Letters to the Editor: With the passing of Brian Stevens, a great talent has gone silent

Re: “Rev. Brian Stevens at Hope United Church served with kindness, inclusion and music’, Beach Metro Community News, Feb. 17.

I was very glad to see that you ran the obituary for Rev. Brian F. Stevens in the Feb. 17 edition.

I had the pleasure of singing with Brian for several years as one of B2. Brian and I made our debut at one of the early Jazz Vespers series sponsored by Beach United Church and held at the time at St. Aidan’s Church on Queen East in the Beach.

Once the renovations at Beach United were completed, Brian and I continued being regular performers at their Jazz Vespers, as well as appearing at a local club, Ten Feet Tall on the Danforth.

When Brian was ordained and became the minister at Hope United, we continued to perform there on a regular basis.
It was at Hope that we debuted our CD, Twelve Songs for Christmas. Brian also brought his award-winning radio drama, The Wartime Radio Show to Hope in which I was the emcee and sang a few songs.

Brian was an inspiring and talented pianist who was more than happy to explore the music of the American Songbook with me. We came at the catalog from different musical backgrounds, he musical theatre and me the folk tradition.

I will miss his enthusiasm and piano mastery very much. A great talent has gone silent.

Bill MacLean
Former staff member of Beach Metro Community News