Don Messer and The Islanders

Art was responsible for bringing Don Messer to CFCY from New Brunswick‘ as Musical Director and orchestra leader in 1939. Don brought Charlie Chamberlain with him. It was a very shrewd move indeed, because Art realized that throughout the network CFCY was becoming synonymous with traditional music, and it was identifiable with a typical “down east“ flavour. Art figured that it was time to search for talent that would have national as well as regional appeal. He found it in Don Messer. Don was a perfectionist, a true professional, and an original. He placed his emphasis, not on his own image as a performer, but on what he performed—the mark of true humility in a true artist. His unassuming and shy manner made you think perhaps of a talented uncle or cousin playing at a party in the kitchen. Charlie Chamberlain, a natural singer, never knew how good he was. Charlie was brought up to hard physical labour from an early age, and even after he was quite well known he often washed and waxed cars to bring in a little extra, and he was as proud of his ability to do this as well as he was of singing.

Not long after the orchestra had arrived on the Island, a ground system was being installed at CFCY’s transmitter site. Miles of wire had to be buried in the ground. Charlie Chamberlain heard about it and hired himself and his car out to do the job. At that time all the members of the band were scrambling for part-time work as the pay from the network and their share of dance receipts would not sustain them. Ray Simmons, Duke Nielsen and Charlie went out to bury the wire. Duke was very, very energetic and between them, they formulated what they thought was a brilliant plan. They would make a plough and bury the wire using Charley’s old car. So they attached the plough to the back of the car. Charley took hold of the plough to make the furrow that the wire was to lie in. Duke took the wheel of the car. Off he went at much too high a speed dragging Charlie behind him, hollering and running to keep up but Duke never stopped. Well, the Duke didn’t last too long. Charlie got mad and fired him from the job. Duke Nielson decided he’d use his after-rehearsal hours running projection machines in the theatres and Charlie and Ray finished the job at the transmitter. Charlie, like all good artists, performed his songs with a great deal of heart and love for his fellow man. He remained totally oblivious to his stardom until the end.

In New Brunswick Charlie and Don were known as “The Singing LUmberjacks”. Later they were joined by Julius “Duke” Nielsen,

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