Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Roy Forbes (popularly known as “Bim”) visited the Pender Harbour School of Music for a sold-out concert on Nov. 19, his fourth performance in the community.
“We were treated to a warm musical hug with a good dose of positive philosophy from Roy,” writes Margaret Skelley of the Pender Harbour Music Society. Forbes mused about the onset of blindness in 2015, saying that his white cane was accompanied by the blues. The septuagenarian folk singer received an honourary doctorate from UBC last summer.
The audience sang along with a selection of songs inspired by holiday delicacies: “I want mince meat tarts, want it with all my heart.” Forbes dedicated a number to his sweetheart Lydia (“I’m your man, understand I’m your biggest fan”) and chatted with Pender Harbour’s Glenn Sernyk (his “old Riverboat Buddy”), who was responsible for stage management and audio.
Forbes closed with reminiscences about his childhood impersonations of Elvis Presley and the warmth of family singalongs. “I never felt more like singing the blues,” he crooned, as the crowd joined in with full-throated accompaniment.
