MINDEMOYA—Two of Manitoulin Island’s most well-known musical legends have been inducted into the Manitoulin Music Wall of Fame as part of the Central Manitoulin Lions Club Homecoming weekend.
Hardy Peltier of Wikwemikong and Doug Hore of Honora Bay were both inducted in the Wall of Fame as part of the ceremonies and the country music concert Friday night at the Mindemoya arena. Both local music legends have previously been inducted into the Great Northern Opry and Hall of Fame in Sault Ste. Marie.
Glen McDougall, curator of the Manitoulin Music Wall of Fame (which is located at 100.7 The Island in Little Current) told the audience Friday evening that Hardy has a distinctive sound and has been playing guitar since he was 14. As well as playing the guitar and singing he plays the piano and keyboard.
“His mother played the piano and was instrumental in his music interest,” Mr. McDougall told the audience. “He has toured in the past in the U.S. in Chicago, and Michigan over the years. And, in 1967, he opened for Don Messer in Little Current in honour of the Canadian Centennial.”
“I am proud of my home-town Wikwemikong and Manitoulin Island,” said Mr. Peltier. “This type of event is what we enjoy as musicians, to entertain people.”
“I started playing music on the organ way back when,” said Mr. Peltier, noting he had “a lot of guys and bands to thank,” noting for instance Lawrence Peltier, the Bell Boys, The Voyageurs, and the Odawas. “I thank all the musicians and the bands I’ve had the chance to perform with.”
“It has been a lot of fun,” said Mr. Peltier. He pointed out, “my wife Sara passed on six years ago. She had put a good word in for me with the Opry in the Sault. I didn’t even know she had put this forward. I thank my wife for putting up with me all those years.”
He performed the song, ‘My Heart’s Achin for You.’ “I recorded this about a month before my wife passed on and this song means a lot to me.”
On being inducted into Manitoulin’s wall of fame Mr. Peltier quipped, “I think my next induction will be in the Wikwemikong nursing home.”
“This next gentleman started playing music when he was 14, playing a fiddle his parents had bought him,” said Mr. McDougall, in introducing Doug Hore. “He first started performing in concert with Isabel Skippen. He carried on playing with quite a few bands and orchestras. In high school, Doug was with the band the Night Hawks, and another high school band the Real Times; as well as playing with the Gore Bay Orchestra, Cecil and Ilene (Ma and Pa Lloyd) and Don Richards. Then he played with Ken Elford and Country Gold, and has played with Hardy, Eugene Manitowabi, Bob Eadie and Highway 540, Robbie Shawana, and now Down Yonder.”
Mr. McDougall also pointed out Mr. Hore used to play four-string banjo and sax, as well as the fiddle. “He has played at many house parties, whenever anyone asks him to come and play he has always been there. He has played Hank Williams music, and was on stage with some of this band members years ago. Doug is a member of the Hank Williams Fan Club and Museum.”
Mr. Hore said he had played along with Hardy Peltier and Eugene Manitowabi in the 1950s, and 11 years with the Manitoulin Swing Band, later the Gore Bay Orchestra. His musical career began 59 years ago.
“He also played with Robbie Shawana, inductee into the Manitoulin Musicians Hall of Fame, and is also a member of the Great Northern Opry and Hall of Fame in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Mr. McDougall.
“I never wanted to be the front man playing music,” Mr. Hore told the audience. “As long as I can walk up on stage, I will keep the old country class music alive.”
“Music has been a very important and good thing in my life,” said Mr. Hore. “I’ve played music with a lot of guys and bands over the years and I would like to thank them all; and all of you for being here tonight I thank you. I almost forgot to mention, my family all played music as well, my mom and dad, and my brother was instrumental in getting me up on stage to play. Music has allowed me to meet a lot of great people and to a lot of great places. And for the 49 years I’ve been married to my wife Marilee. I’ve been involved in music during this whole time. I would also like to thank my wife for being with me all these years.”
Along with being an excellent fiddle player, Mr. Hore is also a very good singer, as he evidenced by singing songs like ‘Hey Good Lookin,’ along with the band Down Yonder on Friday.
Past inductees to the Manitoulin Music Wall of Fame included Jackie Genereux, Cecil and Ilene (Ma and Pa) Lloyd, Bob Eadie, Harvey Sheppard, Dwight McGauley, Ronnie Gilchrist, the Gore Bay Orchestra, Bill Omnet, Roy Brockelbank, Roy Rumley, Herman Peltier, Isabel Skippen, Ron Tann and Ken Elford.
