Joan Gormley O’Hara started performing at an early age in her backyard, where, despite several falls, she was determined to conquer cartwheels first with two hands then with her right hand. From the age of 6 – 12 years, she and her sister, Dorothy took dancing lessons from Carrie Biggers, a champion highland dancer who […]
James Stewart Nixon, born Oct. 19, 1931, is the son of Leslie and Margaret (Barton) Nixon. His musical ability stems from both sides of the family which includes playing the piano, organ, accordion, guitar and fiddle. His grandfather (also James Nixon) would lilt mouth music for dances, his mother played the piano, his uncle Tommy […]
Anna Margaret MacDonald could be inducted into the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame in three categories: performer, composer and promoter. She was born in 1925 to Archibald and Catherine (Kate McCosham) McDonell. While growing up on the family farm near St. Telesphore, Quebec, she attended the local schools and is a graduate of Maryvale […]
Cliffton Britton was born and raised on a farm four miles north of Avonmore in a settlement called Lodi. His parents were James and Alberta Britton, both of whom played the violin. Cliff started playing the banjo first. He would accompany his brother-in-law, Charles McElheran, an excellent fiddler, when they played at many house parties. […]
Alexander Mark Smith was born April, 25th 1901 at 18/4th Concession of Kenyon, the second son of Duncan and Catherine (Grant) Smith. He grew up with both parents speaking Gaelic, and his Mother sang “mouth music” and taught him to dance when he was very young. When his sister Kathleen came along, they both had […]
