Cape Breton's Magazine

There were a couple of performers from Scotland who overheard this. And they went in and they complained to the producer that this solitary fiddler was making X amount of dollars, and they figured, being big stars, they should be making that much more. And (the producer)--I'11 never forget this--we were blocking the program. And (he) comes racing out of the studio onto this floor, in front of all the camera peo? ple, in front of all the stage crew, in front of all the fiddlers and piano players and guests. He walks up straight to Dan R. He said (changing his voice again), "Under no circumstances are you ever to divulge what you are making!" He said, "I had some complaints about that." He said, "And lis- "N) man is an island, entire of itself..? (John Donne, 1572-1631) Today's global marketplace enlarges our opportunities. And our challenges. The spirit of teamwork has never been more important. At Enterprise Cape Breton and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation we work with business-minded people to build for the future. We're here to counsel, support and encourage men and women whose vision and determination is creating jobs and an improved economic climate. Miracles.? Not likely. But solid achievement and, over time, a better way of life in Eastern Nova Scotia.'' YES. We firmly believe in that. Working with ACOA; working with governments at every level, working with people who can make things happen, we're here to help. Enterprise Cape Breton • ' Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation P.O. Box 2001, Commerce Tower, 15 Dorchester Street, Sydney, Nova Scotia BIP 6K7 564-3614 #1' Part of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ten," he said, "Dan R., I have a good mind to send you back to Mabou right now." And he gave him hell. He gave Dan R. hell in front of everybody for at least 5 minutes. He said, "And I could fire you now. I could send you back." And he stormed back into the control room. And Dan R. was sitting, and he turned around and he said, "Well, whatever I did," he said, "I don't think it was as bad as the Watergate affair!" Which was happening at that time. When Dan R. said that, he hit the nail on the head right there...and that broke the tension. John Donald: In Dan R.'s case, I always felt for many years that he didn't get the credit he de? served. Back in the '50s we used to feel that. John Allan and I used to--we were his nephews, and we really felt that he really wasn't getting the credit that he deserved. At that time there were only two people com? posing music (in any great quanti? ty) --Cape Breton traditional mu? sic . That was, in that traditional vein. Dan R. (MacDonald) and Dan Hugh MacEach? ern. Before that --20 years or so before that, or 10, 15--Gordon MacQuarrie was composing quite a few tunes. But other than them, there were very few. Dan Hughie and Dan R. were the mainstays of keeping it alive, as far as compos? ing new music, for sure. (People) just hear the tunes, you know. They learn to play them and never really realize where they came from. Perhaps don't care or--I don't know what it is. 13