SOUTH CAYUGA—It may surprise some to learn that Bill Smith has been playing the fiddle since he was a child, has had a life-long career of fiddle playing, has won many awards for his abilities over the years, and was recently referred to as a ‘fiddler extraordinaire,’ but he can’t read music.
“I play by ear,” he said.
This added a few steps when Smith wrote a waltz called ‘To Mom and Dad,’ but he was still able to capture the music for others to play.
“I played the music and had the notes written by someone else,” Smith explained.
Once the music was written, he had fellow musician Alanna Jenish play the notes to ensure it was written correctly.
Smith’s connections to Haldimand, his family, and music run deep.
He was born and raised in South Cayuga. His dad, Stan Smith, was a part owner of Smith and Fitzgerald John Deere back in the ‘50s. Stan was also a musician; he played the banjo.
Smith began competing in the 12 and under category of fiddle and step dancing competitions 56 years ago.
His wife, Kelly, proudly supports her husband of 43 years.
She said, “Bill is most famous in the Dunnville area because when he was in school they used to have a class that was called the novelty class, where you could do some trick fiddling.”
They have photo evidence of Smith standing on his head – with some support from his dad – while fiddling.
These days, Smith competes in the 65 and over classes.
Since May of this year alone, Smith has achieved five first place wins and one second place win in Ottawa, Bobcaygeon, Erin, Orono, and Pembroke competitions. He has one more competition at the Great Northern Exhibition in Collingwood in October.
Smith estimated there were approximately 15 competitors in the Pembroke competition in his class of 65 years and over.
“I was the winner and I received a small keeper trophy and my name on a larger trophy,” he said. “This was my second time winning first in my class at this competition.”
Not only does Smith win keeper trophies; he also makes and donates them for some of the competitions, including 45 for Bobcaygeon and 39 for the Erin competitions.
A man of many talents, he has also built six guitars, 10 ukuleles, and, Kelly added, “A local favourite of Bill’s creations is his turkey callers; he makes them by hand.”
Winners at the Erin Agricultural Society Fiddle and Stepdance Competition – including Smith – will be performing at the Erin Fair over the Thanksgiving weekend, October 9 to 12. You can also find Smith playing his fiddle as part of the local Bluegrass band called Breezy Creek.
When asked what he would say to any young fiddle players out there, Smith responded, “I’d say if you take an interest into it, stick with it.”
And while playing by ear has worked out for him, he added, “If you can get a good teacher and learn the proper way about it and if you can read music, that’s a good thing too.”
