Salutes Canada's Centennial

THE GREAT CANADIAN FIDDLE CHAMPION AND BAND PLAY A SERIES OF BREAKDOWNS, JIGS AND OTHER DANCES DEDICATED TO CANADA'S CENTENNIAL.

Graham Townsend was born in Toronto, Ontario, June 16, 1942 and raised in Buckingham, Que.
He started to play old time music for dances, country fairs, garden parties and other engagements at the age of 9 and, at the same age entered and won CBC’s talent contest “Now’s Your Chance”. At 10 years of age he guested with Cliff McKay on Holiday Ranch and thereafter entered the Canadian National Exhibition Fiddle Championship, which he won 3 years in succession (1951, 1952, 1953).
In the summer of 1953, when he was 11 years old, he entered the Canadian Open Championship at Shelburne, Ontario, and placed 3rd against 85 competitors and went on to win this competition in 1963 against 113 competitors.

Graham’s accomplishments in the field of music are legendary from the many fine fiddle compositions which he has penned to the many competitions he has won.

Graham has toured Germany, France and Italy to entertain Canadian and American Troops – has appeared on a number of occasions over WWVA, Wheeling, West Virginia, and has guested with Hank Snow, Carl Smith, Don Messer and many, many others.

In January 1964, Graham was asked by a Hollywood producer to play on a new Country TV Show, which was built around the artist’s background. He accepted the 36 week contract and the show was filmed in North Hollywood, Calif. and Toronto, Ont. The show is called “Star Route” with narrator Rod Cameron, and is being shown around the world.

Graham has made his home in the Ottawa Valley, where he is heard over Radio Station CFRA and CJOH-TV weekly. He makes many personal appearances in Ontario and Québec wit his good friend and companion, Bob King.

List of Honours Won By Graham Townsend

CNE Fiddle Championship (1951, 52, 53) First Prize
Shelburne Fiddle Championship (1953) Third Prize
Simcoe Fiddle Championship (1957, 58) First Prize
Southern Ontario Fiddle Championship (1958, 59) First Prize
Kitchener Fiddle Championship (1959) Second Prize
Peterborough Fiddle Championship (1959) First Prize
Northern Ontario Fiddle Championship (1959, 60) First Prize
Shelburne Novelty Fiddle Championship (1960) Third Prize
Shelburne Novelty Fiddle Championship (1961) Second Prize
Shelburne Novelty Fiddle Championship (1962) First Prize
Shelburne Canadian Open Championship (1963) First Prize
Pembroke International Championship (1965) First Prize