Thomas Benjamin Banks OC AOE FRCMT(hon) (December 17, 1936 – January 25, 2018) was a Canadian pianist, conductor, arranger, composer, television personality and senator.

Ida Heller, the wife of Banks, was born in Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan, to German immigrant parents, where she grew up in the southwestern corner of the province. She attended school, commuting by horseback during the summer and by horse-drawn sled in the winter. After her parents retired from farming, the family relocated to Medicine Hat, Alberta, where Ida completed her schooling and began her career at the Royal Bank of Canada.

In 1956, Ida moved to Edmonton and resumed her employment with the Royal Bank before transitioning to work at the Edmonton office of MUZAK. Subsequently, she joined McConnell, Eastman, one of Canada's prominent advertising agencies, in Edmonton. In 1957, Ida became involved with the Orion Musical Theatre in Edmonton and Calgary, initially as a chorus member and later as a vocal soloist. It was there that she met Tommy Banks, the musical director, with whom she formed a vocal quartet and later married in 1959.

Over the years, Ida and Tommy welcomed three children into their family: Toby, Tom Jr., and Jill. Tragically, they lost Toby in 2001, which deeply affected their lives. Both Tom Jr. and Jill pursued careers in the teaching profession.

In 1969, Ida assumed ownership and management of Banks Associated Music Ltd., a talent agency originally founded by Tommy. Under her leadership, the agency flourished, becoming the largest and busiest talent agency between Toronto and Vancouver. Ida's dedication to the agency and the artists it represented was remarkable, and she played a pivotal role in its success.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Ida was actively involved in various community organizations, including Beta Sigma Phi and the Edmonton Musical Theatre. She also contributed her time to numerous community initiatives and fundraising campaigns, including the CKUA Radio Network fundraising campaign, where she served as co-chair alongside her husband, Tommy, for Northern Alberta.

After a successful career in the talent agency business, Ida has since retired. She now looks forward to enjoying her retirement by indulging in her hobbies, traveling with her husband, and savoring life's simple pleasures.

Tommy Banks, while achieving academic success until the middle of grade eleven, opted to discontinue formal education at that point. Believing that the traditional public school system no longer aligned with his career goals, he did not pursue further diplomas or degrees, and any credentials he holds are honorary. Despite this, Banks has made notable contributions in his field, garnering recognition for his accomplishments.

Banks was the host of nationally - and internationally - syndicated and network television programs, including “The Tommy Banks Show” (1968-1983), “Somewhere There’s Music”, “What’s My Name”, “ Love and Mr. Smith”, “Celebrity Revue”, “Symphony of a Thousand”, “Tommy Banks Jazz”, etc.

He provided musical direction for the ceremonies of the XI Commonwealth Games, EXPO ’86, the World University Games, the XV Olympic Winter Games, and for countless radio and television shows. He produced and/or conducted command performances for Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family, and for President Ronald Reagan. He was a member of the A. F. of M., ACTRA, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (U.S.), the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, and of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Banks made his jazz-playing debut in 1950 in the touring band of saxophonist Don (D. T.) Thompson. He played jazz throughout North America, Western and Central Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. In 1983 his quintet became the first jazz band to tour in continental China since the 1949 revolution.

Banks led his own groups and performed in various venues across Western Canada and the United States, including leading a jazz quintet at Expo 67. He produced and directed musical ceremonies at international events and took on acting roles in film and television. Tommy Banks was appointed to the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts during the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney's administration and later served as a policy adviser to the Board during the Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien's administration.

Before being called to the Senate of Canada, Tommy Banks served as chair of the Music Committee of the Board of Governors of Alberta College; he was founding chairman of the Alberta Foundation for the Performing Arts; chair of the Music Program at Grant MacEwan Community College; of the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation; of the Instrumental Jazz Division of MusicFest Canada (North America’s largest music festival organization); of the B. & B. Foundation for the Theatrical & Musical Arts of Alberta; member of the board of the CKUA Radio Network Foundation; Honorary chair of the Alberta Heart Fund; an Honorary member of Cosmopolitan International and of Rotary International (of which he was a Paul Harris Fellow).

On Century II Records, distributed by Royalty Records.

** JUNO Award winner * JUNO Award nominee

Senator Banks was appointed to the Senate by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson at the recommendation of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 2000. He represented Alberta, sitting as a Liberal. In the Senate, he served as a member of the Standing Committee on National Finance, of the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, of the Standing Committee on National Security and Defence (SCONSAD) and on its steering committee, and as chair of the Subcommittee on Veterans’ Affairs.

In each of the 37th, 38th, and 39th Parliaments he was elected Chair of the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources. In the 37th and 38th Parliaments he served as Chair of the Alberta Liberal Parliamentary Caucus. Following dissolution of the 37th Parliament Senator Banks was named to an all-party Committee of Parliamentarians from both Houses, given the task of advising the Government on the setting up of parliamentary oversight of security intelligence matters. He served on an ad hoc basis on several additional committees of the Senate. He was vice-chair of the Caucus task force on urban issues that produced Canada's Urban Strategy - a Blueprint for Action which Report led to an important national debate.

His role was a member of a Sectoral Advisory Group, International Trade (SAGIT), which advised the Government during NAFTA negotiations. His participation in the national referendum on constitutional amendment, including his role as Alberta spokesman and involvement in the televised debate. In the latter roles he made trips to Afghanistan to meet with men and women of the Canadian Forces. His visits to legislative counterparts in Washington, D.C., London, England, Canberra, and Dubai, as well as his interactions with the heads of security agencies in those countries. His patronage of the Military Family Resource Centre and his role as co-chair of the CKUA Radio Network Capital Campaign with his wife Ida. He was a founder, together with Fil Fraser, Jennie Belzberg and the late John Poole, of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards.

Banks died of leukemia on January 25, 2018, in Edmonton, Alberta.^[2]