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
4 images
Reg Freer And His Orchestra / The Best Of R. B. back
Reg Freer And His Orchestra / The Best Of R. B. label 01
Reg Freer And His Orchestra / The Best Of R. B. label 02
The Best Of R. B.
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Credits
Musicians
Reg Freer: guitar
Margaret King: organ, piano
Marg Walker: bass, piano
Tom Levitt: guitar
Morley Winter: drums
Companies
Custom produced by Academy Productions, Box 104, Thamesford, Ontario
Other catalogue numbers
API 8012 Stereo
API 8012 Mono
Photo caption
Mrs. Marg. Walker, Ailsa Craig
Liner notes
Mrs. Margaret King, a housewife from Watford, has been playing with Reg’s orchestra for 12 years. She’s also the organist of her church, teaches music at Metcalfe Central School, and gives piano lessons in her home. Margaret has recorded her own L.P. entitled “Familiar Melodies with Margaret King”.
Mrs. Marg. Walker from Ailsa Craig, a housewife and busy mother of four boys plays with the “Vesteraires” a local group from Parkhill. She plays bass as well as piano — undoubtedly a very talented lady.
Tom Levitt, a native of Strathroy, who is a salesman for a construction company in London, first played with Reg about 4 years ago. Playing with an orchestra for the first time, he has certainly become one of the best guitar players around - and proves it when he plays two of his favourites on the album.
Morley Winter, a commercial artist at St. Thomas, is a Napier boy. He went to school in Strathroy and has played the drums with Reg for about 5 years. He also plays with a group in London.
R.B. Freer started his musical career at the age of 12, when his grandparents bought him a guitar. Over the years he has played at wedding receptions, showers, dances and other community assemblies. During the four years he was in the war, in England, Italy, Holland and Belgium, his music “opened many doors”.
For the past few years a number of friends have encouraged Reg to make a record. He finally has — so draw back the rug or pull up a chair and listen to forty minutes of “THE BEST OF R.B.”.
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