Legendary Edmonton jazz pianist and ex-senator Tommy Banks dead at 81

EDMONTON - Tommy Banks, a renowned Edmonton jazz pianist and former senator, has died at the age of 81.

His family said in a statement that Banks died peacefully on Thursday surrounded by family and staff at a palliative care unit in Edmonton.

Banks' long and impressive musical resume, which began with his professional debut in 1950, covered virtually aspect of Canadian entertainment through the years.

He won both a Juno and Gemini award, hosted "The Tommy Banks Show" from 1968-83 and numerous other TV programs, and performed throughout North America and around the world.

Banks was a member of the senate from 2000 until his term ended in 2011.

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