Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers
Encyclopedia
Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers is the name of a musical and comedy trio from Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
, which is composed of Kevin Blackmore ("Buddy Wasisname
"), Wayne Chaulk and Ray Johnson ("The Other Fellers"). Their recordings also feature Wayne Chaulk on bass
or guitar
, Ray Johnson on accordion
or fiddle
, and Kevin Blackmore on mandolin
, fiddle
, guitar
, and any number of improvised percussion instruments including Tupperware lids and garbage bags. All three sing and write songs; however, Johnson often arranges traditional accordion numbers for the band to perform.
]
, as well as performing comedic skits and standup routines. Their most popular recordings range from serious reflections on Newfoundland culture (such as "Sarah" http://buddywasisname.com/sarah.htm and "Saltwater Joys" http://buddywasisname.com/5_flatout.htm), to light-hearted tales that can border on the ridiculous (such as "Is You 'Appy?" http://buddywasisname.com/lyric_happy.htm and "Chainsaw Earle" http://buddywasisname.com/chainsaw.htm). Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers have been a prolific group for over 30 years, producing a total of nineteen albums, and still maintain an active touring schedule throughout the Atlantic provinces, and other select Canadian
cities.
, Canada
in 1983. Two of the three group members (Johnson and Chaulk) were school teachers prior to forming their group. Their first album, "Makin' For the Harbour" was released in 1986. The album relied heavily on Newfoundland standards and Blackmore's comedy numbers; Chaulk made one significant contribution with "Yesterday's Fishermen". "Gotta Get Me Moose B'y" would become their early career signature tune, and remains one of their more popular songs today. Next on the roster was "Nods'N'Winks", a decidedly non-descript album mostly notable for Blackmore's "My Old Wooden Shack", which features Johnson on accordion and vocals. It is, however, at this point in the group's history that their popularity began to rise.
was produced; and several popular Johnson traditionals including "Put A Bit of Powder On A Doo" and "Peggy Gordon".
After the success of The Miracle Cure, the group put out 100% Pure, another popular album (though not as hugely successful as their previous). Possibly the album's most popular song is "Song for Newfoundland", an a cappella Chaulk anthem that has been covered often by many Newfoundland vocal groups. Also, the album contains what is probably their most popular song not written by one of the three members of the group: "By The Glow Of The Kerosene Light", written by Wince Coles, which featured additional players in the form of cello, harp and piano, an arrangement not often seen in the group's catalogue. The album holds the first track from Blackmore's legendary "454" series, called "The Vette". The rest of the 454 four barrel series is (note the newfinese): "Da' Yammie" (Salt Beef Junkie), "Da' Chopper" (D'Lard Liftin), and "Da' Mower" (The Big Tump). Succeeding 100% Pure was Salt Beef Junkie, the album which deviates from their original style most. The opening track features a full rock backing band in addition to Chaulk's guitar and Johnson's accordion; "He's A Part Of Me" features the same backing trio as "Kerosene Light"; and many of the tracks feature George Morgan's drum machines. The album's writing, however, does not sound drastically different from their original songs.
*Denotes a compilation of previously released songs.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which is composed of Kevin Blackmore ("Buddy Wasisname
Buddy Wasisname
A singer, songwriter, comedian, and dramatist, Buddy Wasisname is the stage name of Kevin Blackmore, a Canadian performer from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
"), Wayne Chaulk and Ray Johnson ("The Other Fellers"). Their recordings also feature Wayne Chaulk on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
or guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Ray Johnson on accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
or fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, and Kevin Blackmore on mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and any number of improvised percussion instruments including Tupperware lids and garbage bags. All three sing and write songs; however, Johnson often arranges traditional accordion numbers for the band to perform.
Overview
All three musicians are Newfoundlanders, and their musical style strongly reflects this fact. The group specializes in Newfoundland and folk musicFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, as well as performing comedic skits and standup routines. Their most popular recordings range from serious reflections on Newfoundland culture (such as "Sarah" http://buddywasisname.com/sarah.htm and "Saltwater Joys" http://buddywasisname.com/5_flatout.htm), to light-hearted tales that can border on the ridiculous (such as "Is You 'Appy?" http://buddywasisname.com/lyric_happy.htm and "Chainsaw Earle" http://buddywasisname.com/chainsaw.htm). Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers have been a prolific group for over 30 years, producing a total of nineteen albums, and still maintain an active touring schedule throughout the Atlantic provinces, and other select Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cities.
