More popular than The Ed Sullivan Show or Bonanza, more popular than The Beverly Hillbillies or The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
This half-hour musical variety show was broadcast nationwide in Canada from 1959 until 1969.
It featured Don Messer and His Islanders, old-time instrumentalists led on the fiddle by Messer himself. (My mom's cousin Vic Mullen played guitar and banjo with them.) Marge Osbourne and Charlie Chamberlain were regular vocalists, and the fast-stepping Buchta Dancers provided colour and flair.
There was always a guest musician/singer/dancer. Stompin' Tom Connors (who deserves a whole other blog post) and Catherine McKinnon were among the guests.
The Best of Don Messer is one of releases in the 20th Century Masters series of CDs. Its liner notes say: "...Don Messer remains one of the best known names in Canadian fiddle playing. The 'down east' style he helped to develop... was characterized by jigs, reels, polkas and waltzes combined with Dixie, fox-trot and jive... His influence was and remains enormous, ...that great tradition including Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie McMaster..." This CD includes his original compositions Woodchopper's Breakdown and Flop-Eared Mule, along with covers of Red Wing and The Road to the Isles.
When the CBC canceled his show in 1969, there was nationwide protest, and debate in Canada's House of Commons. Messer died in 1973, but his memory is honoured by Canadian folk music fans. And merchandisers :) All kinds of Don Messer tourism stuff is available throughout Atlantic Canada.
As kids, many of us hardly paid attention to these people. The 1960s were the days of the Beatles and The Guess Who and Trudeaumania. We had other things on our minds. But now I'm glad to watch their black-and-white clips on YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNCyddtqZEU ) and listen to their CDs.
[Two current news stories should be in our thoughts and prayers today:
(1) The looming oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/30/AR2010043000805.html
(2) The new, stricter Arizona state immigration law: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/28/critics-blast-arizona-immigration-law-throwback-jim-crow/ ]
The Guess Who! Now you're talking. That was one of my first post-Beatles fave bands - and probably my first exposure to Canadian rock 'n roll. Burton Cummings has, to me, one of the greatest voices in rock history. I know that has nothing at all to do with Don Messer and his fabulous fiddle, but you brought them up. ;)
ReplyDeleteI did, didn't I? I remember they had a TV show for awhile, out of Winnipeg, I think, but I might be mistaken...
ReplyDelete