Education
He attended The Royal Conservatory of Music for two years where he was a pupil of pianist Alma Allen. He also studied music theory and music composition privately in Toronto with Gordon Delamont.
He attended The Royal Conservatory of Music for two years where he was a pupil of pianist Alma Allen. He also studied music theory and music composition privately in Toronto with Gordon Delamont.
He was active as a music director for both Canadian and United States television during the 1970s and 1980s. He has also composed several film and television scores and written a number of television theme songs and jingles. He has also worked as an arranger and pianist for both performances and recordings with several notable artists.
Born James Edwin Dale in London, Dale immigrated to Canada with his family in 1947 at the age of 11.
Dale began his career playing in dance bands and pit orchestras in Toronto during the 1950s. In 1957 he joined Peter Appleyard"s newly formed jazz ensemble with whom he played and toured for two years.
In the early 1960s he began working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a rehearsal pianist. He eventually was promoted to music director, notably serving in that capacity for the programs À la carte and In Person.
In 1969 Dale relocated to Hollywood where he worked as a music director for both Columbia Broadcasting System and National Broadcasting Company. Among the shows that he worked in this capacity for were The Smothers Brothers Show (1969, Columbia Broadcasting System), The Andy Williams Show (1969-1971, National Broadcasting Company), and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1973, Columbia Broadcasting System).
He returned to Toronto, commuting to Los Angeles in 1973 to continue his work with Columbia Broadcasting System. He returned to Hollywood for a short time in 1975 to serve as music director of The Cher Show. Dale continued to work actively for the Canadian Broadcasting Company in Toronto as a music director during the 1970s and 1980s. He also worked in the same capacity for the CTV Television Network program The Bobby Vinton Show (1976-1978), and for two privately syndicated series, Bizarre (1980-1986) and Super Dave (beginning in 1987).
From 1974-1987 Dale was the pianist for Boss Brass with whom he made several recordings.
He also was a regular performer in Toronto nightclubs from the 1960s through the 1980s, notably accompanying such artists as George Coleman, Coleman Hawkins, and Peggy Lee among others He also performed gigs with his own band, the Jimmy Dale Swingers.
In 1968 he released the album Soft and Groovy and also appeared as a pianist on the album Juliette"s Christmas World with the Jimmy Dale Swingers. His album Profiles was released in 1980 on the Intercan label.
He also worked as a pianist on recordings by Appleyard and Basso.
As a composer, Dale has written several film and television score, including the music for Bachelor of Surgery I Love You, Crunch, The Execution of Raymond Graham, and Breakfast with Les and Bess. He has also written music for the theatre, including writing the orchestrations for the musicals Aimee! and Durante. As an arranger, Dale has put together works for albums by such notable artists as Eugene Amaro, Tommy Ambrose, Denyse Angé, Keath Barrie, Guido Basso, Mary Lou Collins, Cecile Frenette, and Bobby Vinton.