When my band mate Rob Mackintosh passed away after years of battling cancer, I asked a dear friend of his to offer a few words of tribute: Doug Varty.
Doug, a seasoned performer and five-time London Music Hall of Fame inductee, is no stranger to the spotlight. I also knew that, as a certified yoga instructor, he’d bring something naturally inspiring to share – especially for those who would feel uncomfortable doing so. He didn’t disappoint.
Doug began with a powerful statement: “Rob taught me how to play guitar.”
Doug’s ‘Flying V’ Guitar – photo by Deborah Alice Zuskan
Coming from a true artist like Doug, that says as much about the teacher as it does the student. While you can make a guitar “talk,” the soul isn’t so easily bent. Real teaching requires a more strategic way of being between giver and receiver.
Plus, Rob was a great role model: showing up at band practices within a day of attending another cancer treatment. Why? To him it meant more than commitment; it meant obligation especially for those musicians he called “brothers.”
“Our work and our lives become more meaningful when they are in harmony with who we are.”
~ Denise Pelley, HOF Inductee
Rob’s son Sean, also a musician, offered a moving example. While playing ‘Let It Be’ by the Beatles – and searching his soul for peace – he began to feel the comforting presence of his parents:
“And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine until tomorrow, let it be.”
~ The Beatles
Watch “Let It Be” by The Beatles
Rob’s daughter Carrie shared her thankfulness with how he nurtured his relationships with his six grandchildren. He would never have pushed them, but always supported their interests… leaving behind cherished memories for each of them, and for Jackie, his devoted wife.
Doug recalled how Rob took him under his wing and treated him like family — teaching him guitar every day when riding the bus. He ended his tribute with these heartfelt words:
“He was a warm light in the world, and his kind heart and deep spirit will be fondly remembered.”
Doug continues to carry that light forward. His latest project, Beatles in Blue, re-imagines Beatles classics with the blues . It was a bold move… one that may have risked fan loyalty. But, staying the same just wasn’t an option. After all, the Beatles were masters of change.
We also spoke about the evolving landscape for independent musicians. Since the pandemic, even now days, venues have closed, audiences have stayed home, even as live music very nearly died.
Today, artists rely heavily on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple. But the returns are minimal. According to Public Television (Detroit), it takes approximately 800,000 streams to earn just $15,000 per year.
So where’s the good news?
Listen to “Drive My Car – Beatles in Blue” by Doug Varty
The 2024 Polaris Music Prize winner for Canadian album of the year (Think the Grammys.) and second-time recipient, Jeremy Dutcher, offered a hopeful path forward:
collaborate, support each other, and get creative. Have more of a ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) attitude.
Plus buy some merch. Show up to gigs. Be human. Care.
Doug and his band did just that with Beatles in Blue, offering audiences something fresh — rooted in love for the music and a willingness to grow with it as a ‘singer, performer, or music man.’
That’s the way I figure it.
Fred Parry
Photo Credit
Doug’s ‘Flying V’ Guitar – photo by Deborah Alice Zuskan
First published at fredparry.ca
Guest Author Bio
Fred Parry
Fred Parry lives in Southern Ontario. He is a lover of people and a collector of stories, music, wisdom, and grandchildren. His raison d’etre? “I’m one of those people who believe that if my work serves the common good, it will last; if not, it will die with me. I still believe that’s true.” Fred spent ten years as a columnist for Metroland Media Group – a division of the publishing conglomerate Torstar Corporation.
His book, ‘The Music In Me’ (2013) Friesen Press is also available via Indigo / Chapters.
Blog / Website: www.fredparry.ca
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