Hank's Centennial Travels

Musicians
Hank Rivers: vocals
Ted Daigle and His Music Men: backing band
Ted Daigle: guitar
Gilbert Glazier: guitar
Joe Pino: bass
Byron Stever: drums

Production
Produced by Alan Sherman
Associate produced by Ted Daigle
Album co-ordination by Russell P. Wheaton
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Montreal
Manufactured by RCA Victor Recording Services

Artwork
Cover design by Allan Sherman
Cover photo by Joe Dixon

Liner notes
Hank's Travels:
Born in Hawkesbury, Ontario, I began singing at a very early age. I had a great urge to see our vast country and anxious to meet new people. Looking back I'm not too sure whether the singing or travelling started the earliest. My greatest fortune is the memories of the wonderful people I have met and the beautiful country I saw as I travelled across each border into another province.

With these thoughts close to my heart I began to write a song . . . so come along with me on “Hank’s Travels”.

Newfoundland:
I toured Newfoundland some years ago with Wilf Carter and Joe Brown’s “Hillbilly Jewels”. We had a wonderful tour visiting with great crowds wherever we played. 1966 was “Come Home Year” and native sons far and wide returned to visit, to vacation or to stay. This song was written as an invitation, so when I visit Newfoundland again I hope you’ll heed the song title and “Come Where We’re At”.

Nova Scotia:
I was stationed in Nova Scotia during the war, and also entertained the Armed Forces. This is where I first met Hank Snow, one of the great Canadian artists. I recently paid tribute to Hank by writing a song called “The Travelling Snowman” which was recorded by Orval Prophet.

While in Halifax I sang on radio station CHNS and entertained the Sailors aboard ship in Halifax Harbour, never thinking that some day my own son Gary would be serving in the Royal Canadian Navy in these same waters. So I have many memories today of “My Nova Scotia Home”.

Prince Edward Island:
My visit to Prince Edward Island was one I’ll well remember for the wonderful ovation we received after each performance. I enjoyed walking around the countryside taking note of the rich red soil where so many of our potatoes are grown. The Islanders are a warm, friendly people and love country and western music. I often found myself singing and playing as much off stage as on. With these fond memories “Prince Edward Island Is Heaven To Me”.

New Brunswick:
New Brunswick holds many nostalgic memories for me as I spent some time here while in the Army. I met and worked with many fine musicians while here and later toured Ontario and Quebec with Ned Landry who hails from N. B. Ted Daigle, the Co-Producer of this album also was born and got his radio start at Bathurst, N. B. Ted, whom I consider one of my closest friends, and his “Music Men” did the background on this L.P.

I hope it will be my pleasure in the near future to meet my many friends. This is why I say “Take Me Back To Old New Brunswick”.

Quebec:
Montreal, the home of Expo ’67 where millions of people will come from all over the world to help us celebrate our 100th Anniversary. Montreal, Quebec City, Malartic, Val D’Or, Rouyn and Three Rivers are some of the places I visited while on tour.

I find French Canadian people love to listen and to sing country music. Quebec has turned out such great artists as Hal Willis, Jimmy James and the Hachey Brothers, to name a few.

It was at the RCA Victor Company in Montreal where I first recorded, I was known as Henry La Riviere, “The Singing Soldier”. Again in Montreal I recorded my new album for “Excellent” records.

Hope you will enjoy the “French Song” or “When The Sun Says Good-day To The Mountains”.

Ontario:
We moved from Hawkesbury to Ottawa when I was three years old so have always considered Ottawa as my “Home Town”. It was in the Ottawa Valley that I truly started my singing career, entertaining on local radio stations and performing in the area’s many night clubs.

After my Army discharge I once again returned to Ottawa and became vocalist for the “Western Five” on the CBC network going around the world.

I met and played shows in Ottawa, with Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Jimmy Dean, Grandpa Jones, Doc Williams, Gene Autry and a host of others. I met the late Ward Allen who wrote the music for “Maple Sugar”, I wrote the words and called it “Maple Sugar Sweetheart”, which has been recorded by 5 different artists. I hope you enjoy my province as we go down “Where The St. Lawrence River Flows”.

Manitoba:
Winnipeg—midway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with its great railroad centre and its location at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers makes it the natural “Gateway To The West”. While here I played in many clubs and theatres and took time out to visit some friends who went west before.

Visiting the local radio stations I was surprised to meet many D.J.’s who had previously worked in and around the Ottawa Valley. The last day or two of my visit was spent fishing and swimming in the beautiful “Red River Valley”.

Saskatchewan:
I enjoyed my Saskatchewan stay tremendously. It was here I first met up with the late Bill Shultz who was then a D.J. at CHAB in Moose Jaw, just a stone’s throw from Regina, if you can throw that far. Bill booked me into many places, including the Woodmountain Stampede, just on the border of Montana. This is where I first saw the bucking horses I had so often heard of. My stage for singing was just above the chutes so whenever I missed a note, it showed my nervousness at what was going on below.

After this show we had a feed of beans and bacon at the Chuckwagon and to my surprise was served coffee by the “Girl From Saskatoon”.

Alberta:
Alberta answered another dream of mine for it was here I had the opportunity to sing at the Calgary Stampede. Hoot Gibson led the Parade through Calgary that year. The Province is a scenic paradise with beauty beyond compare, such as Lake Louise. It’s a wonderous feeling to look up and see the snow capped mountains disappear into the clouds.

Leaving here following one of the many trails it was with much regret that I said goodbye to “The Blue Canadian Rockies”.

British Columbia:
On my arrival in Vancouver I knew I would find this Garden Spot very hard to leave. It was here I met Bill Rea of radio station CKMO. I also met Pat Morgan with whom I played many engagements.

You can stand in the heart of Vancouver—on a summer day and see the snow capped mountains miles away. I strolled through the Yo-Ho Valley where Wilf Carter wrote many of his songs, and found Victoria really had a touch of merrie old England. Then across the Lion’s Gate Bridge to North Vancouver and a trip along the blue Pacific to Prince Rupert was one I enjoyed, then back to the river that I’m going to sing about — “My Home By The Fraser”.

Something To Sing About:
I think this is an appropriate song to end my “Centennial Travels”, it has brought to life through song, everyone of our Canadian Provinces. It carries the sentiment and feelings of every Canadian, while the miles are far, our dreams and hopes for our very young Canada are the same. Happy Birthday “Everyone”, we’re One Hundred Years Young. I think you’ll agree, we do have “Something To Sing About”.