Celebrating 1 Year with CBMA!

Jimmy Wisdom cutting hair in his barbershop

Credit: Jon Black © - Image Credit Form

Genre: Jazz, R&B, Soul, Gospel

Period: 1960s-2019

Region: Toronto, Ontario

Jimmy Wisdom

A father of Toronto, Ronald Jimmy Wisdom, or simply known as Jimmy, remains a founding pillar in the Canadian Caribbean community. Wisdom was a barber, musician, and neighbourhood confidant for the Little Jamaica community in Toronto, Ontario, located on Eglinton Avenue West between Keele St. and Marlee Ave. Throughout his music career, he performed with the legendary singer-songwriter and pianist Fats Domino, as well as performed for the late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He opened his barbershop on Eglinton and operated it for more than fifty years.

Jimmy Wisdom and his friend and music partner Bob Williams, sang in a duo Bob & Williams. Together in 1968 they decided to test the waters in Canada. He was also a member of Billy Vernon and the Celestials as well as played with Jo Jo Bennett and The Fugitives. The first record Wisdom and Williams released in Canada featured fellow Jamaican-Canadian musician Everton “Pablo” Paul on the drums. In a TVO documentary while he cuts Paul’s hair, he describes barbering as like music. As you paint a picture through song, you can do the same through hair. While he no longer recorded, he continued singing in his local church in his spare time outside of his shop. Together with his hair stylist wife Merva, they ran the shop creating a confessional type of haven for the community. People would often stop in just to hear some of Jimmy’s ‘wisdoms’.

Wisdom sadly passed away on November 28th, 2019, at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. He represented the large wave of Caribbean migrants that were settling in the area throughout the 60’s and 70’s. As an immigrant himself, he never stopped giving back and offering support to newcomers in the city. He is noted as offering aid with application processes and the many hurdles’ immigrants face when re-locating. His ability to weave Jamaican culture into the fabric of the city and his constant father figure role made him an exceptional civil leader.

Following his passing, the City of Toronto named a laneway after him honouring his many contributions. Jimmy Wisdom Way runs north-south between Eglinton Avenue W. and Hopewell Avenue, with a beautiful mural of Wisdom running alongside it.

Photo gallery

video content

interviews

artist playlist

The CBMA recognizes the gaps in our collection. As the organization grows, so will the amount of information we are able to provide. If you have any recommendations on how we can acquire this specific piece of information, we kindly encourage you to reach out to us.