Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers

Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers is 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").[1] The group specializes in Newfoundland and folk music, as well as performing comedic skits and standup routines.

Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers
From left to right, Wayne Chaulk, Kevin Blackmore, and Ray Johnson, performing in typically offbeat garb.
Background information
OriginNewfoundland and Labrador, Canada
GenresNewfoundland, folk, comedy
Years active1983 (1983)–present
Websitewww.buddywasisname.com
MembersKevin Blackmore
Wayne Chaulk
Ray Johnson
Byron Pardy

All three musicians sing and write songs which reflect their Newfoundland heritage; Johnson also arranges traditional accordion numbers for the band to perform. Their recordings range from serious reflections on Newfoundland culture (such as "Sarah" and "Saltwater Joys") to light-hearted tales that can border on the ridiculous (such as "Is You 'Appy?" and "Chainsaw Earle").[2]

Chaulk performs on bass or guitar, Johnson on accordion or fiddle, and Blackmore on mandolin, fiddle, banjo, guitar[1] and improvised percussion instruments including Tupperware lids and garbage bags.

History

Band name

The group's name, and the names of many of their albums and songs, contain phonetic spellings of colloquial contractions and phrases native to Newfoundland, which would normally only be spoken aloud and in an informal setting. This reflects the group's focus on Newfoundland culture; most Newfoundlanders immediately recognize the intended meanings despite the atypical spelling. The band name plays on Newfoundlanders' habit of rapidly slurring words together in day to day speech; "wasisname" is 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 dialectal form of "fellas" or "fellows".

1980s

Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers were formed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in 1983.[1] 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 self-released in 1986.[1] 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 was the album Nods'N'Winks, mostly notable for Blackmore's "My Old Wooden Shack", which features Johnson on accordion and vocals. At this point in the group's history that they began to be known outside their local area.

1990s

The group's third album, Flatout, was released in 1990, and contains two of their best known songs. One, "Sarah", was an a cappella tune Johnson learned from his adoptive father Johnny. The other, "Saltwater Joys", written by Chaulk, is one of the band's most requested concert songs. Another song on the album, "Peein' in the Snow" also became a hit after being performed on several comedy programs. After Flatout came The Miracle Cure, which is their best selling album to date. The album contains the humorous song in "Chainsaw Earle"; two Chaulk songs "Goin' Up with Brudder" and "The Pits", the latter of which a music video was produced; and several Johnson traditional songs 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, which sold well, but was not as popular as the previous one. The album's "Song for Newfoundland", an a cappella Chaulk anthem, has been covered often by Newfoundland vocal groups. Also, the album contains the well-known song "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 "454" series, called "The Vette". The rest of the 454 four barrel series is "Da' Yammie" (Salt Beef Junkie), "Da' Chopper" (D'Lard Liftin), and "Da' Mower" (The Big Tump).

The group's next album, Salt Beef Junkie, includes original songs of the same type, but the arrangements deviate from their usual style. 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.

Recent

Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers have been performing and recording actively for over 30 years.[3] The group has produced nineteen albums, and in 2017 maintains an active touring schedule throughout the Atlantic provinces, and other Canadian cities.

Discography

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)*
  • WRING' ER OUT (2014)

*Denotes a compilation of previously released songs.

DVDs
  • Up Boot (2006)
  • Pop the Rivets (2007)
  • Dirty Big tour (2008)
  • LaffYerArseOff (2013)
  • The Last Laff (2017)

References
  1. Larry LeBlanc (30 July 1994). Newfoundland Folk Group Brings Fans Home. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 46–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. "Buddy Wasisname & The Other Fellers part of Barrie comedy festival". Barrie Examiner, By Susan Doolan, August 21, 2016
  3. "Thirty years of foolishness and tears: Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers “still kickin'”". The Independent, March 18, 2013
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