The Travellers (band)
Encyclopedia
For other meanings of the term see The Travellers (disambiguation)
For the American folk trio see Travelers 3
The Travellers were a Canadian folk singing
group which formed in the summer of 1953. They are best known for their rendition of a Canadian version of This Land Is Your Land
with lyrics that reference Canadian geography.
The group was formed as a result of singalongs at Camp Naivelt
, a Jewish socialist vacation community that was operated by the United Jewish Peoples' Order
in the village of Norval
located west of Brampton
, Ontario
. Pete Seeger
was a regular visitor to the camp and encouraged the group.
Founding members of the group were Jerry Gray (banjo and lead singer), Sid Dolgay (mando-cello), and the singers Helen Gray, Jerry Goodis, and Oscar Ross. In 1961 Jerry Goodis was replaced by Ray Woodley. In 1965 they were joined by singer Joe Hampson, husband of Sharon Hampson of Sharon, Lois & Bram
fame. Other members over the years include Simone Johnston, Pam Fernie, Aileen Ahern, Marty Meslin, Ted Roberts and Don Vickery.
The group, which originally considered calling itself The Beavers, started singing outside the camp at labour events and at strikes and protests.
In The Travellers early years, from 1954 to 1961, Samuel Goldberg of Toronto, Ontario, a musician/composer and advertising executive, was instrumental in working with The Travellers as their Artistic Director and Agent. He enabled them to have their television debut and several appearances on CBC-TV musical programs. Goldberg was musical director on their first three LP record albums, Across Canada With The Travellers (1958), The Travellers Sing Songs of North America (1959), and Quilting Bee (1960).
They made their debut on Canadian television in 1954 and, in 1956, achieved national exposure when they reached the finals of CBC Television's Pick the Stars contest They performed at the first Mariposa Festival in 1961. In 1962 they were invited by the Canadian government to tour the Soviet Union
as part of a Canada-USSR cultural exchange performing 19 concerts. The next year they toured Canada and, in 1964, were part of a Royal Command Performance
during the Queen's tour of Canada.
The group's popularity peaked during the 1960s folk revival. Canadiana
songs were a major part of their repertoire at concerts during the Canadian centennial
year of 1967, particularly at Expo 67
.
Their repertoire included protest songs, folk songs, children's songs and international tunes.
In all the group produced 16 albums and performed five specials on Canadian television.
They continued to perform at labour rallies and political events into the 1980s as well as touring schools and performing concerts for children.
Also, two songs on Sea to Sea and one on The Children's Collection, Vol 1
The Travellers (disambiguation)
The Travellers or The Travelers may refer to:* The Travellers , the Canadian folk rock act* Travellers Club, "the quintessential English gentleman's club"* The Travelers Companies, a U.S...
For the American folk trio see Travelers 3
Travelers 3
The Travelers 3 were a vocal trio from Eugene, Oregon.Harmonizing male folk combos, in trios and quartets, were booming in the early 1960s in the wake of the phenomenal success of the Kingston Trio...
The Travellers were a Canadian folk singing
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group which formed in the summer of 1953. They are best known for their rendition of a Canadian version of This Land Is Your Land
This Land Is Your Land
"This Land Is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 based on an existing melody, in response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America", which Guthrie considered unrealistic and complacent. Tired of hearing Kate Smith sing it on...
with lyrics that reference Canadian geography.
The group was formed as a result of singalongs at Camp Naivelt
Camp Naivelt
Camp Naivelt is located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It originated as a children's camp, evolved into a family camp and remains in operation as a left-wing, secular Jewish camping community.-Early years:...
, a Jewish socialist vacation community that was operated by the United Jewish Peoples' Order
United Jewish Peoples' Order
The United Jewish Peoples' Order is a secular socialist Jewish cultural, political and educational fraternal organization in Canada. The UJPO traces its history to 1926 and the founding of the Labour League...
in the village of Norval
Norval, Ontario
Norval is an unincorporated community in the town of Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada. Situated on the Credit River, it is located approximately 55 km west of Toronto and is part of the Regional Municipality of Halton....
located west of Brampton
Brampton
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
was a regular visitor to the camp and encouraged the group.
Founding members of the group were Jerry Gray (banjo and lead singer), Sid Dolgay (mando-cello), and the singers Helen Gray, Jerry Goodis, and Oscar Ross. In 1961 Jerry Goodis was replaced by Ray Woodley. In 1965 they were joined by singer Joe Hampson, husband of Sharon Hampson of Sharon, Lois & Bram
Sharon, Lois & Bram
Sharon, Lois & Bram is the name of a Canadian children's musical trio composed of Sharon Hampson , Lois Ada Lilienstein , and Bramwell "Bram" Morrison .-Group formation:Sharon Hampson, Lois Lillenstein, and Bram Morrison began their singing...
fame. Other members over the years include Simone Johnston, Pam Fernie, Aileen Ahern, Marty Meslin, Ted Roberts and Don Vickery.
The group, which originally considered calling itself The Beavers, started singing outside the camp at labour events and at strikes and protests.
In The Travellers early years, from 1954 to 1961, Samuel Goldberg of Toronto, Ontario, a musician/composer and advertising executive, was instrumental in working with The Travellers as their Artistic Director and Agent. He enabled them to have their television debut and several appearances on CBC-TV musical programs. Goldberg was musical director on their first three LP record albums, Across Canada With The Travellers (1958), The Travellers Sing Songs of North America (1959), and Quilting Bee (1960).
They made their debut on Canadian television in 1954 and, in 1956, achieved national exposure when they reached the finals of CBC Television's Pick the Stars contest They performed at the first Mariposa Festival in 1961. In 1962 they were invited by the Canadian government to tour the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
as part of a Canada-USSR cultural exchange performing 19 concerts. The next year they toured Canada and, in 1964, were part of a Royal Command Performance
Royal Command Performance
For the annual Royal Variety Performance performed in Britain for the benefit of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, see Royal Variety Performance...
during the Queen's tour of Canada.
The group's popularity peaked during the 1960s folk revival. Canadiana
Canadiana
Canadiana is a term referring to things related to the country of Canada. It is most often used to refer to a class of books somewhat wider than Canadian Literature because it also includes books about Canada as well as Canadian non-fiction works....
songs were a major part of their repertoire at concerts during the Canadian centennial
Canadian Centennial
The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...
year of 1967, particularly at Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
.
Their repertoire included protest songs, folk songs, children's songs and international tunes.
In all the group produced 16 albums and performed five specials on Canadian television.
They continued to perform at labour rallies and political events into the 1980s as well as touring schools and performing concerts for children.
Discography
- Across Canada with the Travellers 1958
- The Travellers Sing Songs of North America 1959
- Quilting Bee 1960
- Introducing the Travellers 1961
- The Travellers on Tour 1962
- Something to Sing About 1963
- We're on Our Way Again 1964-5
- The Travellers Still Travelling (in part a reissue of material previously released by Columbia)
- A Century of Song 1967
- This Land, the Travellers Centennial Album 1967
- The Travellers Applaud Canada 1968
- The Travellers Sing for Kids 1970
- The Travellers 1970
- Merry Go Round 1980
Also, two songs on Sea to Sea and one on The Children's Collection, Vol 1