Maurice Bolyer

Maurice Bolyer (December 1, 1920 – August 18, 1978), born Maurice Beaulieu, was a composer and musician known as "Canada's King of the Banjo".[1] Although proficient in a variety of string instruments and piano, he is best known for his work on the banjo.

Maurice Bolyer
Birth nameMaurice Beaulieu
BornDecember 1, 1920 (1920-12)
Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada
DiedAugust 18, 1978 (1978-08-19) (aged 57)
GenresCountry
InstrumentsBanjo, piano
Years active1940–1978

Early life

Bolyer was born in Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada, into a French-speaking family.[2] He learned to play the piano as a young boy; after learning to play fiddle, guitar and mandolin, he began playing banjo in his late teens.[1]

Career

Beginning in the 1940s, Bolyer appeared regularly on Canadian radio stations CKCW (Moncton, New Brunswick) and CKNX (Wingham, Ontario). Boyler joined the CBC Radio program The Tommy Hunter Show in 1963, continuing with the show when it moved to television in 1965.[2] Bolyer also appeared as a guest on the Lawrence Welk and Arthur Godfrey shows in the United States.[3][4]

In 1975 Bolyer signed with RCA Canada.[5]

Bolyer was inducted posthumously into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.[6]

See also
  • Banjo Hall of Fame Members

Notes
  1. "Funeral Services for King of Banjo". Lethbridge Herald, August 22, 1978 page 36
  2. "Banjo Player Maurice Bolyer Regular with Tommy Hunter". Lethbridge Herald, November 24, 1972 page 30
  3. "Maurice Bolyer". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  4. Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame - Bolyer biography Archived 2010-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Billboard. Vol. Volume 87. Billboard Publications; July 1975. p. 58.
  6. Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine


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