A Blast From the Past

My brother spotted this van in the west-end of Edmonton, a few blocks from my mother's house. I don't know if it belongs, or ever did belong, to Bobby Curtola but I understand that he does live either in Edmonton or the Edmonton area.

For any of you too young to remember, Bobby Curtola was a teen idol back in the 60's. He was one of the few Canadian music artists to make it big in Canada, the US and internationally. His hits included "Fortune Teller", "Aladdin" and "Three Rows Over" as well as many more. He is in the Coca Cola Hall of Fame for his jingles "Things Go Better with Coke" and "The Real Thing".

He went on to become a Las Vegas performer; his career has spanned four decades.

Bobby Curtola was born in Port Arthur Ontario on April 17, 1943. A friend of his from Ontario was also an old family friend of my father's. Once, back in the 80's, she came to Edmonton to visit Bobby and his wife. She invited my parents to meet the Curtolas at their hotel with her and they were able to spend the evening getting to know them.

Bobby Curtola has won many awards including "The Order of Canada" and is known for his many charitable endeavors.