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Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Gil has been a long time member of the music community, and a life member in good standing of the Canadian Federation of Musicians, Local 180.
At a very early age, after seeing The Beatles for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show, he knew music was to be a lifelong passion. At thirteen, merely a few months after picking up the guitar, he joined his first band "The Alley Cats". Since this band already had two guitarists, John Groulx, the bandleader instructed Gil to play the bass notes, and the rest is history!
By the time the late-sixties came along, you could find a garage band on nearly every block in New Edinburgh where Gil grew up and, at the tender age of fifteen, he teamed up with Pierre Breton on drums and Marc Beaudin on lead guitar, spending all their free time rehearsing in Pete’s garage, and playing at area community centers.
In his late teens and early twenties, Gil toured extensively with Rock bands Brick, Charley Rock, Billy Mitchell’s Black & Whites, and Ragnarök.
By his mid-twenties, after a decade of Rock influences, Gil’s musical portfolio expanded to include Traditional Country, where he toured with many artists such as Terry Carisse, Jan McCambley, Diane Gentes, Grant Carson, Marion Beland, Gord Barnes, Howard Hayes, Ginette Porter, Bob Sauvé, Paul Henry Dallaire, Kathy Grant Mahon, Ginette Hamilton, The Desmond Brothers, Fred Ducharme, Tony True, The Leftoverz, etc. While in these groups, he had the pleasure of sharing the stage with musical icons like Dallas Harms, Orval Prophet, Lucille Starr, Ron McMunn, Andy Lusk, Marie King, Richard Newell (a.k.a. King Biscuit Boy) and many more.
He is presently an integral component in various acts such as Marleen Fawcett & Mountain Breeze, Lorne Daley & The Ricochet Riders, Gord Barnes & Laredo, Adam Hamelin & Country Junk, Gib Rozon & The TrebleMakers, Group Therapy, Hank’s Hangover, Rick King & Back to Country, High Maintenance Band, Terry Marcotte, BackBeat, etc.
Summers are very busy backing solo artists at fairs and festivals throughout Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. In the past years, he has toured with artists such as Stonewall Jackson, David Frizzell, Georgette Jones, Marty Haggard, George Hamilton IV, Tommy Cash, Dion Pride, and Mel Tillis Jr., just to name a few.
Look for him at your local fair!
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