Syd Moore was born in Nanaimo in 1909. He worked as a meat cutter at a number of local stores, including Eatons and Safeway. Moore was best known as a musician, playing the banjo and the ukelele in a variety of bands including the "Swingsters" with George Pimlock and Stan Brinham, "Syds Serenaders" with Alan Galloway, Enid Galloway, Wilf Turner and Godfrey Stewart and later, the "Bowenaires." Syd served in the navy in World War II and, shortly after, married Myrtle (maiden name unknown).