The date was 20 December 1933.
Fieldwood Heritage Society
Canning, Kings County, Nova Scotia
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Wilfred Arthur Charles Carter was born on December 18, 1904 in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia. He was one of nine children and by the age of eight he was working odd jobs in Canning, Nova Scotia.
It was in Canning that he went to see a travelling performer named "The Yodelling Fool", this enticed Wilf to learn to sing, and he never looked back. He left home at the age of 15 after a heated debate with his father, who was a Baptist Minister in the Canning area, over his shaky attendance record at prayer service.
When he was 19, Wilf headed to Alberta, and in between working as a logger, sang with hoboes in boxcars and also at local dances.
He then moved to Calgary where he sang to people outside of the Calgary Stampede grounds. He was fascinated with cowboys and their mystique so he got a job in the rodeo as an 'ear-downer'. His job was to grapple the horse around the neck as it ran by and bite down on its ear until it stopped bucking.
Wilf's break came in 1930 when he was asked to be an entertainer on trail rides through the Rockies for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He eventually became the company's major attraction and he was asked to join the S.S Empress of Britain on her maiden voyage as an entertainer.
Upon returning to Calgary, Wilf found out that two of his recordings had been picked up by RCA and were spreading like wildfire across the nation.
According to Mr. Hugh Joseph, former Director of Artists and Repertoire, RCA Victor, Montreal, My Swiss Moonlight Lullaby was the first song Wilf recorded for RCA Victor. It was produced by Mr. Joseph in the Montreal studios in December 1933.
In the late 1930s Wilf had his own radio show for CBS (the Columbia Broadcasting System, then the largest radio broadcasting network in the United States). This show originated in New York, where he picked up the nickname "Montana Slim".
| Wilf Carter's records |
In 1940 Wilf was involved in a serious car accident in Montana and was unable to perform for nearly ten years.
However, in 1950 he decided to make his first cross-Canada tour, and at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, he pulled in over 50,000 people every week.
Wilf remained busy recording and performing throughtout the 1960s, and even
up until the late '80s. He died in 1996, just two weeks before his 92nd birthday.
His simple, honest sound continues to be listened to by new generations. Wilf
Carter's music is pure Canadian, heartfelt and strong. When asked by reporters
why his music always sounded the same for over 40 years, Wilf replied "I remain
dedicated to one ideal, to please people and sing the songs I know how to sing.
I'm not going to change my style for more money".
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the Nova Scotia Legislature unanimously adopted RESOLUTION NO. 1059 Mr. George Archibald, MLA for Kings North – Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution: Whereas Wilf Carter, a country music artist who last week passed away at the age of 91, was born in Port Hilford, Guysborough County but grew up in Canning, Kings County; and Whereas Wilf Carter had developed a truly unique three-in-one or echo yodel which became a trademark of his performance; and Whereas for over six decades he sang his songs which reflected a down-home, simple life, songs about cowboy life, fur trappers and other Canadiana; Therefore be it resolved that the Speaker relay sincere condolences on behalf of the Members of the Legislature to the Carter family on the passing of Wilf Carter, a Nova Scotia country music legend. Mr. Speaker – Is the member requesting waiver of notice? Mr. Archibald – Yes. Mr. Speaker – Is it agreed that notice be waived? It is agreed. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay. The motion is carried. Source: Hansard http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/hansard/han56-4/h96dec09.htm |
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Wilf Carter Discography Archived: 1997 April 10 http://web.archive.org/web/19970410040315/http://www.canoe.com/JamCountryEncyclo/carter_w.html Archived: 1997 August 08 http://web.archive.org/web/19970816000320/www.canoe.com/JamCountryEncyclo/carter_w.html Archived: 1998 December 05 http://web.archive.org/web/19981205162409/http://www.canoe.com/JamCountryEncyclo/carter_w.html Note: The fourteen-digit number embedded in these URLs is structured: YYYYMMDDhhmmss It records the date and time each document copy was downloaded for archiving. The Wayback Machine is located in the basement of a former military building in the Presidio of San Francisco. |
