Before Michael Burgess's Canadian Tour recently, the likelihood that you've been seated in an audience somewhere, staring dumbfoundedly at the man sitting behind the piano is great.
Like me, did your mouth drop open during the solo CQ Boogie? Were you astounded by the ease with which he played, and how he left you wanting more?

You've witnessed the incredible talent of Doug Riley, "Dr. Music".

"Born in Toronto, Doug Riley has studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Paul de Markey in Montreal and the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto.
Doug is a partner in Fanfare Record Company and has written two string quintet albums for Ofra Harnoy, a Gershwin album for Andrew Davies, Jean Baxstresser and Julius Baker and a Kurt Weill album for Ricki Turfosky. Doug was music director and appeared as a guest soloist in the CBC Radio special "Piano Man" in 1984 featuring Oscar Peterson, Anton Knerti and John Arpin.
Doug Riley had been playing music since his teens when he was with the R & B group The Silhouettes.
They built up a local following at the Toronto nightclub, The Blue Note. By the late 1960s, he had worked with Ray Charles as his arranger and keyboard player. Riley was also arranger and pianist for The Ray Stevens Show (CTV, 1969-70) and Rolling On The River (CTV, 1970-72). He was also music director for three CBC shows: Music Machine (1973-74), Tommy Ambrose's Celebration (1975-76), and The Wolfman Jack Show (1976-77).
Dr. Music was created by Riley as background singers for The Ray Stevens Show. When the show was cancelled, the group toured Western Canada and became the leading jazz exponent in Toronto through the 1970s.
Signed to the now defunct Grt Record label, they had several hits, notably Sun Goes By in the summer of 1972. Try A Little Harder was written by Steve Kennedy of Motherlode fame and One More Mountain To Climb by Neil Sedaka."

This is information I've been lucky to find on the web about this incredible talent. I'm hoping to uncover more information through Michael Burgess, and hopefully Doug himself. I also found a list of recordings:

Singles
Try A Little Harder 1971
One More Mountain To Climb 1971
Sun Goes By 1972
Long Time Comin' Home 1972
Gospel Rock 1972
Tryin' Times 1973
Bedtime Story 1974

Albums
Dr. Music 1972
Dr. Music Ii 1973
Bedtime Story 1974
Dr. Music Circa 1984 1985
Freedom (Doug Riley) 1990

Note, Michael sang "Freedom" during performances, and Doug wrote "I love you forever", which is also on Michael's CD.

More info when I can get it!