By Chris Bryan
South Delta Leader
editor@southdeltaleader.com
March 18, 2005

He has often been called "Canada's Roger Whitaker."
But these days Peter Chipman is happy to contribute to Variety, where he works, volunteers and often appears in the children's charity's annual telethons.
Later this month (March 2005), the Ladner resident and musician is lending his talents for two shows of the United Entertainers at Genesis Theatre.

The vaudeville-influenced show features comedy, song and dance, and includes performers from ages 14 to 73.  "It's fun to be involved in a variety show," Chipman says.

Chipman began his life of music in high school and later found success with a folk group in the '60s called the Henchmen. The band gained a strong following performing on the university circuit, recording an album in Toronto and combining studies with concerts and CBC-TV appearances on "The Don Messer Show."

With a degree in business, Chipman eventually moved to the West Coast and became a stockbroker. But music was never far from his mind, and he soon joined the Victoria Operatic Society, singing lead roles in "Can Can," "Oklahoma," "Camelot" and "South Pacific."

In 1977, after taking stock of his life, he resigned from his job at Pemberton Securities to return to music full time.  "I gave it up because I wanted to reach for the brass ring," he says.
The next 13 years would be busy.

Armed with a smooth, rich voice, Chipman became a successful recording artist with six albums, 10 hit singles on the "Country and Pop" charts and frequent TV performances.  But it was his relationship with the Variety telethons that would play a key role in his performance schedule, and the one day take centre stage in his career.

He estimates he's been in "89 or 90" telethons in North America over the last 30 years.  "I always made sure I was in Vancouver in February for the Variety - Show of Hearts Telethon," Chipman says. He also performed at Variety telethons in Toronto, Winnipeg, Seattle and Des Moines, Iowa, among others.

What got him so attached to Variety?  Early on in his telethon days, Variety regular Rolf Harris took Chipman under his wing and encouraged him to get out and meet the kids helped by Variety, and visit the facilities that need support.  "I was convinced this was the charity I wanted to devote the rest of my life to," says Chipman. And so far, he has.

After he retired from full time performing about 15 years ago, he got involved in the non-profit sector as a fundraiser, beginning at the Vancouver Crisis Centre. Then about five years ago, a job came up at Variety - The Children's Charity and since then he has been the charity's director of planned giving and major gifts.
"I'm also a volunteer," he says, laughing. "It's crazy."

The Genesis Theatre shows will be the third time he has appeared with the United Entertainers, a cast of musicians, dancers and singers.  Chipman will do a couple of numbers with the whole group and he'll also perform some solo numbers-one easy listening, one humorous and one with his guitar.
"That one's a secret," he says.

* The United Entertainers show, "Entertainment #7" featuring music of the '40s and '50s, as well as from The Music Man is at 8 p.m. March 25 and 26. Tickets are available at South Coast Casuals and Ladner United Church in Ladner, and at Suzy-Q Junior Fashions in Tsawwassen.