Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers:
Graham Townsend

The late Graham Townsend (1942-1998) and his wife, the late Eleanor Townsend (1944-1998), were both world-renowned fiddle music Champions – both recorded their music individually and as twin fiddlers.

Graham Townsend was born June 16, 1942, in Toronto. He spent his childhood in Buckingham, Quebec, where he began pursuing his love of the fiddle, mentored on the instrument by various family members. He also began entering and winning fiddle music competitions as a pre-teen.

His father, Fred Townsend, worked as a square dance caller for Don Messer, and this led to a lifelong friendship and one of Graham’s most important musical influences.

As a youngster, Graham Townsend began playing old-time music at dances, Country Fairs, etc., and guested on the CBC’s “Holiday Ranch” show. He soon entered various Fiddle Music competitions, winning the Canadian National Exhibition Fiddle Championship for three consecutive years (1951-53). He also won the Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship in Shelburne, Ontario (1963 and 1968-70), as well as numerous other Fiddle Championships.

Graham began to perform on tour, on radio, and on television, often with Don Messer. In January 1964, Graham Townsend was asked by a Hollywood producer to play on a new Country TV show, “Star Route”, with narrator Rod Cameron, which was aired internationally.

During the late 1960s, he performed and toured as a member of the popular Ottawa Valley group, “The Happy Wanderers”, succeeding famed fiddler Ward Allen (“Maple Sugar”) in that role.

Graham Townsend toured extensively throughout Europe and in Australia, guested on CBC and CTV Specials, and gave two command performances for Queen Elizabeth II, including a Parliament Hill extravaganza in Ottawa for Expo 67 and at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.

Graham often performed with his wife, Eleanor, whom he married in 1973, on shows headlined by Wilf Carter, Tommy Hunter, Ronnie Prophet, Stan Rogers, and others. He also performed in a tribute show to Don Messer and in many festivals as a solo artist throughout Canada, Australia, the United States and Europe. He later toured internationally as a member of the Hank Smith & Wild Rose band.

Townsend’s style was steeped in Canada’s fiddling traditions, which were featured on his many recordings for Melbourne, Banff, Rodeo, Point, Condor, Borealis, Rounder Records, Silver Eagle, and various other labels. His compositions have been recorded by fellow Canadian fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and April Verch. He has guested on recordings by Carroll Baker, Stompin’ Tom Conners, Fred Penner, Raffi, Sneezy Waters, and others.
Graham Townsend was inducted into the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame in 1982, the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990, the Canadian National Fiddling Hall of Fame in 1998, and was nominated for a Juno award for instrumental artist of the year in 1991. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Association in 1998 for his contributions to fiddling.

Sadly, Graham Townsend passed away on December 3, 1998, in Barrie, Ontario. Only weeks later, on December 31, 1998, Eleanor Townsend lost her life… tragically, following a house fire at their home in Barrie.