Red River Valley Old-Time Fiddler Andy DeJarlis (nee DesJarlais 1914-1975) was born in Woodridge, Manitoba. His great-grandfather was an early settler in the Red River Valley, where the Assiniboine and the Red Rivers meet. His grandfather used to play the fiddle on the Red River steamboats for Sunday afternoon entertainment. In those days the settlers acquired their fiddles by trading pelts with the fur traders, many of whom came from Scotland. As the strains of Scottish bagpipe music floated across the Red River, these sounds were imitated by the settlers on their fiddles. In this way, Canada's early settlers gave birth to the Red River style of fiddling for dances, including the famous "Red River Jig". Steeped in this tradition, it is only natural that Andy's compositions "Caribou Reel", Moccasin Reel", Whiskey Before Breakfast", "Woodridge Breakdown", and many other fiddle tunes should bear the stamp of his forefathers. Andy began to play the fiddle when he was fifteen, and at seventeen he had won his first fiddle competition. He formed his own dance band in Winnipeg, and for close to forty years 'Andy DeJarlis And His Early Settlers' played for Old-Time dances in Canada and the United States. It was his wish to pay a musical tribute to Canada's early settlers.

Before the release of the authentic Red River Jig by London Records, Andy DeJarlis was the one and only fiddler to play the famous Red River Jig in its original form; today many fiddlers play this legendary piece of Metis dance music. A prolific composer of old-time fiddle tunes and songs, Andy composed over three hundred waltzes, jigs, reels, polkas and other Old-Time dances. He recorded over thirty-five albums of old time music and was winner of over thirty trophies and certificates. Andy held a deep affection for the Red River Valley area of Manitoba which he expressed especially in his compositions "Manitoba's Golden Boy", "Manitoba Special", "Manitoba Waltz", "Red River Waltz" and "Winnipeg Reel".

The beautiful Canadian old-time fiddle music we enjoy today is rooted in the waltzes, airs and strathspey of the early Scottish, Irish and French settlers, and these haunting melodies are present in the Red River Valley style of fiddling. In Canada today we enjoy the beautiful fiddle music as it is played in the Maritimes and Eastern Canada, blended with the Red River Valley style of fiddling common to the Prairies and Western Canada. This music, so much a part of our Canadian historical culture, provides a perfect setting for Old-Time square dancing -- and the popular, exciting art of step-dancing and Metis Jigging!


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