Plays Old Tyme Fiddle

Musicians
Al Cherny: fiddle

Production
Produced by Wilf Gillmeister
Engineered by Peter Houston

Notes
Made by RCA Victor Company, Ltd.

Liner notes
I first met Al Cherny in 1955, in Wingham, Ontario, while making a guest appearance on CKNX’s popular Barn Dance Show. We became close friends, and later, in 1961, we became working buddies on a CBC television show called “Country Hoedown”. From the start I recognized Al as someone who wasn’t merely content to play his best. He must always strive to improve. This sort of determination won him the 1959 novelty-class prize at Shelburne, Ontario, home of North America’s top fiddling contest, and further showed itself evident in 1960 and 1961 when he reentered and — for those consecutive years — won both the novelty and old tyme classes. He was the only Canadian in the fourteen-year history of the contest to achieve this distinction. Medicine Hat’s Frank Novak, who taught Al as a boy, can boast an all-time pupil.

Since he joined “Country Hoedown”, Al has become one of the most popular artists with the show. From coast to coast of Canada — wherever he goes — whether it’s entertaining troops stationed in France, England, Germany or the United Arab Republic — his sparkling fiddle and his warm down-to-earth personality bring storms of applause and many return invitations.

One of his appearances took Al to Montreal, Quebec, where he was asked to perform for Prince Philip and the Commonwealth Conference. He found that his cowboy accompaniment turned out to be the Montreal Symphony Orchestra! What did he do? Well, let’s just say he led them a merry dance.

Since last year when he joined the CBC “Tommy Hunter Show”, just about every fan letter asks for an Al Cherny fiddle tune. I should know. I read all the mail personally. In this album Al has tried to include the tunes that you have asked for most frequently. I congratulate your choice.

Kindest regards,
Tommy Hunter