The Whiskey Jack line-up is not to be missed. These venerable talents have been buddies for many years, and it shows in their performance. They each bring their own personal creative influence to this ever-evolving amalgam of the music they love. And since they've surprisingly made many friends along the way, you are bound to see a selection of their notorious musical pals joining them in the fun on stage at any given time.
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| photo by Norm Betts |
Duncan Fremlin, one of Canada’s premier banjo players, met co-founding member of Whiskey Jack, mandolin/fiddle player John Hoffman in 1977, through what they like to refer to as a “musicians’ dating service” – a peg board at a local music store. They liked playing together so much that they promptly quit their day jobs and began a seemingly endless tour of Canadian musical venues as Whiskey Jack. Untold numbers of musicians have been lured into the Whiskey Jack web, and now after 30 years this band is still going strong and performing some of the finest music in its history.
See
Duncan's Blog
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| photo by Norm Betts |
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Bob McNiven, our official “son of a preacher man”, spent his childhood criss-crossing North America with the "Singing McNiven Family". Then, throughout his misspent youth, he played the proverbial road warrior with country rock bands "Open Road" & "Derby, Saunders and McNiven". We’re pretty sure Bob knows every song ever written. He’s also a stellar songwriter who has contributed many fine tunes to the band’s huge repertoire.
Eric Jackson has been a mainstay in the double bass community in the Canadian music scene since the early 1970's. Well versed in all styles of music, his musical portfolio includes the Humber River Valley Boys, Terry Sumsion, Swing Street and now Whiskey Jack. Eric has been a friend of Whiskey Jack for many decades now and they're thrilled to have him on board.
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| photo by Gary Beechey |
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| photo by Gary Beechey |
Howard Willett, vocalist and harmonica player extraordinaire, stepped into the band like he’d been playing with us since day one. That can only come from one place, experience. He toured internationally with "B.W. Pawley", "The Shifters", and the "Good Old Boys", but has achieved fame coast to coast as the leader and vocalist for Canada’s number one western swing band,
The Bebop Cowboys. His credits on CBC radio and TV, and TV Ontario, are extensive.
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| photo by Norm Betts |
Randy Morrison first stepped on stage with Whiskey Jack to help mark their 30th anniversary. Since then, he has won the prestigious Canadian Bluegrass Award for fiddle player of the year five years running. This premier fiddle player combines the sounds of legendary players like: Ward Allen, Don Messer, Al Cherny and Graham Townsend. Randy has performed with top country artists such as, Gordie Tapp from TV's Hee Haw, CBC Television's Bluegrass Band "Whiskey Jack" and Canada's polka king and Grammy award winner Walter Ostenak.
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| Photo by Norm Betts |
Jen Cook is the newest member of the band. She has been a mainstay in the Canadian music scene for many years. Besides performing on stage and in theatre, she's a renowned vocal coach and teacher, directing singers and purveyors of the spoken word on how to do it right!
