Winston Scotty Fitzgerald - Canada's Outstanding Scottish Fiddler

Winston 'Scotty' Fitzgerald was a renowned Cape Breton fiddler. He was a pioneer in recorded performances of the music, and has heavily influenced the style and repertoire of later generations of players. Both his father and older brother played the violin, and Winston began to take an interest in playing at age eight. His first public performance was at a picnic at age twelve. The Fitzgeralds worked as fishermen in the summer, and in the 1930s Winston also worked at the shipyards in Halifax in the winter. During this time, Winston played radio shows and tours with Hank Snow for about two and a half years. Winston formed a group called the "Radio Entertainers" with Beattie Wallace (piano) and Estwood Davidson (guitar). The group recorded numerous 78s, as well as four LPs. As he became better known, Winston also got exposure playing on the 'Cliff MacKay' and 'Don Messer' shows. Later, he played as part of the Cape Breton Symphony on The John Allan Cameron Show. Never a full-time musician, he worked at a variety of jobs, including cooking, carpentry, and aluminum work.

1. The Iron Man/Riddrie/Mrs. Douglas Of Ednam 
2. Gan Ainm/So I’m Off With The Good St. Nicholas Boat 
3. Archie Menzie/Fisher’s 
4. Little John’s Hame/Jamie Hardie 
5. The Wonder/The Newcastle/President Garfield 
6. Miss Ann MacCormack/Sleepy Maggie 
7. The Marchioness Of Huntley/Miss Maule/Lady Glenorchy 
8. Teviot Bridge/The Stool Of Repentance 
9. Hiawatha/Jimmy Linn’s/The College 
10. St. Kilda Wedding/Trip To Windsor 
11. Mist On The Loch/Bonnie Kate 

link to the free album

Winston Scotty Fitzgerald - Canada's Outstanding Scottish Fiddler