ARTIST PROFILE
The Comedics
Once upon a time, many years ago, three family doctors – Gene Turgeon, John Pearson, and Brian Shamess – donned huge sombreros and sang their hearts out for a Bon Soo Revue audience who laughed and laughed and laughed. In the years that followed, these brave three became pirates, Mounties, hockey players, computer love bugs, and even kidneys! More years passed, and they were joined by fellow physicians Bob Maloney, Kevin Wacker, and Sharon Buehner, and at some point they became theComedics.
In the early years, hospital greens became their trademark costume, with the occasional appearance of "Nurse Eugene" in drag. They sang "Mike Harris, He Rules Like a Pharaoh" and lip-synched so well to "The Vegetable Song" by The Arrogant Worms (of CBC fame) that many thought it was the real thing.
As their previously dormant talents as singers and musicians awakened, real instruments and voices took over. And the calls came in... "Would you guys do a few numbers for our fundraiser?" Bon Soo Revue, Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre, Kidney Foundation, Cancer Society, Sault Area Hospitals, Heart & Stroke, Alzheimer’s Society and Red Cross are among the many organizations that have raised over a million dollars with the help of the Comedics. In 2001, the Comedics received individual "Year of the Volunteer" awards from the Government of Canada in recognition of their fundraising efforts for the Sault Symphony.
The Comedics have played Cornfest on St. Joseph Island and are regulars at Beer, Beethoven and Bratwurst for the Sault Symphony and Relay for Life. One of the Comedics' prime goals is to bring humour to their own profession. From medical conferences and physician recruitment events to colleagues' retirement parties, their intelligent – and sometimes not quite politically correct – wit appeals to all.
The Arrogant Worms, Camille West, and others have granted the group permission to use their songs for these great causes, and Gene Turgeon's skill in satire and music have created an exciting, current, and always funny repertoire. The group has a long and happy association with the Sault Theatre Workshop, which has served the Comedics well as a great practice "home", and the band has been delighted to reciprocate by playing for Workshop fundraisers. In 2004, the group set off on yet another great fundraising adventure, this time for the Sault's Kiwanis Community Theatre, by spearheading the Sault's first (and very successful) Comedyfest staged at the Theatre Centre in September.
The Comedics troupe of 2005 includes Rob Askin (bass), Lou Battel (accordion, harmonica, keyboard), Bob Maloney (acoustic and electric guitar), John Pearson (acoustic guitar), Fred Pelletier (percussion), and Gene Turgeon (lyrics and music), Rob Rock (lights), with everyone helping out on vocals.
Don't miss these wild and crazy guys next time they perform. They'll
leave you — (wait for it) — in stitches!
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