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Dennis Pitre
April 15, 1941 – Dec. 14, 2021 Aged 80 Dennis was a fine fiddler in the energetic West Prince style. He was a self-taught fiddler who bought his first fiddle for $20 at the age of 12 and started learning Cock of the North and then went on from there to master a large repertoire of tunes. He played on the radio and also for many years at the Tignish Fire Hall. The website Bowing Down Home has some good recordings of his playing and more information on his life and repertoire. He will be missed by his family, and many friends and fans.
Please take a moment to visit the memorial here: Rooney’sFuneral Home
Amy Swenson, President, PEI Fiddlers
Marry Genevieve Warren
Mary Warren of Goose River passed away on August 12, 2021 at the age of 86. She was a life member of the PEI Fiddlers Society. She and her husband Neville ran the Warren Cottages for many years and hosted fiddlers worjshops and retreats which were very much enjoyed by all who attended. She will be greatly missed by her family and her many friends
Please take a moment to visit the memorial here: Dingwell Funeral Home
Amy Swenson, President, PEI Fiddlers
Cecil James Trainor
June 30, 2021: Cecil Trainor passed away peacefully at Whisperwood Villa at the age of 88. Cecil was a long time member of the Queen’s County Fiddlers and well known to most of the fiddlers around the island. He loved playing with the group and his passion for the music and sense of humor was very much appreciated by all the musicians who knew him. The last time I saw him was at Rollo Bay in 2019, where he played on stage with Queens County and if I remember right, launched into a few steps during a fast tune. He was always ready to have a good time and his good spirits were infectious. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. Condolences to his family and friends.
Photos and recordings of his playing can be found at Bowing Down Home.
Amy Swenson, President, PEI Fiddlers
James Francis O’Connor
Photos and recordings of his playing can be found at Bowing Down Home.
Warren Leard 1925-2020
Mr. Warren Leard, a third-generation operator of Leard’s Flour and Grist Mill in Coleman, the last operating flour mill remaining until the mill closed in the late twentieth century, who was a popular fiddler in West Prince, died September 8, 2020 at the age of 95 years. Warren’s parents bought him his first fiddle when he was nine years old. He learned to play that instrument by watching and listening to the older fiddlers in the community. All his life he was proud to share with everyone his gift of music.
In the 1980s Warren and his wife Bernice organized a musical ensemble known as The Warren Leard Group, consisting of Warren and Bernice Leard, Everett Boulter, Alton and Frances Hardy, Harry Lecky, and Linda and Gail MacDonald. This group performed for many years at seniors’ homes, manors, and other community events, and they also recorded a couple of musical cassettes during that time. Warren played with many different groups and individuals, some being Ceilidh Brae, Eddy Arsenault of St.Chrysostom, Frank O’Connor of Kildare Capes, Elmer Robinson of Woodstock, Lot 5, and others. When he moved to Alberton Warren continued playing for seniors’ groups and community events. Some of his fiddle tunes and further details of his life can be found on the website Bowing Down Home
Contributed by Dorothy Farish
Harry Lecky
Popular fiddler Harry Lecky from Milburn has passed away at the age of 90. He learned to play in his teens and soon was playing at dances and benefits and ceilidhs and continued to enjoy performing all his life, playing with friends on Saturday Jan. 25th. He was self-taught and played by ear, and had a distinctive way of holding the fiddle low by his left side. He also played guitar and harmonica, and was known for his singing while accompanying himself on his fiddle. He played a large variety of music and was especially known for his way with the slower tunes. The website bowingdownhome.ca has many photos and recordings of Harry to enjoy.
Father Charlie Cheverie
August 31, 2019: Father Charlie Cheverie passed away at the age of 86. He headed up the Queens County Fiddlers chapter of the PEI Fiddlers Society for nearly 20 years. Accomplished and well loved, he will be missed.
Francis Stewart
July 28, 2019: Francis Stewart, who played with both the Southern Kings Fiddlers and the Rollo Bay Kitchen Group, passed away last night at the age of 85. He and his wife attended every fiddle event they could find around the island, and those of us who played with him treasured his dry wit and his knowledge of interesting old Scottish songs. He will be greatly missed . We wish to extend condolences to his wife, family and his co-workers (he never did retire!) from the PEI Fiddlers Society.
Edward Cheverie
July 28, 2019: Edward Cheverie passed away peacefully at the age of 94 at the Prince Edward Home.