Bernie & Ruth MacLean at Blue Angel (Montreal)

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: Beer
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 10:35 PM

Break a Leg Sandy.
"Never did like that good luck wish". However, have a great time.
ad.

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: Bob Landry
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 01:07 AM

I tuned into this thread too late to read the Herald article but I remember the Cape Breton Barn Dance on CJCB. The names Bernie and Ruth MacLean do ring a faint bell. I'd love to be in CB for the fundraiser but a 5400 km trek over the next 12 hours is a bit daunting. Enjoy making and listening to the music, Sandy. Best of luck in helping Bernie and Ruth.

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 30 Sep 11 - 11:30 PM

Just an update note:
The access to the above newspaper clip has expired but there will be a benefit concert for Bernie and Ruth this afternoon. They have been having some health issues and hopefully this will be of help to them!
It will run from 2 until 7 PM Oct.1 at the Valley Mills Fire Hall (River Denys). Anyone in or near Cape Breton is encouraged to attend and participate. I intend to do a few songs myself.
                        Sandy

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 12:16 AM

Does anyone remember a singer with the first name "Vivian" at the Blue Angel"? Thanks

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 02:15 PM

In the 1950's when I was a kid there was a local show broadcast live on CJCB-TV called the Cape Breton Barn Dance. Bernie and Ruth were part of that show and they used to tour around local Cape Breton halls as well. One of the songs that they used to sing was a countrified cover of Satchmo's "On A Little Bamboo Bridge". Sometime in the early 70's I was in Montreal and went to the Blue Angel and I sent a request for that song written on a napkin and delivered to the stage by a waitress. They perhaps had not sung that in a very long time and I could tell that they were puzzled as to where in Hell the request came from but they did the song. At the next break they came to my table and asked where I had heard them sing it? When I explained we had a great talk. After they moved home to Cape Breton I was often a customer in their store and asked them why they didn't perform locally, but I guess they just burned out and wanted a change. Their son Robbie is a fine performer and carries on their tradition here though!

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: Beer
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 11:36 AM

Seen Bob about 6 months ago. Didn't look to good. Big man carrying a lot of weight.
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Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: GUEST,Stew
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 10:21 AM

I was over to Bob Fuller's house with Grant Hewlett once or twice. I never saw as many LP's and records in one place. Barely room to move. Bob would create tapes made to order for people. All of this done in real time as there was no digital transfering in those days. I swear that if his house had caught fire they would have seen the smoke in Toronto!

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 10:05 PM

I used to go down to the Blue Angel to see them. On Mondays there was an open mic hosted by Bob Fuller. However he didn't want anyone to play any song that was written after the mid-50s. He had a vast record collection and would sell a few near the stage. Paul Menard was a great fiddler. I met him when he was working with Doogie Trineer. He helped fixed the intonation on a guitar I had. He was also in Doogie's band 'The Hackamores' with Lou Giroux, a great pedal steel player, who ended up working with Ruth and Bernie at the Blue Angel for several years, but he had given up the jazz neck and stuck to the country stuff by then... there were a lot of fine players around in those days. And it was real Country..

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: gnu
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:34 PM

I got water-eyes. sniff

Thanks, Sandy.

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:26 PM

Not related but come from the same neck of the woods.

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: bobad
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:22 PM

Lovely story, very touching. Love the line...."and suddenly they weren't young anymore", some of us can relate to that.

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: Beer
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:03 PM

Great story Sandy. You related?
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Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 12:21 PM

Hi, Stew. I think they were called

Scotty Stevenson and the Canadian Nighthawks.

There seem to be a few free mp3 downloads on the net. fyi

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: GUEST,stew
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 11:53 AM

I spent many a night at the Blue Angel in the 50' and 60's. Ruth and Bernie were very popular in Montreal. I could be wrong but as I recall (vaguely) they also played in a group called Scotty Stevenson and the Nighthawks. The great fiddler Paul Menard was also somehow mixed in with those folks. Ah, memories...
Stew

Subject: RE: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 11:45 AM

What a story. Beautiful.

Subject: Blue Angel (Montreal)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 11:35 AM

Bernie & Ruth MacLean perfofmed at the Blue Angel for many years before moving back home to Cape Breton. Anyone who remembers them may find this of interest:
Bernie & Ruth