THE LOEWENS / SUNSET SIX

THE FAMILY TRADITION CONTINUES  WITH DENA'S HUSBAND-ED JOHNSON, BROTHER DON DAVIDSON AND FRIEND NEIL DUCHARME.  BROTHER DEAN STILL PLAYS OCCASIONALLY WITH BROTHER DON'S BAND IN SASKATCHEWAN.







The Loewen Family Orchestra

Submitted by Dena Davidson

The family moved to The Pas from the Smoking Tent District

in Saskatchewan, where they had entertained at countless dances

including farewells for soldiers going overseas, weddings, banquets,

and school picnics. It was during those years that Jack and Marvin

started to write the music that would later be compiled into the

first (LP) long play recording. In 1951, the family began to grow

with the marriage of their daughter Shirley and soon son in–

law George Davidson and a few years later Marvin’s wife Annie

(Klassen) began to take an active roll in the family orchestra.

Some years later they would be joined on occasion by Dena, Dean

and Don, children of Shirley and George.

The first LP was released in 1961 entitled “Songs and Ballads

of Northern Saskatchewan and Northern Manitoba”. Lyrics and

music were written by Jack, Marvin and Shirley.

This LP told stories of fun and frolics at the world famous Northern

Manitoba Trappers Festival, tales of hardship, life on the prairies,

and recalled the (river boat) David N Winton’s final hours. This

album is now housed in the Smithsonian Center for Folk life and

Cultural Heritage.

In 1964 they released another LP “Songs of the Golden West”

under the new name the Sun Set Six. Lyrics and music were

written by Jack, Marvin and Shirley Loewen. This album featured

a tribute to Johnny Horton, a heartbreaking song of a child whose

parents are separating, and love songs.

In 1967 “Footsteps on the Moon” music and lyrics by Jack Loewen

was released by Preview Records. The master tape and final

recording was done in Hollywood by the Preview Studio Orchestra

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copied by the audition tape made by the Loewen Orchestra. A

copy of the recording was presented to each of the Astronauts who

were on Apollo 11 and 12.

Both LP’s as well as the 45 recordings were done in an improvised

home studio at 211 Lathlin Avenue, The Pas, Manitoba with the

technical assistance of Bud Morton.

The Loewen Family Orchestra soon included local musicians Ross

Framingham and Evelyn Hoskins and together they entertained

at such venues as the Royal Canadian Legion, BPO Elks, Norlite

Hall, Guy Hall and the Carrot Valley Hall – their music could

be heard yearly at the Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival, New

Year’s Eve socials and generations of wedding dances.

Jack passed away in 1970, but the music sustained until the

passing of Martha in 1975. Marvin and Shirley continued to play

for pleasure and passed on their love for music to their children.

Marvin passed away in 1995 and today daughter Shirley

(Loewen) Davidson still resides in The Pas, ironically on Lathlin

Avenue one block from where it all began. She still pursues her

love of music and just last year at the age of 76 decided it was time

to challenge her lifelong quest to play the fiddle.

THE SUNSET SIX ( THE LOEWENS )