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Ottawa Valley Melodiers

About the Group About The Group The Ottawa Valley Melodiers were a Canadian act that we discovered were playing over CHOV in Pembroke, Ontario and CFRA in Ottawa, Ontario around 1953. The band was first organized in 1937 with the exception of Karen Shaw and Maurice Charron. They disbanded for a time during World War II, but reorganized in 1948, adding Karen and later, Maurice in 1952. In 1952, they entertained thousands of fans at the Central Canada Exhibitions in Ottawas where they had a nightly two-hour show that were broadcast over CFA from the Bandshell. In late 1953, they were doing a weekly Saturday night show over CHOV and a weekly Thursday night barn dance that aired over CFRA from the Pineland Pavilion in Ottawa. Timeline and Trivia Notes Group Members included: Mac Beattie, leader, drummer and washboard, vocals, especially novelty numbers Karen Shaw, piano, accordion and mandolin Horace Blanchette, fiddle and saxophone, bass vocalist Garnet Scheel, steel and Spanish guitars, vocals Gaeton Fairfield, bass fiddle, Spanish guitar, tenor vocals Maurice Charron, fiddle and Spanish guitar Credits & Sources Cowboy Songs No.28; September 1953, American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT.