One of the pioneers of Maritime Celtic music is among the first ever inductees into the new Casino Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame.
The late, great John Allan Cameron was known as the godfather of Celtic music in Canada. To his only son Stuart, he was just Dad.
“Not a week goes by that we don’t get a message from somebody about his music, about his legacy,” says Cameron.
The Mabou native’s legendary career included the release of ten albums and a gig as the host of his own TV show.
With a charismatic stage presence, that matched his talent, John Allan became a household name across the country. The fiddling great was responsible for introducing Celtic music to new audiences, long before it was mainstream.
“When he was doing it, it was different,” says Cameron. “Now, it’s just becoming bigger and bigger and it’s alive and well and you see young people playing music, most importantly.”
Now, John Allan, along with Rita MacNeil, Anne Murray, Portia White, and Brooks Diamond Productions, will be inducted into the Casino Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame.
Cameron says his dad would be both proud and relieved.
“He wondered if people were actually going to forget about him, and they haven’t,” says Cameron. “It just reminds you that people don’t forget and that’s the best feeling.”
The induction ceremony will take place November 1 at Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax.
Cameron says it would have meant the world to his father to be honoured in his home province.
“He wore that Cape Breton banner on his arm wherever he went,” says Cameron. “There wasn’t a stage in the world that he played on where he didn’t let everybody know how proud he was to be from here.”
John Allan’s family hopes the new honour will help introduce his work to a younger generation.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald
