In the early 1930s, The Canadian Ambassadors came together as the first organized Canadian Black swing band. Myron “Mynie” Sutton, the founder and alto sax player of the band, showed signs of musical promise from a young age. He started taking piano lessons at age 9, and by the time he was in tenth grade at Stamford Collegiate in Niagara Falls, Ontario, his high school teacher paid him $50 to start a band.

In 1924, he left grade twelve to play with the John Stewart Band in Buffalo, New York. After traveling throughout the United States in 1930 with the Royal Ambassadors, Sutton found his way to Aylmer, Quebec. Playing with the Royal Ambassadors, Sutton frequented several venues where Black people were allowed to perform but were prohibited as patrons, drawing him back to Canada.

Lou Hooper was the pianist and composer for the Canadian Ambassadors. He was born in Chatham Kent on September 17th, 1894. As an adult, Hooper lived in Harlem for six years before returning to Canada. He also taught piano to contemporary jazz musician, Oscar Peterson. In 1933, Hooper moved from Toronto to Montreal where he became a part of the Canadian Ambassadors.

Along with Hooper and Sutton, Harold “Steep” Wade played saxophone and piano, Willy Wade played the drums, Clyde Duncan was on bass, Bernice Whims née Jordan performed vocals, Mack McKenzie played the trumpet, and Lloyd Duncan played tenor saxophone. Together, the band created a lasting impact on Canadian jazz and swing music.

Harold “Steep” Wade was known to be the archetype of a jazz musician. He played professionally from 1937 to 1946 in Montreal but began to partake in heroin during his career. Bernice Whims’ career began when she filled in for a showgirl, growing her talents from there.

The band frequently performed at Connie’s Inn on St. Catherine Street in Montreal for nine months during 1933. As an ensemble, they wore custom-tailored suits to their local performances and shows in Toronto and Ottawa.

Once the band went their own ways, Sutton returned to Niagara Falls to care for his elderly mother, but he did not stop making music. He played in Port Dalhousie and Crystal Beach while he worked at Abex Industries. Mynie Sutton died on June 17th, 1982. His song “Moanin’ At The Montmartre” appeared on the 1986 compilation album Jazz and Hot Dance in Canada 1916-1949. In 2007, he was inducted into the Niagara Falls Hall of Fame.