Information/Write-up
What we know about Charlie Herald at this point is through the daughter of Charlie's one-time fiddler, Ken McKenzie.
Ken's daughter relates that he was a talented violinist / fiddler and also worked with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for several years.
She notes that he always enjoyed kicking back and sharing his memories about the times he had working in Charlie Herald's group.
Charlie Herald and the Roundup Rangers were all residents of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Today's musicians travel in luxury compared to those who paved those roads for them. Today they have paved super highways, air-conditioned fully equipped buses or even airplanes to get them to their personal appearances.
As you can see in these pictures, from the mid-1930s, travel back then could have its own challenges. Note the group perhaps had a sponsor as seen by the ad on their wagon (yes, drawn by horses!) for Pearl Soap. These photos were from a trip traveling to the province of Saskatchewan and one caption notes, "Stuck again...muddy roads!"
Ken's daughter, Nancy, relates that the notation on the photo of her dad with the fiddle indicates he was appearing at the Carleton Place in Ontario.
The piano player for the group was a cousin of Ken's, Jack McArton.
Charlie Herald: leader; guitar
Arnold Johnston: fiddle
Eddie Johnston: fiddle
Garry Herald (Charlie’s son): tenor guitar; harmonica
Hank Hughes: vocals; guitar and harmonica
Jack McArton: accordion and piano
Harold Cawston: trumpet and drums
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