Only a few days after local musicians held a big benefit concert for him at Lula Lounge, Toronto musician and concert promoter died this morning, following complications from lung cancer. He was 63.
Besides legions of fans from his days as a founding member of the Parachute Club, Bryans leaves a large hole in the city’s Latin music community, of which he was a major organizer and promoter.
Back when I was an entertainment editor at the Toronto Star, I dealt with the seemingly indefatigable Bryans nearly every week. He was the finest possible combination of gentleman and musical apostle — and never took himself too seriously.
Without a doubt, there will be a large, exuberant memorial gathering of some sort, but there are no details yet.
(I’ve corrected Bryan’s age, which I originally had as 62.)
John Terauds