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Ned Landry honoured at St Thomas

Ned Landry among Distinguished Three Honoured by St. Thomas.

Stompin' Tom Connors and Ned Landry
Stompin’ Tom Connors and Ned Landry

Some of the most exciting events in New Brunswick’s long romance with the fiddle are taking place this summer!

And this past weekend folks who flocked to Harvey saw the kick off of it — the 100thAnniversary of Don Messer’s birth in the village of Tweedside near there on May 9, 1909. That event was the first of several to take place celebrating Messer’s life and the integral part he played in popularizing the Down East style of fiddle music through his network radio and television shows, Canada-wide summer tours and performing forays into the US as early as the 1930s.

And last Sunday at St. Thomas University in Fredericton three time North American fiddle champion Ned Landry, who began his long career with Don Messer’s New Brunswick Lumberjacks in 1934, was bestowed with an honorary doctorate by St. Thomas University at their 99th Convocation. Ned, born Frederick Lawrence Landry on February 2, 1921 in Saint John is a recipient of the Order of Canada and has also been honored with lifetime achievement awards by the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championships which named a trophy after him and the East Coast Music Awards. He is an inductee of the North American Fiddling Hall of Fame (in their New York State Shrine), the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall Of Fame. He has had a biography Master Of The Fiddle published of his life as well as many magazine and newspaper articles. Last year tunes he composed were a subject of a study at fiddle camps throughout Maine.

Ned credits his wife Mildred, who recently suffered a critical heart attack for providing the spark that led to the bestowal of his St. Thomas University doctorate. At a Miramichi concert last summer Mildred seated in the audience beside Professor Shanahan told him of Ned’s many accomplishments and his significant contributions to the world of music, noting that Ned’s cousin Tom Connors — Stompin’ Tom had received two honorary doctorates, the first one from St. Thomas in 1993. That was the stimulus that led to this honor being bestowed on him. As Ned said at the impressive reception and banquet, at the University’s spacious Conference Centre the previous night that although he, an 88 year old veteran of the Second World War, had only a grade five education, he was now a doctor — at least, an honorary one. That statement and his performance of a tune he recently composed, the STU (St. Thomas University) Special, both drew applause from the distinguished audience which included the faculty and the two others receiving honorary degrees at this year’s Convocation: First Nation’s writer, educator and actor Lee Maracle and the president of the Oblate School Of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, Rev. Ron Rolheiser, the author of 15 books of religious insight.

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Column Archives Memories Music History

Pegasus

Pegasus performs at Rising Star

Coffee House in Hampton NB

From the Taylor  COLUMN Archives, Saturday, Nov 5, 1994

Pegasus-winged horse of Greek legend- a constellation that can be seen well up in the evening skies of autumn in our northern heavens. Well, it’s autumn and Pegasus can be seen- and heard- a lot closer to Earth tonight, appropriately enough at the Rising Star coffeehouse in Hampton.

That is our Pegasus, a legend native to our particular area of North America; the instrumental duo of Allison Cran and Adrian Thorton.

A more appropriate encyclopedic defining of Pegasus explains it however; their licence to use the name. The Muses according to mythology held a contest. The music made at this competition charmed the streams and made Mont Helicon grow toward the heavens. Poseidon, the god, ordered Pegasus to strike it. He did with his hoof and the fountain of Hippocrene sprang forth. It’s waters inspired people to write poetry. In this way Pegasus is connected with poetry and music. A poet or composer is said to “mount his Pegasus when he begins to write.”

This modern Pegasus- Allison and Adrian- are two very skilled interpreters of the poetry of music. They have been entertaining and soothing Saint John audiences at receptions, weddings, parties and art and literature events for more than a decade.

Usually this respected duo- Allison on penny whistle, flute and recorder, Adrian on guitar and mandolin- is retained to create a pleasant atmosphere of low key intimate music, background interpretations of popular and classical melodies. But tonight in the non-regimented format of the Rising Star Coffeehouse they can really let their hair down and give their wildly inventive talents free rein.

Don’t miss it. Pegasus tonight along with the other very interesting duo, No Bridge To Walk. Sounds like a sequel to Woman Who Walks Far doesn’t it? I don’t think this musical pairing , Jen Mercer and Carl Killen share a drop of native blood; they do however share the ability to blend vocals beautifully. I heard them in concert at a Broadway Cafe Coffeehouse this summer in Sussex and was greatly impressed with the versatility of their repertoire, which merged modern folk style hits with originals, songs penned by Carl. They call their music acoustic rock and I guess that describes it.

Carl, the lead singer and instrumentalist has written more than 60 compositions so far. Vocalist Jan Mercer adds tight smooth harmonies that give any song interpreted by No Bridge To Walk a distinctive sound that is all it’s own.

Aside from these two great duos the Rising Star’s perennial favourite, Donnie Fowler, will be back with a wide and varied repertoire of songs. Another favourite Willie MacEwan is appearing for the first time in the solo spotlight with a selection of country standards. It is hoped that Valerie and Felicia MacDonald will also contribute a set of songs. Seating is at candlelit tables in the Masonic Hall on Church Street, just down the hill from the RCMP barracks beside the Catholic church.

Tickets $4 at the door. Barry MacDonald , as usual acts as emcee.

Also in this column,, Boiestown Jamboree, Clogger’s Workshop, Butler Family Concert and Frank Mills at Miramichi.

Sorry no photos available.