distinction to be the second outside act to record at  the University of Lethbridge’s fancy new studio.
Thanks to Allan Wilson’s contacts in New York and Vancouver, it is currently being mastered.


“Ever since we got together he’s wanted to do create something like this around the group. Allan is already talking about a second CD and we don’t even have the first one out yet,” she said adding she enjoyed the recording experience.


“It’s  different, When we play live we’re just having fun. It was a real learning curve for us. When you’re in a studio like this one, you can hear everything. Every bent note. It’s like being a bug under a microscope” she said.
“They really stepped up to the plate. I’m just glad they let me play with them,” she enthused.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
 A version of this story appears in the June 6, 2012 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 06 June 2012 09:49 )