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Diachun, Bill, 1940-2014
Person · 1940-2014

Canadian pianist and songwriter Bill Diachun was born in Montreal, Quebec, the second child of Ukrainian immigrants. He attended McGill University’s MacDonald College in the West Island, and was a quarterback on the football team; he also played Rugby with the NDG Maple Leafs. As a student, he also accompanied singers at collegiate variety shows. In 1964 he and fellow Ukrainian Montrealer Jerry Hrynewych co-wrote the song “Swing High, Freedom Chariot.” Shortly after his daughter was born the family moved to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, where Diachun taught school in nearby Digby, but later moved back to Montreal. He taught high-school English in the Montreal area, but on the side followed his musical inclinations, composing and singing such songs as “Gypsy Lover” (1971), “Walk the Straight and Narrow”(1971), and “Mon Dieu, écoute ma prière.” His daughter, Melody, became a jazz singer and composer, and in 2009 was a Canadian National Jazz Awards' nominee for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2009.

Diamond, Ann, 1951-
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n93061348.html · Person · 1951-

Ann Diamond (born April 11, 1951, in Montreal) is a Canadian writer known for her contributions to poetry, short stories, and novels. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University and pursued creative writing at Goddard College. Diamond debuted in 1977 with her first book, "Lil." Her second work, "A Nun's Diary," was adapted for the stage by Robert LePage under the title "Echo" and was showcased in Montreal and Toronto at Theatre Passe Muraille. In 1992, she published "Terrorist Letters," marking her third poetry collection. Transitioning to novels, Diamond released "Mona's Dance" in 1989, followed by the short story compilations "Snakebite" in 1989 and "Evil Eye" in 1991. Her narrative style, often characterized by blending realism and surrealism, prominently features female protagonists grappling with complex relationships. "Evil Eye" notably won the 1994 Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction. Subsequent works include "Dead White Males" in 2000 and "Static Control" in 2006.

Dibbens, Peter, 1948-2009
Person · 1948-2009

British composer Peter Dibbens appears to have been born in Bournemouth, Dorset, but not much else is known about him except that he was half of the British duo “Shepstone and Dibbens.” They joined up around 1973 and worked together through at least 1984. The other half, drummer Michael James Roger (Mike) Shepstone, had been a member of “The Rokers,” a group of British expatriate musicians who were successful for a while in Italy. After the group broke up in 1970, Shepstone returned to Britain, and he began collaborating with Dibbens. Most of their recordings were released in Paris, Madrid, Munich and other European cities; one of the more successful was “Shady Lady” in 1973, followed by “Please Tell Her That I Said Hello” in 1974 that has been covered by at least 30 artists, including Marie Osmond, Wayne Newton and Bobby Vinton. French singer Sylvie Vartan sang their “Tambourine” in 1976.