Bob Nolan Bob Nolan was born on the Belleisle near Hatfield's Point on April 1, 1908 . In his teens, he moved to Arizona with his father. He was profoundly moved by the look and feel of the west, and wrote western poetry for both his high school and college newspapers. He drifted to Southern California in the late 1920's. There he set many of his poems to music. After appearing with several groups, he and two others formed The Pioneer Trio.
He changed his name from Robert Clarence Nobles to Bob Nolan. Another member of the group, Leonard Slye, also changed his name. He became famous as Roy Rogers. The third member of the trio was Tim Spencer. Later they were joined by Hugh and Karl Farr and the group became known as The Sons of the Pioneers.
Along with their harmony, the song writing of Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer made the group stand out. “Tumbling Tumbleweeds”, and “Cool Water” have become classics.
He left the world an exceptionally rich legacy of classic western songs, hundreds of records and radio transcriptions and over 100 movies in which he had acting and singing parts.
Bob Nolan died on June 16, 1980 , at his home in Southern California .
Charlie Russell Charlie Russell was born on July 11, 1937 in Nelson-Miramichi. He came from a musical family. He began playing the harmonica at the age of nine and soon graduated to guitar and accordion. He sang and performed around his home town for years. As a teenager he helped form a dance band called “The Gators”. His first professional appearance came in 1958 when he played guitar behind folksinger Alan Mills who was giving a concert during the Miramichi Folk Song Festival.
In 1966, Charlie entered and won the Maine-MaritimesHootenay Championship in Woodstock . He was singing the satirical folksong, “Duffy's Hotel”. Charlie was to make an enviable reputation with satirical songs.
His debut as a disc jockey came in 1969 while working as comptroller of radio station CJCJ in Woodstock . He took over the shift when one of the DJ's left and continued doing this as well as his comptroller's job until 1983. During this period, he did a great deal to promote Canadian country music artists and in 1975 received the first Country DJ Of The Year for Canada award.
About this time he began to be recognized for his satirical song writing. He wrote and recorded “The Bricklin”. While the car failed, the song became a hit. Other hits include “On Parliament Hill”, and “Let's Bring the Ponies Back”. He has written more than 50 songs. A learned paper on “Goodtime Charlie and the Bricklin” was presented at the Canadian Historical Association in 1977.
Charlie's no longer a DJ, but he's still writing songs, and plans to do more performing and recording.
The Bunkhouse Boys were probably the most popular local country group ever to operate around Moncton . The long running radio and TV show spanned nearly two decades. It was one of the few Maritime shows ever to attract a national sponsor.
The Bunkhouse Boys got their start in 1944 when brothers Len, Laurie and Gerry Myers organized their own band. They called themselves the Lone Star Boys and quickly became popular around the “ Hub City ”.
In 1946 they were signed to a weekly radio show over CKCW Moncton. The Myers brothers changed their name to The Bunkhouse Boys for their new radio show. Later they began appearing at various centres as well as in rural community halls staging jamborees and dances.
By December, 1954, when CKCW began its first telecasting, it was natural the first live weekly music program would be The Bunkhouse Boys. Soon the program was carried on the CBC Atlantic Network and was sponsored by the Quaker Oats Company of Canada .
This company produced several records, pictures and mementos of the Bunkhouse Boys which they offered for sale.
At the height of their popularity, the band featured Gerry Myers, guitar and vocals; Jimmy Chapman, vocals, mandolin and fiddle; Florence Brown, vocals; Angus Robichaud, fiddle; Bill Budd, lead guitar; and Armand “Curly” Richard on accordion.
PAGE TWO of 1984 INDUCTEES CLICK HERE
