Cape Breton's Magazine

' "Well, we'll fix that, we'll get a pillow." She put a pillow under their feet and the prac? tice session went on and, I guess, all hands were happy and the records were made. That was well over 50 years ago. I knew Bernie quite well just since I came to Antigonish. He had the store there and he had a marvellous assortment of im? ported tunes and local tunes and books and some very rare music books. (Did Bernie ever tell you how he managed to persuade these people to go to Mon? treal to record their music?) No. If Bernie was anything he certainly wasn't a self- promoter. So anything he told, you'd have to multi? ply by at least two because he was a master of under? statement and he would nev? er boast in any way. But I think Bernie had a great love of the music and he be? lieved in the music and he wanted posteri? ty to have the music. He wanted the music to be preserved. (Was he a musician himself?) I don't know that. I wouldn't have thought so, but perhaps. But, you know, he sought out and he had some fine piano players re? corded. People like Alexander MacLean. And there were a number of discoveries that he made. I think" on that first trip now--and I'm subject to correction--Gordon MacQuar? rie was supposed to have made that trip as well, and I think that he and Bernie had had a falling-out of some sort. But Angus Chisholm had just returned home from Bos? ton and he was a substitute fiddler. But, actually, those recordings that he made were just memorable. I mean they're phe? nomenal, you know. That's just the way that these things work out.... I don't think that Bernie Maclsaac was ev? er adequately recognized for his contribu? tion and I don't feel that CJFX got enough credit either. Cameron Chisholm of Margar? ee Forks stated in Allister MacGillivray's book. The Cape Breton Fiddler, "Only for Top: Bernie Maclsaac, founder of Celtic Records; and his first Celtic Music Store in Antigonish. Above and right: 3 unidentified snapshots from Ber- nie's photo collection. WIN A FREE CASSETTE TAPE! The first two people who can identify any of I the musicians in the 3 photos above will receive a free copy of the Winston "Scotty" Fitzge? rald cassette, "Classic Cuts." Write to Cape Breton's Afa'raz/zie,Wreck Cove, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia BOC 1H0 (FAX 902-539-9117). CJFX. I don't believe there would be as many fiddlers as there are today." I believe I have fulfilled my vocation in life by being able to continue playing the music. I believe the music is and has always been much stronger than any opposition to it. So if anybody thinks they are going to push it off the radio or the TV they.... I think that it's CJFX's goal to see that it is deep-rooted and that it stays. (Now Ray, tell me, you started your radio LeBlanc Siding Ltd. Island Vinyl Siding Ltd. >ir -rw Authorized Dealer for Afi4 YCAN Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Aluminum Windows & Doors Shutters/Softfit/ Fascia/ Awnings Heavy Duty Vinyl Replacement Windows 109 Reservoir Road SYDNEY Professional Installation of Aluminum & Vinyl Siding in Cape Breton for over 18 years. FREE ESTIMATES, and any siding inquiries, Call Collect: BRUCE or SONNY MacPHERSON 539-3665 & 539-4626