Cape Breton's Magazine

Photo on opposite page: 1990 Cast. Back row: John Hollls (with sax), Doris Mason, Max MacDo? nald, Bette MacDonald, Neil Ro? bertson, Berkley Lamey, Matt Min? glewood, Marcel Doucet. Front row: Maynard Morrison, Marilyn MacDonald, Fred Lavery. Photos on right: To many, 1990 was "The Year of the Fish." wasn't all that much athletics going on there. But there was a guy named Fred Tomie who ran the place, who was the only guy in Sydney or surrounding areas at that time who would hire a Cape Breton band who was playing songs about Cape Breton. Nobody else would hire a band like that. Not until we started drawing huge crowds to Fred Tomie's. But Fred Tomie is the one that created a place for Matt Minglewood to work, for Sam Moon to work, for bands from Whitney Pier to work, for Buddy and the Boys to work. Fred Tomie is the unsung hero, as far as I'm concerned, of the development of orig? inal Cape Breton music. Because he--for whatever reasons--he created a stage for those works to be performed. Between Fred Tomie's and the Old College Pub, which was running around the same time, and served the same purpose. Buddy and the Boys used to play there in various incarnations. Sometimes as the Kelly Mountain Ramblers. That was our sort of acoustic act. When we didn't want to play electric music, we used to call ourselves that. But those two stages were just incredibly important. They were the only two stages in town where you could play. That was it. There was no other. If you work chronologically, I think that the Rotary Shows were really important be- • OPEN EVERY DAY: 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. • Country • Bluegrass • Rock • Folk Fiddle and Newfoundland Music Largest Atlantic Region IVIusic selection in Eastern Canada. Tap your toe to Cape Breton & Newfoundland Fiddle, Accordion & Folk Music, & "Down East" Presentations. Write or ask for our list of Newfoundland & Maritime Music. ~ Available by Mail Order ~ 2 miles south of CHETICAMP, on the Cabot Trail P.O.Box 516, Cheticamp, NS BOE 1H0 • Ph: (902)224-3782 cause they created a stage for people to work on. The Boardmores created not only a stage for people to work on, but also, what they added, was enabling people to have their own voice, to discover their own voice, the possibility of their own voice. You could write your own play. You could write a story about Cape Breton. So that was incredibly important. But then, Fred Tomie's and the College Pub--what they created was a stage where original music could be performed. So, all of those three things are very important. But they're all very connected. And I'm sure there's a lot of people in this com? munity who would find it a stretch to be able to connect the Rotary Club and Fred Tomie's club in Whitney Pier. But there's a clear link there. There's a clear his? torical link there, there's no question. Stephen MacDonald: We wanted to work. And I don't want to speak for everybody else. Danena's Restaurant and Take-Out LICENSED OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK ( Home Cooked Meals * Home Baking "' 383-2118 SOUTH HARBOUR on the Cabot Trail near Cape North