The Carlton Showband

The Carlton Showband is a Canadian musical group of the Irish genre. Formed in Brampton, Ontario in November 1963, the band initially named themselves the Carlton Danceband in reference to Toronto's Carlton Street where Maple Leaf Gardens was located. The initial recording lineup included 5 musicians from Ireland: Chris O'Toole (leader), Christy McLaughlin, Mike Feeney, Seamus Grew, Sean McManus, and Fred White (the lone Canadian, from Nova Scotia). By their second album release, Irishmen Johnny Ferguson and Mitch McCoy were added. McCoy departed after 2 years, replaced by Bob Lewis (of Nova Scotia). This would be the most popular lineup from approx. 1968 through the mid-70s, and for most of their award-winning RCA years. They were the regular band on The Pig and Whistle, a popular CTV television musical variety show that aired from 1967 to 1977. Despite the end of their regular national television series exposure, the band continued to perform until their dissolution in 1996. Fred White continues to do the occasional show using the Carlton Showband name. McManus died 1989; O'Toole in 2005; Patterson in 2007; Lewis in 2008; Feeney in 2011. McLaughlin died in November 2014 Grew and White are the surviving members from the popular '60s lineup.