Dr. Wally Bartfay is a retired Professor and former Associate Dean (Aug. 2024) for the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. He also served as Director for various undergraduate programs including BHSc, BAH, BHAdmin. Programs. He is also affectionately known as the “Rock N’ Prof” by his students because he often plays original songs that he has written prior to the commence of lectures to create certain vibes and buzzes in his classes. His music has appeared on Euro Indie Network Music Chart lists top 1 and 3; World Indie Music Chart lists top 1 and 2; BWNR music list top 5, and the US Top 20 Show- Weekly Pulse of Music at No. 18. In 2024, he had three No. hits on the World Indie Music Top 100 Music chart lists and Euro Indie Network Music Chart lists: 1. You’re My Beautiful; 2. Little Sunshine Girl and 3. Cherry Hill Gal. In 2025, Wrote This Song To Say Goodbye Girl hit No. 1 on August 13, 2025. Wally has also done research related to the benefits of music therapy as a nonpharmacological intervention with patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. He got interested in researching the clinical benefits of music as medicine after his father was diagnosed with vascular dementia following a series of strokes that left him bed bound in a nursing home. Ironically, this is the same nursing home that he used to put on volunteer Christmas concerts for during his youth in his community. He is passionate about song writing and his songs often reflect personal experiences and challenges that he has faced over the years. Each song contains components of his genuine lived experiences, heart, and soul as an artist.

Where are you based?
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

How long have you been making music?
Doing public performances since age 9.

What genre would you consider your music to be?
Country-rock

What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I’m a retired university professor who researched the benefits of music as medicine.

What are your biggest musical influences?
Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones, Gordon Lightfoot, Alabama, The Eagles

Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
Indie artist

What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
Rediscovered song writing during COVID. Currently retired professor seeking second career as song writer and artist.

How many songs or albums have you released to date?
2 full albums

Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
Ripples of Time-This song tells the story of an aging former Walk of Fame movie star who once basked in the Hollywood limelight and was everyone’s sweetheart on the silver screen. With the passage of time, fewer screen roles come her way, and she begins to depend on red wine to cope with her depression and grief. Eventually, she decides to end it all. Indeed, glory, fame and fortune are a young girl’s game in Hollywood, which is riddled with stereotypes of beauty and youth. This emotional and moving song is a dedication to those who have taken their lives over the years in Hollywood and elsewhere due to societal pressures to retain their youth, beauty and fame.

Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
Yes. Working on new rock single entitled “Old School Rock N’ Roll”

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