Cape Breton's Magazine

After that performance. Bill took me down. I didn't think he was ever go? ing to let me hit the floor, he just hugged and squeezed me that much. The performance really went over well. I've said many times, if it wasn't for Bill Lamey, I wouldn't be playing today. As we go along, I'll explain why. Or maybe it might be self- explanatory. (Tell me why.) Okay. As a kid, play? ing home, there was no incentive to really learn or go"on any further. There was an invitation at one point to come play at a dance. Bill saw me at one of the dances--I was only a young fellow. I can't remember whether he asked for me to go, or we just ended up go? ing to the dance. And Bill asked if--I think the first time was, would I play, like, on exhibition, at the dance. It went from that to playing the last figure of a square set. And eventually I played for the whole three figures of a square set. And with the encouragement and the incen? tive at--I guess you'd consider it the worst time possible in a young fellow's life--age of 14. Everything else seemed to be more important than the violin, and he was the fellow that kept poking at me, giv? ing me the incentive to continue on with it. Giving me the--more or less--job of playing one figure of a square set, or, as it progressed, playing the full sets. It was really good to have that kind of a push. The compliments as well as the en? couragement from him were what it took, and what I needed at the time to keep it up. (You're 14 years old, it's 1969. When you say everything else but the fiddle was im? portant, what do you mean?) Well, I guess-- girls were the biggest thing at that time. Opposite page: Jerry Holland at 12. Above: with his father, who was also Jerry Holland Anything except the fiddle--I guess, is just the easiest way to put it--was the most important. (What kind of plans did you have for your? self?) Well, at that point, other than wanting to come here, I didn't have much, at that point, as far as a view of what I wanted to do, other than--I figured at that time possibly car mechanic! Which wasn't quite what I think and feel and do today-- although I do mechanic work and carpentry. Those were two of the things that I had possible thoughts on following up as a ca? reer. Not thinking that this would have de? veloped into what it has, as far as the mu? sic portion of my life has been. Again, with his encouragement and the in? centives that he had given me in playing, in stages. I think that's where I have to thank him for that. It kept my interest enough to continue on, and learn more and learn different tunes and so on, to where I had a repertoire, that I wasn't afraid to FRESH SEAFOOD THE LOBSTER WHARF 494 Esplanade, on Sydney Harbour 539-8005 EAT ON OUR OPEN PATIO WHARF, OR TAKE IT HOME * GIFTS SHIPPED ANYWHERE HADDOCK * HALIBUT * SALMON ' SCALLOPS * LOBSTER BURGERS & CHOWDERS * MACKEREL * SMELTS * CLAMS At THE LOBSTER WHARF in North Sydney: LIVE & COOKED LOBSTERS CO-OP SERVICE STATION Kerosene Available Exhaust Repairs Complete Brake Service Motor Vehicle Inspection Minor Repairs Lube • Oil • Greases Top Quality ...at Low, Gasoline... 562-2315 Low Prices 503 PRINCE ST. • SYDNEY, N. S. THE TREASURE COVE GIFTS AND HANDCRAFTS High quality gifts and crafts from. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and abroad 1-902-564-8158 Children's books and toys - pre-school to 12 years 1-902-539-3035 Open Mon.-Sat. 9-6, Thurs.-Fri. until 9 74 Townsend St., Sydney, N. S. B1P 5C8