The Fergus Brass Band recently said good-bye to one of its longest serving members.
Sitting in the Art Lee Music Centre on Blair Street in Fergus, fellow band member Bill French reflected on the 65 years Paul Landoni spent making music at every major community event– from the frigid Christmas parades to the candid merriment of the annual Beatty Brothers picnic.
Landoni, an avid gardener, lacrosse coach and family man, passed away on June 12 at Groves hospital after a brief illness. His influence in the community was far reaching, says French.
But it was the band where he really thrived.
“He was one of those guys that made himself part of the community, so he really got involved,” says French. “Once he established a relationship, he was loyal.”
Landoni worked alongside his father Mario Jr. and grandfather Mario Sr. at Landoni’s Brothers Construction and later went on to form his own construction company in 1988. He was a dedicated hockey and lacrosse player and coached many lacrosse teams, including one that went on to become Canadian Junior champions.
“If you wanted to talk about an ‘ordinary Joe,’ that’s Paul,” French said. “They called John Wayne, ‘the quiet man’ – everybody realized the man’s strengths and his wisdom. And I really think (Paul) was the quiet man. But whenever there was a debate, people would turn to him.”
Landoni joined The Fergus Brass Band when he was just 15 years old and was instrumental in many of its changes and developments over the years, including construction of its current rehearsal space on Blair Street after many years of playing in less-than-desirable conditions.
French said the band used to play in an old room in the Melville United Church on St. Andrew’s Street, where the only heat was from a pot-bellied stove and the source of light was one string of bulbs hung along the wall.
Eventually the band relocated to a building donated by the lawn bowling team. However, French says it was so old the ceiling began to sink and holes in the floor allowed a number of critters to join them during practice, including for a few months, a couple of skunks.
“If you stomped your feet to get the snow off your boots, the skunks would get upset and spray,” French laughs, reminiscing. “You couldn’t get your breath when you’d come in, but Paul was here every one of those nights to practice with that awful stench.”
French says no matter the circumstances, he could count on Landoni to be in his seat on Tuesday nights, with the shiniest pair of shoes and a perfect pleat in his band trousers.
“If he wasn’t sitting in that seat on Tuesday night it was only because he wasn’t well or his wife wasn’t. The rest of the time he was there,” says French. “If we had a gig anywhere, I never had to phone Paul to see if he’d be out.”
For Landoni, French says music became a form of therapy; a brief escape from the chaos of everyday life. For a few hours every week it was a chance to make music and share with friends.
“He (said) once that he thought if he didn’t have the band to rely on he probably would have a nervous breakdown. His family and the business he was in were so demanding that he needed an outlet, and this was it,” French reflected.
In Jeannette Cantin’s history of the band Landoni stated, “When you’re involved with music you put your troubles behind you.
“Belonging to the band has given me more enjoyment than anything I’ve ever done.”
Landoni’s spirit and passion for music touched those who had known him for years, and even those who had not.
A relatively new member of the band said, “I have only been in the band a short time, but I was lucky enough to sit beside (Paul) quite often. We talked at times … often about family, often about the old days in the band … People should know what a great person we have lost.”
The Fergus Brass Band was formed in 1833 and remains one of the few still in existence, with the majority of members having dedicated more than 25 years of service. French worries about the future of the band as it garners less community support and its core members age.
The community “take it for granted and think it’s an easy thing to do, but it’s a lot of work and dedication,” French says. “I think once somebody joins this band and enjoys the camaraderie of it, they stay on. We’ve been trying for a long time to get new members, but we’ve got very little response.”
The Fergus Brass Band rehearses every Tuesday night at 8pm in the Art Lee Music Centre on Blair Street. New players are always welcome. For information call 519-893-0526.
