EDMONTON — Tommy Banks, a renowned Edmonton jazz pianist and former senator, has died at the age of 81. His family has issued a statement saying Banks died peacefully Thursday surrounded by family and staff at the Grey Nuns palliative care unit in Edmonton. Banks’ long and impressive musical resume, which began with his professional debut in 1950, covered virtually aspect of Canadian entertainment through the years. He won both a Juno and Gemini award, hosted “The Tommy Banks Show” from 1968-83 and numerous other TV programs, and performed throughout North America and around the world. “Great sadness here in Edmonton at the news that the legendary and much loved Tommy Banks has died,” said former prime minister Kim Campbell on Twitter.

Source: National Post January 26, 2018 08:44 UTC