HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1962-12-20, Page 17f41
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on that Holy Night
Iessed memory,
the message of
stmas enter the
its of mankind.
peace and good
be with
and yours.
LOCKR1DGE BUTCHER SHOP
NGHAM ONTARIO
FORMOSA SPRING BREWERY
RMOSA
LIMITED
ONTARIO
AL CHERNY
St. Francis
Set the Stage
Did you ever wonder about
the origin of the custom of dis-
playing the Christ Child in the
crib at Christmas time? These
displays have become increas-
ingly popular, so that this
Christmas we will find manger
scenes in churches, store win-
dows, even in out -door loca-
tions.
Credited with the idea of
the first display is St. Francis
of Assisi, who is reported to
have said to one of his follow-
ers; "I wish to celebrate Holy
Christmas night with you. In
the woods near the cloister you
will find a cave where we shall
arrange a manger filled with
hay. We shall have an ox and
an ass as at Bethlehem. Iwish
to see how poor and miserable
the Infant Saviour became for
us."
This was in the small vil-
lage of Garcia, in Italy, in the
year 1200. St. Francis and his
followers celebrated mass at
the cave and sang hymns in
honor of the Christ Child.
"Have you anything to say for
yourself?" the magistrate asked
a woman convicted of shop-
lifting.
"Yes, your worship, " she re-
plied. "I take only goods made
in Canada."
Il`
To our many good friends and
customers we would like to extend the
greetings of the Season and our
tvartnest appreciation for your valued patronage,
Wingham
Public Utilities Commission
btanwettnit
Wingham Advance -'Pikes, Thursday, Dec, 20, 1962
Musican � Al Country Hoedown and the local
Ch ern y Is Now Western Roundup for the tng season. All other ,dans are
Considered to Be Top
Ficidler
tentative, but this year inks
out like other years, methinks
by Vonni Lee
About the busiest guy mak-
ing his way through the music
circles of Western Ontario these
days, is a tall (6'1"), fair-
haired, and handsome cowboy
who answers to the name of Al
Cherny. He and his violin are
equally at horne at the CBC
studios in Toronto where he ap-
pears weekly on 'Country Hoe-
down', or at any place where
musicians happen to gather. He
is also becoming nearly perm-
anent property in a small On-
tario town called Shelburne,
where for two consecutive years
he captured both the open and
novelty fiddling championships,
and this year ran a close second
to first prize winner Ned Lan-
dry in the open class.
Born in Medicine Hat, Al-
berta in 1932, and an only
child, his parents bought him a
violin and started him playing
it at the age of ten, with the
idea of seeing him as a great
concert violinist some day. He
took lessons on the instrument
for 31 years, and although he
too enjoyed the beautiful strains
of Tchaikovsky and Dvorak, he
found himself turning more and
more to lighter music, and
gradually changing his violin
into a 'fiddle', At 17, he
made his first professional ap-
pearance in Calgary, Alberta,
with a six -piece western band
called 'Vic Siebert and the Sons
of the Saddle'. He was with
this band for 22 - 3 years, tour-
ing throughout the western pro-
vinces from British Columbia
to Manitoba, and starring in a
radio show in Calgary.
When he was 20 years old,
in 1953, he met an accordion-
ist in Calgary, whb happened
to know of a small band in the
little town of Wingham, On-
tario, which was led by a friend
of his, Earl Heywood. Al got
in touch with Earl and left his
western home to become 'top
fiddler' in Earl's band. Today
he is leader of the small band
many changes have been made
ince that time) and is consi-
dered 'top fiddler' by people
all over Canada.
He admits now that he never
eally thought of becoming a
usician. Through school (he
g
of his Senior Matriculation,
as an average student), his
main ambition was to become
telegrapher for the railway,
ut when he discovered how
much he enjoyed 'fiddling' and
with the chance to see the
ountry, he decided that music
ould become his livelihood.
re now says western music is
is first love, but hang a gol-
en earring on his ear, and my
et is he becomes a gypsy
iolinist. 'Gypsy' is a word
hat comes sneaking into his
onversation just when you
ren't looking, and also gets
he nod for his favorite type of
stening music, along with
zz, 'Italiano', and "any-
ing with a beat!" About his
vorite singers, he say's "I
ke 'em all"; but he did drop
few names like Ella Fitz-
erald, Della Reese and the
rt Van Damm Quintet,
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As far as playing music is
concerned, he can play almost
anything, ranging from western
to 'Gypsy' to 'swing' to beauti-
ful old standards. Classical
Beigrave
Late for last week
Mr, and Mrs. Russel Walker
of Goderich visited over the
week -end with Mr, and Mrs.
