Bay Boys

Websites:  https://www.thebayboys.com/
Origin: Ramea Island, Newfoundland, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Fred and Les Northcotte, brothers and co-founders of The Bay Boys, learned to play musical instruments to entertain themselves, their family and friends in Newfoundland.

For close to 40 years, the brothers and the other members of the Bay Boys, entertained thousands of people in Ontario with their traditional "maritime sound". The popularity of The Bay Boys was relatively simple to define- they deliver an upbeat, toe-tapping brand of music that appeals not only to Maritimers, but to people from all walks of life and cultures.

The group wrote most of their own music, based upon the traditional Irish/Celtic/Scottish/ English style of Newfoundland, which sometimes crosses over into a country vein. One only has to listen to a song like "Codroy Valley" (Our Home in Newfoundland) to catch that country feeling.

Although The Bay Boys have created a sound that appeals to a large audience, their "number one" most loyal fans remain Newfoundlanders and Maritimers - wherever they may live. According to one loyal fan of the band, attending a Bay Boys concert/dance is like a little "home away from home" for the Newfoundland/Maritime crowd.

The group released a total of 6 albums which consisted of Les Northcotte (vocals, rhythm guitar and 12 string guitar) and Fred Northcotte (accordion and harmonica) appearing on all 6 of the albums.

The first two albums Down Home Favourites (1985) and Down Home Favourites Vol II (1986) were recorded with Walter Ostanek and His Band.

Our Home In Newfoundland (1989), Where Did Yesterday Go (1992), 12 Most Requested (1994) and 25th Anniversary: After All These Years (1996) albums and were recorded with:

Ricky Rochon (Bass) Vic Hayes (Drums) along with fiddlers such as Steve Perry and 1993 Canadian Open Fiddle Champion Scott Woods who perform with the group on a rotating basis.

Les Northcotte
Vocals- Guitar

Les Northcotte grew up listening to the traditional music of Newfoundland, but began his musical career as a member of "The Flaming Five", one of Ramea Island’s first Rock and Roll bands.

Since 1970, the year he and his brother Fred Northcotte founded The Bay Boys, he was the group's main vocalist and rhythm guitar player, except for a few years when he filled in on bass guitar.

Although Les was considered to be a fine Rock-n-Roller, he was without a doubt destined to become a singer of his ancestors' music. His voice and vocal style seemed to be especially created for singing the traditional songs of Newfoundland.

His soulful renditions and heartfelt singing have brought both joy and tears not only to displaced Newfoundlanders/Maritimers but to all lovers of Celtic music, regardless of their background. In fact, Les has an uncanny gift that allows him to transport his audience back to their roots by means of his ability to recreate the traditional music of their ancestors.

Les' rhythm guitar perfectly complements Fred's accordion playing and the repartee between them on stage has delighted audiences for close to 30 years.

Fred Northcotte
Button Accordion - Harmonica - Humour

Although Fred Northcotte's brother Les takes care of the vocal duties for The Bay Boys, Fred is the unmistakable frontman of the group. Not only does he project The Bay Boys' "signature sound" through his unique style of playing the button accordion simultaneously with the harmonica, he expertly works an audience with a rapport that is filled with humour and wit.

With his weathered face, neatly trimmed beard and many years spent sailing the seven seas; this charismatic "salty dog" epitomizes the maritime persona, a persona that is equally reflected in his music.

Fred was born in the tiny outport of Coppett, Newfoundland. As a youth he moved with his family to Ramea Island. Eventually he settled in St.Catharines, Ontario, during the late 60s where he was joined by his brother Les.

Together they founded The Bay Boys in August, 1970 in order to play music of their ancestors for their own enjoyment and the thousands of Newfoundlanders and Maritimers who live in Ontario. Ironically, they are one of the few acts that still play the traditional music of Newfoundland.

Fred's demand as a top flite musician speaks for itself - he has performed with the Who's who of maritime music: including Harry Hibbs, Dick Nolan, John Allan Cameron, Roy Payne and the late Al Churney. Over the years he recorded three albums with seven time, North American Fiddle Champion, Graham Townsend. But Fred's greatest thrill as a musician unfolded when he was invited by the legendary Stompin' Tom Connors to participate on his "Dr.Stompin Tom’ Eh?" album in the summer of 1993. Fred has also played and recorded with Grammy Award winner Walter Ostanek, and regularly appeared on his "Polka Time" television show on CKCO (Kitchener). Together they hosted the popular "Down Home Country" radio show on CHOW-1407AM, Wellend, Ontario, that used to air Sunday afternoon at 4:30 P.M.

Victor Hayes
Drums

Vic Hayes, who hails from Geelong, Australia, left home when he was just 12 years old. He started playing drums professionally to earn his keep in a Bordello, where a kindly Madam provided the lad with a home away from home.

A fascinating and colourful character, he has lived the life of a true adventurer. Rebel rousing and living life to the fullest was Vic's rule-of-thumb, but a love for music has always been at the core of his being. He was a vital part of the big band scene in England during the forties, playing with some of the best musicians of the era. Once in Canada he played everything from jazz, to country, to rock. He has played drums for, among others, George Hornbey, Sid Fields, Eric Delaney and Tommy Hunter.

Vic joined The Bay Boys in 1985 after a stint with Walter Ostanek. A spry 67 when he started with The Bay Boys, he was the oldest member of the band and provides its rhythm with a solid backbone.

Rick Rochon
Bass

Rick (Zac) Rochon is a native and lifelong resident of Merritton, a community in south St.Catharines, Ontario. He has been a professional musician since 1965. His enjoyment of all musical genres has led to an eclectic career. Rick has played everything from rock' n roll, folk-rock, southern rock, rockabilly, blues, and traditional Celtic, to free-form jazz. He started playing bass with The Bay Boys in 1986.

In addition to performing with bands on stage, Rick has been a session musician in various recording studios since 1979 and began producing in the early 1980's.

Fiddlers Extraordinaire
Steve Perry & Scott Woods

Steve Perry
Steve Perry hails from Tingnish, Prince Edward Island where he learned to play the island's indigenous style of fiddle music. Since embarking on a musical career, he has become an accomplished player of P.E.I, Newfoundland, Acadian, Cape Breton, New Brunkswick and Quebec fiddling styles.

In addition to accompanying other renowned Maritime artists, Steve spent eight years touring with the immortal Harry Hibbs before becoming a semi-regular with The Bay Boys. Steve, who resides in Toronto, Ontario, has also recorded the traditional songs of his home province on independently released cassettes.

Scott Woods
Scott Woods is a very talented young fiddle player who has been a top ranked competitor since his childhood in the prestigious, "Canadian Open Fiddle Championship" held annually at Shelburne, Ontario. Once he started competing with the adults, Scott's natural ability always managed to put him into the top three of the premier class. In 1993 he finally garnered top honours and was crowned Canada's Open Class Fiddle Champion.

Scott, who lives in Fergus, Ontario, is a fluent player and performs everything from classical to swing. Not surprisingly, he is right at home playing traditional Newfoundland/Maritime music of The Bay Boys.

Other members who have played with the Bay Boys throughout the years are:

John Prince: guitar
John Beech: bass guitar
Gary Hibbs: mandolin, tin whistle, guitar
Gerald Hibbs: drums
Howard Power: bass guitar
Billy Dinn: accordian, piano, guitar
Lark Walker: piano