Page 28 - Jerry Hollard: Fathers and Son

ISSUE : Issue 48

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1988/6/1

He called it marathon fiddling, was his handle for that type of thing. He said, "Look, boy." He said, "I learned a thing, luckily, at an early age. It's better to have people wanting more than having too damn much." (That's really a theory of showmanship.) Oh, sure, oh definitely so. I think that was the most valuable lesson -I learned from that man. (Not timing, not rhythm, not a certain kind of clean playing?) You could say I studied that--more or less I studied that from afar. It wasn't something that he said, "This is the way you do it," or "That's the way you do it." I think he had the attitude that "It's nice that you ad? mire my playing." How can I put it? "You've got a good style of your own. Continue to build on it and work at it," was more or less his attitude. I don't think the man realized what impact on Cape Breton music in general that he had. My belief has al? ways been he didn't have any idea of what WE'RE PROUD TO SHARE... Scottish and Acadian Festivals Hiking trails, picnic and camping parks Museums and heritage The warmest waters north of the Carolinas! Cottage crafts and works of art The Cape Breton highlands National Park Fresh and salt water fishing Horse racing, canoeing, and other sports Fine accommodations, gift shops Restaurants Wildlife The Sunset Side '/i'' of Cape Breton Requests for Visitor's Guide, brochures, and general information may be made to: Inverness County Department of Recreation/Tourism P.O. Box 179. Port Hood, N.S. BOE 2W0 (902)787-2274 impact he had on Cape Breton music. Or Scottish fiddle music in general, period. And if he did, he surely, surely never showed it. I would rather think that he had no idea of what impact he had on Scottish fiddle music in general, is the way I'd rather think of it. (There must have been a time when you want? ed to be Winston.) Oh, sure, it definitely was Winston, sure. (Did you listen to those records and try to...) Oh, definitely, yes. And in a lot of cases had been told that, you know, "as good as," or "next to," and so on. And I learned early, as my style ma? tured, I think will tell its tale, that you could see who my main influence was, all right, being Winston. In some cases it was Bill; in some cases it was Angus. Different tune groupings. (You'd take a Winston medley and try to play it as Winston played it.) Exactly. And as Bill Lamey played it. Or as my dad played it. Or as Auby Foley would have played it, or Angus Gillis. (So you'd take the medley that the person had, and was known for that medley.) Pretty well. (His way of playing the medley.) As close as I could. In some cases they didn't end up sounding exactly like the person I tried to portray. Maybe my own stylings were coming through in some cases. But my interests were there, in the tune groupings, as well Cape Breton Auto Radiator co. RADIATOR HOSES • REPAIRING • CLEANING • RECORING COMPLETE CYLINDER HEAD SERVICE 518 Grand auto * truck * industrial Sydney Lake Road Complete Line of Gas Tanks 564-6362 Superior Service: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Automatic Delivery: every 12 or Quperior Marketing a Complete Line of Propane Burning Appliances Superior Propane Off Hwy. #305, Leitches Creek, Sydney 539-1060 Cape Breton Mental Health Centre Services: Psychotherapy ~ Individual Counselling ~ Marriage & Family Counselling Group Therapy ~ Consultation to Agencies, Schools, etc. Drug Therapy ~ Forensic Assessment ~ Psychological Testing Parenting ~ Children's Services Referrals accepted from all sources. You can even refer yourself. Please Call 562-3202 or 562-3110 or 562-3333 Main Location: 1st Floor, Cape Breton Hospital, Sydney River Satellite Clinics Serve These Areas: North Sydney ~ Glace Bay ~ New Waterford ~ Neil's Harbour Ingonish ~ Cheticamp ~ Baddeck ~ St. Peter's

Cape Breton's Magazine