John Allan Cameron, one of Canada's music pioneers, died Wednesday morning in Ontario after a three-year battle with bone cancer.
The Cape Breton-born entertainer influenced a generation of artists, and fans say he was Celtic when the genre wasn't cool.
During the 1960s and '70s, Cameron led the charge for traditional Scottish music. Gradually, he won the loyalty of thousands of music lovers from coast to coast.
His ability to play Scottish pipe and fiddle tunes on the guitar were a surefire crowd pleaser everywhere, even at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, where he appeared in 1972 as a complete unknown.
"I was more surprised than any of them," Cameron said in an interview. "I knew the audience was with me, but I didn't expect the response, which was about two minutes of an ovation."
The John Allan Cameron Show, which ran on television nationally from 1975 to 1981, made him a household name in Canada. The program also introduced Canadians to a number of talented performers, including the now-legendary Stan Rogers.
Cameron was named to the Order of Canada in 2003.
His work is seen as the spark that lit the resurgence of the traditional art form in the past two decades. The Rankins, the Barra MacNeils, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac can all attribute some of their success to his trailblazing efforts.
People in the music business say they will continue to refer affectionately to Cameron as the "godfather" of Celtic music in Canada.
> John Allan Cameron, one of Canada's music pioneers, died Wednesday > morning in Ontario after a three-year battle with bone cancer.
> The Cape Breton-born entertainer influenced a generation of artists, > and fans say he was Celtic when the genre wasn't cool.
> During the 1960s and '70s, Cameron led the charge for traditional > Scottish music. Gradually, he won the loyalty of thousands of music > lovers from coast to coast.
> His ability to play Scottish pipe and fiddle tunes on the guitar were a > surefire crowd pleaser everywhere, even at the Grand Old Opry in > Nashville, where he appeared in 1972 as a complete unknown.
> "I was more surprised than any of them," Cameron said in an interview. > "I knew the audience was with me, but I didn't expect the response, > which was about two minutes of an ovation."
> The John Allan Cameron Show, which ran on television nationally from > 1975 to 1981, made him a household name in Canada. The program also > introduced Canadians to a number of talented performers, including the > now-legendary Stan Rogers.
> Cameron was named to the Order of Canada in 2003.
> His work is seen as the spark that lit the resurgence of the > traditional art form in the past two decades. The Rankins, the Barra > MacNeils, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac can all attribute some of > their success to his trailblazing efforts.
> People in the music business say they will continue to refer > affectionately to Cameron as the "godfather" of Celtic music in Canada.
I used to have a mild crush on that guy ... and, btw Mr. Highlander, he used to appear occasionally on the Irish Rovers Show IIRC ...
>> John Allan Cameron, one of Canada's music pioneers, died Wednesday >> morning in Ontario after a three-year battle with bone cancer.
>> The Cape Breton-born entertainer influenced a generation of artists, >> and fans say he was Celtic when the genre wasn't cool.
>> During the 1960s and '70s, Cameron led the charge for traditional >> Scottish music. Gradually, he won the loyalty of thousands of music >> lovers from coast to coast.
>> His ability to play Scottish pipe and fiddle tunes on the guitar were a >> surefire crowd pleaser everywhere, even at the Grand Old Opry in >> Nashville, where he appeared in 1972 as a complete unknown.
>> "I was more surprised than any of them," Cameron said in an interview. >> "I knew the audience was with me, but I didn't expect the response, >> which was about two minutes of an ovation."
>> The John Allan Cameron Show, which ran on television nationally from >> 1975 to 1981, made him a household name in Canada. The program also >> introduced Canadians to a number of talented performers, including the >> now-legendary Stan Rogers.
>> Cameron was named to the Order of Canada in 2003.
>> His work is seen as the spark that lit the resurgence of the >> traditional art form in the past two decades. The Rankins, the Barra >> MacNeils, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac can all attribute some of >> their success to his trailblazing efforts.
>> People in the music business say they will continue to refer >> affectionately to Cameron as the "godfather" of Celtic music in Canada.
>I used to have a mild crush on that guy ... and, btw Mr. Highlander, he used >to appear occasionally on the Irish Rovers Show IIRC ...
>- nilita
He did indeed. He was a pioneer in bringing the Celtic musical world to a North American audience and despite his death, his name will resonate for many years to come.
The Highlander
Faodaidh nach ionann na beachdan anns an post seo agus beachdan a' Ghàidheil. The views expressed in this post are not necessarily those of The Highlander.
