Don Messer
Donald Charles Frederick Messer (May 9, 1909 – March 26, 1973) was a Canadian musician, band leader, radio broadcaster, and defining icon of folk music during the 1960s. His CBC Television series Don Messer’s Jubilee (1959–69) featured Messer's down-east fiddle style and the "old-time" music of Don Messer and His Islanders, and was one of the most popular and enduring Canadian television programs of the 1960s. Messer was known as a shy fiddler, who preferred to have the other members of the band take the spotlight. |
Birth and Death Data: Born May 9, 1909, Died March 26, 1973 (Halifax)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1952
Roles Represented in DAHR: leader
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 32 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | 7992 | 10-in. | 7/3/1937 | Patronella | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 7993 | 10-in. | 7/3/1937 | Half penny reel | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 8001 | 10-in. | 10/7/1937 | Belfast | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 8002 | 10-in. | 10/7/1937 | Operator's reel | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 9887 | 10-in. | 4/8/1942 | Big John McNeill | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 9888 | 10-in. | 4/8/1942 | Don Messer's breakdown | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10059 | 10-in. | 1943 | Medley of Londonderry and London hornpipes | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10060 | 10-in. | 1943 | Ragtime Annie | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10431 | 10-in. | 1944 | Flop eared mule | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10432 | 10-in. | 1944 | Angus Campbell | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10745 | 10-in. | 3/8/1947 | Soldier's joy | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10746 | 10-in. | 3/8/1947 | Flowers of Edinburgh | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10747 | 10-in. | 1947 | Firemen's reel | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10748 | 10-in. | 3/8/1947 | St. Anne's reel | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10896 | 10-in. | 1947 | Silver and gold two-step | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10897 | 10-in. | 1947 | Highland hornpipe | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10950 | 10-in. | 1948 | Honest John | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 10951 | 10-in. | 1948 | Mississippi sawyer | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 11079 | 10-in. | 1949 | Fisher's hornpipe | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 11080 | 10-in. | 1949 | Durang's hornpipe | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 11096 | 10-in. | 1949 | Whalen's breakdown | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 11097 | 10-in. | 1949 | Logger's breakdown | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 11356 | 10-in. | 1952 | Montreal reel | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 11357 | 10-in. | 1952 | Tina's reel | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader | |
| Apex | 11358 | 10-in. | 1952 | Gypsy hornpipe | Don Messer and his Islanders | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble | leader |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Messer, Don," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112745.
Messer, Don. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112745.
"Messer, Don." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Messer, Don, 1909-1973 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2005059026
Wikidata: Don Messer - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5293141
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/46496253
MusicBrainz: Don Messer - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/b1df1ef6-4b1f-4cab-8b6f-5d794dac7274
ISNI: 0000 0000 7379 6178 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000073796178
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