KAGAWONG—Mike Farquhar of Kagawong is well-known across Manitoulin for his keen sense of humour, but what readers may not know is that the practical joker is also a songwriter and musician in his own right.
This Christmas, the Farquhar grandchildren received a special gift from their grandfather—a songbook of all the Mike Farquhar family hits, complete with a QR code that will send them to a YouTube page to hear their granddad singing his heart out. The songs have been lovingly uploaded, complete with art by son Evan.
“I just thought it would be a neat thing for the grandkids to have,” Mr. Farquhar shares. “They can go and listen to their crazy ol’ grandpa whenever they like!” he laughs with his trademark eye twinkle.
Mr. Farquhar was long known for his job as the front man of Farquhar’s Dairy, and for many years, Kool-It Ice. Kool-It Ice was eventually sold to other parties and when he retired from Farquhar’s Dairy, Evan thought he could use a hobby.
“I think he was kind of admiring what I was doing at the time, playing gigs at the Anchor Inn,” Evan says. At the time of retirement, Evan had a popular Friday night live music show at the Anchor. He encouraged his dad to pick up the guitar again, and he did.
It was an instrument that would suit his love of songwriting well. Mr. Farquhar has been penning songs since he was a young man.
“As long as I can remember, I’ve been making up songs or changing the lyrics to popular songs of the day,” Mr. Farquhar shares with his grandkids. “I remember getting together with three friends to form a rock and roll band in my teenage years and practicing and performing for dances at the old Shaftesbury Hall or at our Grade 12 class-operated coffeehouse. That coffeehouse, the ‘Castle’ we called it, began as a class project. Our Grade 12 homeroom teacher, Mr. Brauma, was very innovative.”
The Castle was located in an old mansion overlooking the North Channel owned by the late Barney Turner. When they heard it was destined for the wrecking ball, the class approached Mr. Turner and asked him to let them transform it into a coffeehouse. He agreed, and the students set to work transforming the space with candles and checkered tablecloths.
The coffeehouse attracted talent, with the help of Mr. Brauma, from as far away as southern Ontario, and was deemed a success. Music has always been an important part of Mr. Farquhar’s life.
In fact, his first attempt, ‘Sweater Waving Gal,’ is an ode to wife Marilyn and a cheeky account of one of their first dates—an evening on the beach near the late Dr. Jack Bailey’s North Channel Drive cottage. The story of ‘Sweater Waving Gal’ and the accompanying lyrics start the songbook (scan the QR code with your phone to have a listen to this first Mike Farquhar original).
Mr. Farquhar took Evan’s advice seriously, and has been a serious student of the guitar since retirement, even picking up lessons each winter at the Farquhar holiday home in Florida. He takes great joy in jamming with son Evan, too.
Other tracks in the ‘crazy grandpa’ songbook include such titles as ‘The Anchor Inn Song’ (sung to the tune of ‘House of the Rising Sun’), ‘Sunburnt Bra Song,’ ‘Love is Such a Wonderful Feeling,’ ‘Manitoulin Redneck Party Song,’ ‘Help Me RONA,’ and ‘Sunny Day Man,’ among many more.
Mr. Farquhar’s infectious sense of humour—and kind heart—is evident in his musical musings about life and love on ‘the Manitoulin.’ This gift to the Farquhar grandchildren is one that will surely be cherished for years to come.
To hear more of Mr. Farquhar’s music, search ‘Mike Farquhar’s songs’ on YouTube.
