Prince Albert’s connection to Gordon Lightfoot

Red and his brothers Les and Bud, were Canadian stars and appeared on Country Hoedown, the first real Canadian-produced country music show that became the Tommy Hunter Show with Red Shea as a house guitarist.

The Red and Les Trio, as they were called at the time, had a hit song called Marlene and were guests on a CKBI/CIPA-TV series produced out of Prince Albert.

“He came into town to do a concert and we had him come and appear as one of the first guests on No. 1 West,” said Sklar.

A video of the performance is available on Youtube.

The impression the stars made on the youthful Sklar lasted a lifetime.

“I can remember them coming into town. They were driving an old car with a rumble seat,” he said. “They came blasting past my house and I’m never going to forget that picture. I’m also never going to forget the picture of King Ganam’s car parked in front of the Avenue Hotel in Prince Albert.”

Red Shea, guitarist to Gordon Lightfoot, performed here as did other singers of the day, like King Ganam. The Herald’s former photographer, Alf Pouliot, was Shea’s father. (Prince Albert Historical Society)

Seeing Ganam (another legendary performer/fiddler who was born in Swift Current) and Red Shea and his band in the clothing of the day left a permanent mark and lit a fire.

“I told myself someday I want a rhinestone suit just like King and just like the boys in the band and that all came to pass,” he said. “The seeds were planted partially by those brothers in Prince Albert.”

Brian Sklar talks about the impact of rhinestone suits.

With the passing of Shea years ago, his brother Les more recently in Saskatoon and now Lightfoot, Sklar said the Canadian music scene will never be the same.

Several decades ago, singers travelled together and performed at the same venues and while they competed, it was also like a family.

The modern music industry doesn’t allow for the same level of connection, said Sklar.

Jim Scarrow, a long-time broadcaster in Prince Albert, knew the Pouliot family and said they lived not that far down the street. Alf Pouliot was a photographer for the Herald, his wife was a teacher and together they raised four sons and one daughter.

“It was noted that It was Red Shea who befriended Gordon Lightfoot when they were working together on Country Hoedown. They established what appears to be about a 10-year relationship,” Scarrow said.

Red was responsible for a number of guitar chords in Lightfoot’s music until about 1975.

He echoed Sklar’s sentiments about the loss of music legends, however inevitable it might be.

“It’s a melancholy day with the passing of Gordon Lightfoot and knowing that Red Shea played such an important role, it’s also a melancholy day for people of northern and central Saskatchewan,” Scarrow said.

Lightfoot was an international star and Scarrow said that he would be in the top five of Canadian performers and top 20 in the world when it comes to recognition.

Red Shea’s influence and impact on Lightfoot can’t be denied either, with both Sklar and Scarrow saying that the self-taught guitarist made it in what may have been a Canadian music golden era.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

Prince Albert’s connection to Gordon Lightfoot

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