Ned Landry

fiddler, composer | 1921 - 2018

BornSaint John, New Brunswick, Canada

DiedSaint John, New Brunswick, Canada

SchoolCanadian

BiographyNed Landry was born Frederick Lawrence on 2 February 1921 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Although self taught as a violinist, Landry made his first public appearance on Don Messer’s CHSJ radio show “Backwoods Breakdown” in 1934 playing the harmonica. His career as a fiddler began in 1939, when he placed second with his group, the New Brunswick Lumberjacks, in CBS radio’s “Major Bowes’ Amateur Hour” in New York City. His recording practice began in 1955 and, throughout his career Landry released eight albums with the RCA Victor label, as well as additional recordings with Arc, MMC, and his own label, Prime Time. He appeared on numerous television and radio shows throughout the 1950s, including CFBC radio, and “Don Messer’s Jubliee”. His own compositions explore various Canadian styles, many of which are published in the folios ‘Ned Landry Favorite Fiddle Tunes’ (Empire 1952) and ‘Bowing the Strings with Ned Landry’ (Thompson 1959). Landry was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1991, and was the recipient of the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 at the East Coast Music Association Awards. He was also honored with a lifetime contribution award and commemorative trophy in his name from the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship. He has been inducted into the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame.