Ginger Willis
1925-2003

Ginger Willis was born April 9, 1925, Dorothy Heppel, in Hamilton Ontario, and was raised in Toronto's Forest Hill Village area. Ginger developed a talent for music at an early age. Both Ginger's mother and father were talented musicians and teachers who played piano, introducing her to reading music and developing her own technique, while playing for friends in their home. Ginger, not only learned to play piano, but was also adept at playing the violin, cello, bass, marimba, xylophone and accordion, and studied at the Toronto Conservatory of Music.

Ginger played piano, cello and violin in the school orchestra and while in High School she joined a Pop band that made several appearances on Radio. For a time she studied accordion under the tutelage of Eric Mundinger and the great Ned Ciaschini, who later became musical arranger for the CBC. About that time the fabulous accordionist, Dixie Dean, had just returned to Toronto after doing shows for the Armed Forces, and heard Ginger play. He gave her several pointers, and while her accordion was being repaired he loaned her one of his own... it was an Excelsior, Ginger says with a smile... "they are the best!!"

Ginger eventually got her first music paying job working with Laurie Greeves & The Archway Club Band, and enjoyed playing with a 'big band,' but was soon left out of work when the season ended and the Club closed its doors.

While on summer holidays in Owen Sound, Ontario, Ginger was heard playing her accordion on radio CFOS by the Prairie Ramblers, and they persuaded her to join the group and travel with them for the summer. It was her first introduction to 'Country Music,' and she loved playing that style of music right from the start... so much so, that when the summer season ended, she assembled a few musicians (later to be known as the Melody Rangers), and quickly earned
a spot on a daily radio show coming out of Timmins Ontario, that was sponsored by the local Burnettes Taxi Cab Co, and presented as Burnettes Porcupine frolics on CKGB Radio. " The band members made me the leader, " says Ginger, "because I could book the band, and keep the books at the same time... and they said that with my personality I could probably book the band into Buckingham Palace. They were kidding, of course!!"

Ginger and the band were offered and booked for a two-month contract in Rouyn, Quebec at the St. Louis Hotel, the classiest place in town. Because of family reasons, her guitar player was forced to return to Timmins, forcing Ginger into finding a quick replacement, Larry Theriault, one of the best guitar players in Northern Quebec came on board, after playing a long stint at Rouyn's Plaza Hotel, where he backed up a young French Canadian singer, Leonald Gauthier. After a few days, Larry suggested to Ginger that she go listen to this young man sing at the Plaza... he told her that this guy could really sing. One night, during a break in her show, Ginger slipped off and caught the young man performing. Ginger's immediate reaction was predictable... "I couldn't believe my ears. This fellow had a voice that wouldn't quit. He could sing anything. I knew right then and there that I'd found a diamond in the rough, and that with a little more polish and a little help with his English pronunciation, that this singer would be a great one" Ginger adds, with pride in her voice, "... I was right wasn't I."

There was also an immediate bonding between the two talented performers, and Leonald became Ginger's husband ...changed his stage name to Hal Willis, and became internationally known for his many hit records. The rest is history!!

After moving to Nashville in 1955, Ginger and Hal gained great fame as a songwriting team and had their songs recorded by such country legends as Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Ernest Tubb, Bobby Helms, Charlie Walker, Flatt & Scruggs, The Wilburn Brothers, and others. These particular songwriting credits are unparalleled by a Canadian-born songwriting team. Ginger is also recognized as the first Canadian female country artist to perform on the famed Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and Hal & Ginger, along with Hank Snow, are the only Canadian performers to have ever toured with the legendary Elvis Presley.

For a period of five years between 1955 and 1960, 
Ginger worked as Marty Robbins personal secretary, but kept performing locally on weekends with Hal, but still during this period, she kept writing songs with Hal, also at that time, Ginger became a contributing Editor on the staff of the " Country Song Roundup Magazine " writing featured articles on the current stars of the day.

In 1986 Ginger was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and only given one year to live. Doctors predicted that only one in a million survived the operation Ginger was to endure. But due to her never ending positive attitude and outlook on life, and her strong belief in God, Ginger did survive.

Before her untimely death, Ginger Willis was very active in music, writing new songs with Hal, her lifetime partner. As we entered a new millennium, Ginger talked about how she would like to do a few more 'tour shows' with husband Hal and a back-up band, before 'hanging up the accordion,' Knowing Ginger, it quite likely would have happened. Ginger would say, with her famous smile... I've had a great life. God has been good to me!!"

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Ginger 18 months old