New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame 1984 Inductees

Perry W. Craft was born on March 30, 1928 , in Cambridge , Queens Co., NB. Perry first became interested in “Country Music” when he listened to Don Messer and His New Brunswick Lumberjacks on the radio. This influenced him to take violin lessons. He quickly became bored with classical music and decided to apply what he had learned to playing country music. By the time he was 16, he was playing for dances all around the country.
In 1948, he joined the Maritime Farmer Barn Dance Band in Saint John . They had a half-hour radio show each Saturday night and played for dances four to six nights a week. They also toured Nova Scotia playing at various locations throughout the province. In 1957, the band had a half-hour show on CHSJ-TV each week.
Perry's work forced him to give up band work in 1958, but he continued to play and enter competitions when his work permitted. He still plays for special functions and gatherings around the province.
Perry took first place in the Fiddle Contest at the Atlantic National Exhibition in 1967 and 1968 and second place in 1982 and 1983.
Perry and his wife Marilyn live in Quispamsis. They have two children, Mrs. Barbara Lowney and Dr. James Craft, both of Saint John .

Geraldine (Kennedy)Copeland remembers composing her first poem at age 10 for a school Christmas Play. It was called, Gift of God”. Since then she has written hundreds of poems, as well as books, and has over 500 songs placed with BMJ. A number of her songs have been recorded and performed by name artists. “Jerry” first heard her songs performed over radio when the late Karl Loftstrom sang them over his show on Radio Station CFNB. They included “Where The Stars in God's Crown Shine Forever”, “The Answer to You're Alone In Your Mansion On The Hilltop”, and “Once, Only Once”.
Her most famous song, “The Rose Upon the Bible”, was included on an LP by Stu Davis in the late 1950's and later was recorded by Don Messer and His Islanders. This song was always sung by Marg Osborne and Charlie Chamberlain on Messer's Mothers' Day TV Show. Some of the other artists to perform her songs are: Russ Wheeler, Allan Sherwood, Aubrey Hanson and Bob Rowan.
In 1941 she married Lewis Copeland and they have resided in the Chipman area for many years. The Copelands have four sons and one daughter.
Geraldine is active in church and community work. She has been an organizer of two Kindness Clubs and has had poems published in many publications. One of her books is called “Mellow Memories”. At present a complete manuscript of all her works is being published. It is titled, “Sunbeams, Dewdrops and Petals”.

Aubrey Hanson The founder of the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame was born in Fredericton and has lived here all his life. He first started playing the guitar when he was six and has added the mouth organ, banjo and mandolin, plus a little on a few other instruments since then.
His first professional jobs were with Bert Creagan and Ned Landry, among others. He was a close friend and associate of the late Karl Lofstrom.
For many years, every Saturday night has found Aubrey playing for a dance somewhere in New Brunswick . He played the banjo with the Smokey Mokes Minstrel Show and toured with the group when they traveled. He also spent many years as a drummer with The Pipe Band of the Fredericton St . Andrews Society.
For over twenty-five years, his 6:35 am Saturday radio show has gone forth over Radio Station CFNB and has listeners all over the Maritime Provinces.
One of the highlights of Aubrey's career was touring with Wilf Carter in 1978. He has also appeared with Don Messer, “Doc” Williams, and many others.
Still active with his band, The Country Ramblers, Aubrey plays many shows and dance dates. He has had three record albums released, the latest of which is, “Aubrey Hanson, A Maritime Legend”.

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