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He picked up the accordian at 8 years of age and was encouraged by his mother to practice whenever time could be taken from farm chores. Marc left home at 18 and traveled to Vancouver where he earned his living playing gigs with Mike Ferbey (later to become one of The Rhythm Pals) and other musicians and working in an accordian factory. It was at this factory where he built his own accordian, buying it from his employer for $200 paid back at $10 per week. While in Vancouver he also played professional baseball as a pitcher at Nat Bailey Stadium. In 1946 Marc introduced Mike to Jack Jensen and this turned out to be the start of a long, happy and successful career for the talented trio. It was while Marc was waiting for his "demob call" from the army, the trio decided to team up and form a singing group, The Rhythm Pals, and thus the act was launched! The Pals burst onto the entertainment scene by getting a contract to sing and play regularly on CKNW radio out of New Westminster, B.C. For the first time, thousands of people were enjoying the sweet harmonies and slick instrumentals of popular songs in a way only The Rhythm Pals perfected! With thanks to the Pacific Exhibition Singing Contest, Mike, Marc and Jack walked away with the trophy and a cheque for one thousand dollars as the "Best Vocal Group". Not bad for starting a new partnership! From 1946 to 1956 The Rhythm Pals' calendar was busy with solid bookings on leading radio shows, television shows, concerts, club dates and whatever else could fit into the schedule. During this 10 year period they appeared on such well known shows as Bill Rea's Roundup, The Burns Chuckwagon Show, The Jackie Rae Show, Wayne and Shuster, The Terry Dale Show and with many others, including Canadian singer, Juliette! The Pals were cordially invited to appear with Spade Cooley and his band at the famous Santa Monica Ballroom in California, thereby making them the very first Canadian singing group to appear on U.S. television! They were so well received, that for the next few years they were swamped with calls and offers to appear on many television shows all across the United States such as The Lawrence Welk Show, The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, The Dinner Bell Roundup with Cliffie Stone, and many others including The Mills Brothers, Tex Williams, Stuart Hamblin, The Deep River Boys and so on. Taking care to keep close ties with Canadians, The Pals took the time to do several tours of Canada including one with the Sons of the Pioneers and one with Montana slim himself, Wilf Carter, which incidentally broke all existing ticket sales across Western Canada. They appeared in a TV. series with Pat Kilpatrick on CBUT, one of the first nationally carried television shows to come from the west. The Rhythm Pals were the only singing group on television that sang and did their own musical accompaniment apart from Gene Autry's Cass County Boys. After the CBUT services, they returned to Hollywood to sign a contract with MGM records and appeared with Roy Acuff, Hank Williams Sr., Merle Travis and the legendary T. Texas Tyler. In 1958 The Pals moved to Toronto to continue with more radio shows such as the Happy Gang Show, and more TV. series like Swing Easy, all the time touring Canadian concerts, clubs and exhibitions. After extensive touring they signed a new contract with CBC and became main stays for over eleven years on the successful Tommy Hunter Show, where they have literally become household words: Mike, Mark and Jack - The Rhythm Pals! The Pals have toured all over the world including Ghana, Israel, Cyprus, Pakistan, England, Egypt, India, Beirut, Germany, Africa, Palestine and even the North Pole. During their career the Rhythm Pals had appeared in more radio and TV. shows and have won more awards than any other singing group in Canada and recorded 7 albums and 12 cassettes. Some of their awards include induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, B.C. Country Fall of Fame, the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame, "Starwalk" of B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame (their star is on the corner of Smithe and Granville in Vancouver), RPM Gold Leaf Awards (now the Junos) in 1965 and 1967 for "Top Country Group", and the International Theatrical Agents Association "Distinguished Service Award" in 1986. Marc retired from The Rhythm Pals in 1986 after they played both the opening and closing ceremonies, a number of pavilions and 3 stages at Canada Place. Marc continues to be active within the music industry, arranging music and playing accordion and the keyboard. He can also be found on the golf links -- another passion and skill as shown by a large number of recorded hole-in-ones at courses across Canada. He is also an avid model 1/4 scale airplaner, designing, building and flying a growing collection of airplanes including jet, biplane and waterplanes. In recent years, Marc has teamed up with Dan Hughes, who has entertained on Vancouver Island for the past 35 years. In 2005 Marc and Dan released a CD, "What a Wonderful World". They continue to entertain locally on Vancouver Island at various functions to enthusiastic response. The CD has been getting a great response. To order your copy for $23.00 (including postage and handling), click here. For more information, contact Marc at 250-751-8967 or Dan Hughes at 250-748-1406
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