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George was born
in 1911 at Gagetown, New Brunswick (Canada) on a grant deeded his great
grandfather by a Peterson family, (they arrived together in the locality
from the US during the Civil War). His interest in music came from his
mother who played accordion. At an early age he became fascinated by the
banjo.
His father bought him a second hand
banjo. He did not take lessons and he was soon good enough to play on the
radio CFBO at the Admiral Beatty Hotel. In 1935 he was hired by Don Messer
and made his first professional concert appearance. At the time George was a
chauffeur for the late Howard P Robinson.
"I was making $22.50 a week
just for driving a car and keeping it shined. . . not bad for the hungry
thirties." "They billed me as The Singing Chauffeur." In 1946 he gave up
chauffeuring and joined the Maritime Farmers. He played
with them on TV, radio and in concerts for the next 15 years. In 1966 he
went to Toronto. There he worked a day job and played clubs in the evenings.
In the 1970s he had a one man show with patter, jokes and sing along.
One of the unique
characteristics about George was that he was a country singer playing the
banjo. |
