WINNIPEG –
A longtime fixture in the Manitoba music scene who has played with legendary artists including Frank Sinatra has been awarded the province’s highest honour.
Ron Paley was among 12 Manitobans to receive the Order of Manitoba at an investiture ceremony Thursday.
Paley, 73, said being made a member of the order came as an “absolute surprise.”
To those who have followed Paley’s decades-long career in Winnipeg and beyond, it may come as less of a shock.
“Ron’s impact on the jazz scene in this city can’t be underestimated,” said Angela Heck, executive director of Jazz Winnipeg.
“For a career that has spanned decades, you can only imagine the artistry and expertise that he has continued to share, with audiences and artists alike. We all owe him much respect and a debt of gratitude for his talent and commitment to jazz in Manitoba.”
The Winnipeg-raised multi-hyphenate has toured internationally with the …