Music for Subways: Toronto's Subway Musicians in the Studio

1979, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) decided to start enforcing a long-standing bylaw against soliciting in the subway system, and cracked down on buskers. The media picked up on the story of musicians being escorted out of the subway by the police, and petitions and public protests quickly followed. In the face of all this negative publicity, the TTC reconsidered their stance and began issuing licenses for street musicians. On Thursday, September 13th, 1979, the eight performers who had passed an audition paid their $50 fee, signed a licensing agreement and were issued photo I.D. cards to identify themselves. Voluntary donations were to be the property of the musicians, but no active solicitation was permitted, percussion instruments and amplifiers were not allowed, and no more than two musicians were to play in each station. The experiment was enough of a success that it was re-approved the following year and continues to this day.

Two years later, the album Music For Subways was recorded. It featured songs by the original eight buskers and came complete with a striking album cover photo and a large booklet with profiles of the artists and an essay on the history of street musicians. Gina Rae was the daughter of one of The Byron Brothers, recording artists for RCA Victor in the '30's, and granddaughter to a vaudeville song and dance team who performed in Canada and the United States during the early 1900's. By the age of 11 she was writing her own songs and performing in talent shows, and in 1979 she left her day job as a welfare field worker and started singing in clubs in and around Toronto. One night, Rick came in and did a guest duet with Gina, and before long he'd left his job managing an IGA store in Sutton and married her. According to the liner notes they moved on from playing in the subway to nightclubs in Toronto, but I have no idea if or how long they continued on as working musicians.

Produced by Brian Postnikoff, Ken Doidge and Tom Atom
Engineered by Peter Genrick, Ken Doidge and Tom Atom