Lewis Stonehouse Ind Mrs.
Robert Stonehouse. Also pre-
sent were Mr. and Mrs. Nor-
man Stonehouse of London.
Mr. and Mrs. William
Coultes and family visited on
Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Ken
Alton of Lucknow,
Mrs, R. H. Coultes is visi-
ting a few days with Mr. and
Mrs. Russel Walker of Goderich,
violin music is far from his
mind for, although he enjoys
hearing it, he admits there is
little future in it, especially
in Canada. He has no idol,
just wants to do 'his' best and
become a personality on his
own talents, He believes in do-
ing one thing only and doing
it well. For this reason he
plays no other instruments (al -
,though he does plink a guitar
occasionally), and only seldom
sings, but just for fun he says.
"If you're a fiddler, you should
be a fiddler", he believes,
which is rather a shame since
he has a great voice for warb-
ling. He watches TV in spurts
for three days in a row, than
not for another week or two.
His favorite shows are variety
and musical shows, situation
comedies and 'anything that
entertains'.
Last year he was chosen for
a European tour of armed for-
ces' bases in France, Germany
and England. He was part of a
group of eighteen entertainers,
including Bert Niosi and his
orchestra, Gordie Tapp, Tom-
my Common, The Lounsbury
Sisters and Ruth Walker, who
spent two weeks doing two
shows nightly for Canadian ser-
vice boys. When asked what
place impressed him the most,
his face lit up and he said
"Paris" ! There apparently is
just no place like it! Although
he prefers a more settled life
to touring, he said he would
love to go to Japan, Russia, or
'even the Congo, if I'm asked'.
His work on Country Hoe-
down has also led to country-
wide popularity, and the fact
that he is now rating fan mail.
Most of this comes from people
who wish to,comment on a
number that he did on the show,
or from up-and-coming cham-
pion fiddlers who want informa-
tion about a song he has played
or the make of violin he plays.
Although he maintains homes
at various locations, he spends
little time at any one of them.
Generally, to Al, home is
where he hangs his hat.
In both 1960 and 1961, he
walked off with trophies which
denoted him the Canadian open
old-time fiddle champion and
Canadian novelty -fiddling
champion, at Shelburne, On-
tario. Quite understandably,
it left him walking on air.
This year, after a bout of ill-
ness and against doctor's orders
he competed again in the open
class, but bowed out of the
novelty class. He walked
away with second prize, sur-
rendering his title to a man
he has defeated the last two
years, Ned Landry. Contrary
to what many believe, his con-
tract on Country Hoedown was
NOT a result of his Shelburne v
fame. In fact, negotiations
heartbreaking business to be in,
and no father wishes to see his
Son suffer heartbreak. How-
ever, if Peter should decide to
be a singer or musician, Al
would no doubt be the first to
give him his blessing.
As far as the Cherny future is
concerned, he returned to both
A
he will be busy a great deal of
the time. We certainly hope
so, since he is, by far, Western
Ontario's "big star", in every
sense of the word! When I ask-
ed him if he suffered from a
swelled head, he answered, "i
certainly hope not" . I answered
quickly, "Don't worry. You
don't." And, for once, l told
a BIG truth.
Tay.v.nrovrAzokmort4261:zwir,,avprom^20107''."702m,
Let glad tidings ring out this Joyous
Christmas!
FRANK C. HOPPER
CANADA LIFE
REPRESENTATIVE
for his TV work were completed
before his first winnings.
I asked Al, "What is the
best advice you have ever had?'
After thinking awhile, he
said, "Sell yourself". Do not
ride along on everyone else's
bandwagon, get one of your
own. Be an individual, be
yourself. Being himself has
more than paid off for Al
Cherny.
In his spare time, which is
very infrequent these days, Al
spends his time with his family:
his wife Marion and their son
Peter. Coming to Wingham
was more than a break for Al,
for it was while working in the
CKNX Barn Dance that he met
his petite blonde wife when
she was one-half of a duo who
sang on the show. His parents
still live in Medicine Hat; he
visits them whenever he gets
a chance,
His son Peter will choose
his own career, but Al will not
encourage show business. It is
much too uncertain a life and
a constant struggle to get to
the top and stay at the top.
Also, it is perhaps the most
A
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Downie Sunoco Service
.21
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In the true spirit of the
season, may joy fill your heart. 4
MILLER'S LADIES' WEAR
AND STAFF