Insight
Reg Freer was an old-time fiddler, singer, guitarist and bandleader from Kerwood, Ontario. Billed on record as R.B. Freer, he began playing music at the age of 12 after his grandparents bought him a guitar. He later played weddings, receptions, showers, dances and other community events around Kerwood, Watford, Strathroy and the surrounding Southwestern Ontario area. His music also travelled with him during his wartime service in England, Italy, Holland and Belgium, where, according to the liner notes to The Best of R.B., it “opened many doors.”
Freer’s orchestra played old-time dance music, country songs, waltzes, polkas, reels, jigs and popular standards. His players included Margaret King, a Watford music teacher, church organist and pianist; Marg Walker of Ailsa Craig, who played bass and piano and also worked with the Parkhill group The Vesteraires; Tom Levitt of Strathroy on guitar; and Morley Winter, a St. Thomas commercial artist and drummer. Later recordings also featured Gerry Clement, Mike Graham and Herb Burnard.
Freer released three known albums: The Best of R.B., More of R.B. and Down Home Saturday Night. Despite the title, The Best of R.B. appears to have been his first LP, not a later compilation. Its liner notes say friends had encouraged him to make a record and that he “finally has.” More of R.B. followed as his second record, while Down Home Saturday Night, recorded September 29, 1978, was identified in its notes as his third.
One of Freer’s most personal songs was “Hemrider’s Lament,” described in the notes to More of R.B. as a hospital song that began as a poem during his stay at Strathroy-Middlesex General Hospital. Another favourite, “Let Me Be Your Little Sweetheart,” was learned from one of his army buddies overseas.
-Robert Williston
Gallery
Images
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Reg Freer And His Orchestra - More of R. B. Back
Reg Freer And His Orchestra - More of R. B. Side 1
Reg Freer And His Orchestra - More of R. B. Side 2
More of R. B.
Media
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Credits
Musicians
Reg Freer: violin
Margaret King: piano
Marg Walker: bass
Gerry Clement: bass
Morley Winter: drums
Tom Leavitt: electric guitar
Production
Recording engineer: Donald L. Scotland
Companies
Manufactured by Diadem Records Custom Division, Thamesford, Ontario
Manufactured for Academy Records International
Other catalogue numbers
ARIS 8020 Stereo
ARI 8020 Mono
Liner notes
Well, here it is! In answer to many requests, R. B. Freer has made his second record. One even more enjoyable than the first.
Nearly everyone around Kerwood has heard Reg’s “hospital song” — “The Hemrider’s Lament” — which poor Reg says is all too true. The song started out as a short poem while he was a patient in Strathroy-Middlesex General Hospital, but ended up as a thirteen verse poem. On the strong advice of a clergyman friend, Reg set it to music and it has become a favourite of all.
Also featured on the record is “Uncle Bob’s Two Step”, a family tune which lacks any other title as far as we know. “Let Me Be Your Little Sweetheart” is one of Reg’s favourites. He learned it from one of his army buddies while overseas and it has been enjoyed by hundreds since that time.
So sit down, take it easy and enjoy a collection and variety of music and songs with “MORE OF R.B.”
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