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

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
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
Apex	11359	10-in.	1952	Harvest home hornpipe	Don Messer and his Islanders	Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Apex	[Apex cat 26321-A]	10-in.	1950	Goose feathers	Don Messer and his Islanders	Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Apex	[Apex cat 26321-B]	10-in.	1950	The ladies slipper reel	Don Messer and his Islanders	Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Apex	[Apex cat 26326-A]	10-in.	1952	Dill pickles	Don Messer and his Islanders	Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Apex	[Apex cat 26326-B]	10-in.	1952	Jimmy's favorite jig	Don Messer and his Islanders	Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Apex	9861-1	10-in.	1942	Souris lighthouse	Don Messer and his Islanders	Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Apex	9861-2	10-in.	1942	Favorite polka	Don Messer and his Islanders	Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Messer, Don," accessed November 18, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/112745.

Messer, Don. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/112745.

"Messer, Don." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 November 2024.