Oasis grew out of Fruit Cocktail '85, an annual fund-raising concert for Toronto's Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal.
Some cast members decided to form a group, called "Integrated Circus", to sing Broadway, pop and jazz tunes on a continuing basis after Fruit Cocktail. In 1986 the group became known as Oasis.
The number of performers in Oasis changed over the years, from its original 8 to a group of 24 in the early 1990s (pictured above) to its current configuration of 12 singers and a pianist. Oasis still has one original member. The group now has both gay and straight members, and its focus has gradually shifted away from elaborate costuming and choreography towards refining its vocal blend. The close-harmony vocal jazz sound that is the trademark of Oasis today has garnered Gold and Silver awards at Ontario Vocal Festivals.
Over the years, Oasis has particularly enjoyed performing with other entertainers, including Phyllis Diller, Rita MacNeil, The Parachute Club, Micah Barnes, Cori Joslin, Clare Pengelly, Singing Out! The Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Toronto, Forte - The Toronto Men's Chorus, Iris - The Toronto Women's Chorus, and local jazz musicians Sean Lavery, Ross MacIntyre, John Richardson and Davide DiRenzo. Read more on our Friends of Oasis page.
Oasis has performed at hospitals and senior citizens' homes, in downtown plazas and at events at Ontario Place, Roy Thomson Hall and Harbourfront. Oasis has also taken the stage at cultural festivals, such as Toronto's Lesbian & Gay Pride festivals, the First Night New Year's Eve celebration at City Hall, Urban Artery (part of the annual ARTSweek cultural festival sponsored by A&E), the Kiwanis Festival and the Ontario Vocal Festival. Twice, Oasis has been beamed coast to coast on Breakfast Television, a morning show produced by CITY-TV in Toronto.
Charitable and non-profit organizations which have benefitted from Oasis performances have included Casey House Hospice, the Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal, Keshet Shalom, the Good Samaritan Hostel for men, Nellie's Hostel for women, Street Outreach Services, Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, several single-parent organizations, the Toronto PWA Foundation, the Canadian Hearing Society, the Canadian Liver Foundation, Hill House Hospice in Richmond Hill and the Ontario Literacy Council.
To access a more detailed history of the group, click on these links:
- in the beginning (Fruit Cocktail 1985)
- the early years (1986 to 1988)
- bigger and better (1989 to 1992)
- all that jazz (1993 to 1995)
- refining the sound (1996 to today)
- the 1998-1999 season
- the 1999-2000 season
Does the future "history" of Oasis include your performing arts group, corporation or charitable organization? There's only one way to be sure! We'd be happy to hear from you by e-mail at [email protected]