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Wilf Carter Anthology of Singles & Albums 1934 - 1988 Archived: 1996 December 22 http://web.archive.org/web/19961222212903/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterSA.html Archived: 1997 August 11 http://web.archive.org/web/19970811102240/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterSA.html Archived: 1998 December 06 http://web.archive.org/web/19981206101223/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterSA.html Archived: 1999 September 12 http://web.archive.org/web/19990912221812/www2.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterSA.html Archived: 2000 June 02 http://web.archive.org/web/20000602173219/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterSA.html Archived: 2001 July 14 http://web.archive.org/web/20010714162504/http://nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterSA.html Archived: 2002 April 22 http://web.archive.org/web/20020422153643/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterSA.html Archived: 2003 July 10 http://web.archive.org/web/20030710031949/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterSA.html |
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Wilf Carter 1904-1996 The Singing Legend Yodelling Cowboy Hits The Trail at 91 Calgary Herald, 7 December 1996 Archived: 1996 December 22 http://web.archive.org/web/19961222195701/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796.html Archived: 1997 August 11 http://web.archive.org/web/19970811102301/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796.html Archived: 1998 December 05 http://web.archive.org/web/19981205234222/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796.html Archived: 1999 October 09 http://web.archive.org/web/19991009000046/nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796.html Archived: 2000 September 14 http://web.archive.org/web/20000914044906/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796.html Archived: 2001 November 12 http://web.archive.org/web/20011122113712/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796.html Archived: 2002 November 07 http://web.archive.org/web/20021107150556/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796.html Archived: 2003 May 02 http://web.archive.org/web/20030502023157/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796.html |
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We'll Miss Wilf Calgary Sun, 7 December 1996 (The correct date of publication is 1996, not 1997.) Archived: 1996 December 22 http://web.archive.org/web/19961222220827/www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalSunDec796.html Archived: 1997 August 11 http://web.archive.org/web/19970811102429/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalSunDec796.html Archived: 1999 May 04 http://web.archive.org/web/19990504013656/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalSunDec796.html Archived: 2000 June 16 http://web.archive.org/web/20000616211325/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalSunDec796.html Archived: 2001 November 22 http://web.archive.org/web/20011122121852/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalSunDec796.html Archived: 2002 November 07 http://web.archive.org/web/20021107145255/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalSunDec796.html Archived: 2003 July 10 http://web.archive.org/web/20030710031324/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalSunDec796.html |
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Carter's Music Will Live for a Long Time Halifax Herald, 7 December 1996 Archived: 1998 December 06 http://web.archive.org/web/19981206030148/http://www.herald.ns.ca/chronicle/sat/free/articles/leadstory2.html Archived: 1999 February 21 http://web.archive.org/web/19990221211330/www.herald.ns.ca/chronicle/sat/free/articles/leadstory2.html |
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Wilf Carter, The Golden Balladeer Archived: 1996 December 22 http://web.archive.org/web/19961222182930/www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarter.html Archived: 1997 August 06 http://web.archive.org/web/19970806045309/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter.html Archived: 1998 December 02 http://web.archive.org/web/19981202225755/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter.html Archived: 1999 October 23 http://web.archive.org/web/19991023075439/http://www2.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter.html Archived: 2000 September 14 http://web.archive.org/web/20000914185020/http://nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter.html Archived: 2001 August 16 http://web.archive.org/web/20010816083031/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter.html Archived: 2002 June 09 http://web.archive.org/web/20020609141932/http://www.nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter.html |
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Wilf Carter Remembrances, Calgary Herald, December 1996 Wilf Carter Never Forgot His Fans Calgary Herald, 7 December 1996 Archived: 1999 October 09 http://web.archive.org/web/19991009010403/nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec796b.html Tribute: People Who Made A Difference, Wilf Carter, A Fan's Fan Calgary Herald, 11 December 1996 Archived: YYYY MM DD http://web.archive.org/web/19991008225015/nucleus.com/~cowboy/WilfCarter/WilfCarterCalHerDec1096.html |
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