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Don Messer
and his Islanders
Born:  May 9, 1909
Died:  March 26, 1973
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame (1983)
Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame (1998)
CFBO St. John, NB
CFCY Charlottetown, PE
CHSJ St. John, NB


About The Artist

Don Messer started studying music witha well-known professor they said in Boston, Massachusetts, but that article in 1953 didn't mention who it was. He studied for five years then returned to St. John in New Brunswick, Canada. He organized a group, calling it "The Backwoods Trio" which included a violin, piano and banjo.

That band kept gaining popularity and the CBS network asked them to become a daily feature and also increase the size of their band. When the extra musicians were added, the band became known as "The Lumberjacks".

In 1939, he joined radio station CFCY in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and formed a band that became known as Don Messer and His Islanders. The popularity of the group took off, gaining them a show on the network as well as recording with the Apex Records label.

Don is a member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. We thought we'd at least get started with a small writeup on him as we go along. We have found several sites that provide more information about Don Messer's career. We invite you to check them out and if you find other sites of interest, by all means, let us know.

Credits & Sources

  • Country Song Roundup No. 22; February 1953; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT

Related Web Links

Don Messer's Violin

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)

 
Apex
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  26375 A Pete's Breakdown
  26375 B Kerry Mills Barn Dance


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