'When You Die,
May You End Up
in Newfoundland!'
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
Those zany guys from Newfoundland are on their way back to Alberta to terrorize their fans with non-stop laughter this September. The western tour for Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers starts off in Airdrie, Alberta, with two bookings at the Bert Church Theatre on September 22 and 23, and then on to the University of Calgary Theatre on September 24.
The original line-up for Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers consists of centre man, Kevin Blackmore - he's Buddy Wasisname. Wayne Chaulk and Ray Johnson are the Other Fellers. The trio was later joined by Byron Pardy.
Following their concert at the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver this past March, I had an opportunity to speak with Ray Johnson and ask him how the uniquely Newfoundland show with side-splitting humour came about.
He said, "It started roughly in 1984 when we were invited to participate in a play at the school where I also taught. The three of us just went out and did our thing and it was simply magic, and we've been together ever since."
Along with being absolutely riotous comedians, members of Buddy Wasisname are also accomplished musicians. Ray plays the accordion and violin, Kevin and Wayne play the mandolin, banjo and guitar, and Byron plays the bass.
The boys also write songs and of course write their skits for the stage. Wayne Chaulk wrote Saltwater Joys and Ray Johnson wrote Sarah which have both become classics.
While shows for Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers are always a riot, there is one part in the show where the group slows things down and sings about Newfoundland. It is then that you can hear a pin drop in the audience.
"It's like that everywhere," said Ray, "it's just basically that way everywhere we perform. People pinpoint what it means to them to be away from home and the songs remind them where they came from and they don't forget it.
"We do hear a lot of heart-rending stories at our shows from Newfoundlanders. In fact, we meet many people who want to go back to Newfoundland, knowing full well that there's not much back there for them in terms of employment. But that doesn't deter them from coming out to see us, and they can still hold on to their roots.
"We always like to say to our audience at the end of the night: 'Well folks, we're glad you came out tonight to see our program. We'd like to leave you with this one thought: be good to your neighbours, say your prayers, and when you die, may you end up in Newfoundland!"
To check-out their extensive tour dates and see when Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers are in your area, visit: www.buddywasisname.com/tourdates.shtml.
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