Band name
The group's name, and in fact the names of many of their albums and songs, contain phonetic spellings of colloquial contractions and phrases native to Newfoundland. This nomenclature is a reflection on the group's focus on Newfoundland culture, since most Newfoundlanders immediately recognize the intended meanings despite the atypical spelling. Normally however, these would only be spoken aloud and in an informal setting. The band name in particular plays on the practice of Newfoundlanders rapidly slurring words together in day to day speech; thus the word "wasisname" for example is (perhaps predictably) a contraction of "what's his name?", however, in Newfoundland "Buddy Wasisname" is simply a version of "I can't remember his name". "Fellers" is simply a bastardized form of "fellas" or "fellows".1980s
Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers were formed in NewfoundlandNewfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1983. Two of the three group members (Johnson and Chaulk) were school teachers prior to forming their group. Their first album, "Makin' For the Harbour" was released in 1986. The album relied heavily on Newfoundland standards and Blackmore's comedy numbers; Chaulk made one significant contribution with "Yesterday's Fishermen". "Gotta Get Me Moose B'y" would become their early career signature tune, and remains one of their more popular songs today. Next on the roster was "Nods'N'Winks", a decidedly non-descript album mostly notable for Blackmore's "My Old Wooden Shack", which features Johnson on accordion and vocals. It is, however, at this point in the group's history that their popularity began to rise.
1990s
The group's third album, Flatout, was released in 1990, and marks the point when the group's popularity soared. The album contains two of their most popular songs. One, "Sarah", was an a cappella tune Johnson learned from his adoptive father Johnny. The other, "Saltwater Joys", is the pinnacle of Chaulk's writing, and remains one of their most requested concert songs to this day. Another song on the album, "Peein' in the Snow" also became a hit after being performed on several comedy programs. After Flatout came the smash success of The Miracle Cure, which is their biggest album to date. The album contains their most popular humorous song in "Chainsaw Earle"; two consistently popular Chaulk songs in "Goin' Up with Brudder" and "The Pits", the latter of which a music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was produced; and several popular Johnson traditionals including "Put A Bit of Powder On A Doo" and "Peggy Gordon".
After the success of The Miracle Cure, the group put out 100% Pure, another popular album (though not as hugely successful as their previous). Possibly the album's most popular song is "Song for Newfoundland", an a cappella Chaulk anthem that has been covered often by many Newfoundland vocal groups. Also, the album contains what is probably their most popular song not written by one of the three members of the group: "By The Glow Of The Kerosene Light", written by Wince Coles, which featured additional players in the form of cello, harp and piano, an arrangement not often seen in the group's catalogue. The album holds the first track from Blackmore's legendary "454" series, called "The Vette". The rest of the 454 four barrel series is (note the newfinese): "Da' Yammie" (Salt Beef Junkie), "Da' Chopper" (D'Lard Liftin), and "Da' Mower" (The Big Tump). Succeeding 100% Pure was Salt Beef Junkie, the album which deviates from their original style most. The opening track features a full rock backing band in addition to Chaulk's guitar and Johnson's accordion; "He's A Part Of Me" features the same backing trio as "Kerosene Light"; and many of the tracks feature George Morgan's drum machines. The album's writing, however, does not sound drastically different from their original songs.
Albums
- Makin' for the Harbour (1986)
- Nods 'N' Winks (1988)
- Flatout (1990)
- The Miracle Cure (1992)
- 100% Pure (1993)
- Salt Beef Junkie (1995)
- Pop the Rivets (1996)
- Up on Bust (1996)
- D'Lard Liftin' (1998)
- Greatest Misses (1999)*
- The Big Tump (2000)
- The Serious Stuff* (2001)
- Up Boot (2002)
- i'm looney (2002)*
- Whipper Snipper (2004)
- The Shed (2005)
- Take 'er Johnson* (2007)
- The Big TwoFive (2009)
- The Serious Stuff Volume 2 (2010)*