Clifford “Kid” Bastien was born in London England's East End in 1937.
Bastien immigrated to Canada in 1962 after a brief stint in New Orleans.
Bastien earned a reputation as a "guru of New Orleans jazz in Toronto".
In 1968 Bastien founded the Kid Bastien's Camellia Jazz band, later to be renamed The Happy Pals.
Bastien was now considered to be the foremost disciple of New Orleans trumpet legend Kid Thomas Valentine, whom Bastien had first witnessed playing at a neighborhood dance, at the Westwego Louisiana firehall.
Bastien also gained a reputation for outlasting the revolving door of bar owners at Grossmans Tavern, and having personalities such as Woody Allen appear with him onstage.

On February 8, 2003 Bastien died of a heart attack in his Toronto apartment.
After Bastien's passing, tenor saxophone player Patrick Tevlin switched to the trumpet in order to take on the leadership of the group.
Clifford “Kid” Bastien was born in London England's East End in 1937. Bastien immigrated to Canada in 1962 after a brief stint in New Orleans. Bastien earned a reputation as a "guru of New Orleans jazz in Toronto". In 1968 Bastien founded the Kid Bastien's Camellia Jazz band, later to be renamed The Happy Pals. Bastien was now considered to be the foremost disciple of New Orleans trumpet legend Kid Thomas Valentine, whom Bastien had first witnessed playing at a neighborhood dance, at the Westwego Louisiana firehall. Bastien also gained a reputation for outlasting the revolving door of bar owners at Grossmans Tavern, and having personalities such as Woody Allen appear with him onstage.
On February 8, 2003 Bastien died of a heart attack in his Toronto apartment. After Bastien's passing, tenor saxophone player Patrick Tevlin switched to the trumpet in order to take on the leadership of the group.
The Happy Pals