Andy DeJarlis (1914 to 1975) was the most recorded Métis fiddler of his time. He wrote more than 175 tunes, cut about 25 LPs for London Records, and sold more than half a million records. His waltzes and Red River pieces gave Manitoba fiddling a sound the rest of Canada could hear.
Why DeJarlis matters
Before DeJarlis, Métis fiddling lived in kitchens and dance halls along the Red River. He put it on the radio, on television, and on records that sold across the country. He also mixed that repertoire with the Down East sound of Don Messer, and that blend shaped the younger Métis fiddlers who came after him. If you play a Manitoba waltz at a jam, there is a good chance DeJarlis wrote it or made it famous.
Life and career
DeJarlis was born Joseph Patrice Ephreme Desjarlais on September 29, 1914, near Woodridge, Manitoba. His grandfather taught him to play. His mother bought him a five dollar violin when he was 15. He moved to Winnipeg in 1934 and won his first fiddle contest in 1935. In 1938 he took lessons from W. George Rutherford in Winnipeg. By 1952 he had competed in more than 20 fiddle contests across western Canada.
From 1935 he played on Winnipeg radio station CJRC with his band, the Red River Mates. He toured northern Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan from 1937 to 1943. Health problems kept him less active from 1948 to 1954.
Records made him a national name. He began recording for Quality Records in 1956 and moved to the London label in 1959. London put out about 25 LPs of his music, including Jolly Old Time Music in 1965 and Square Dance With Calls in 1969. His band by then went by the Early Settlers. He appeared on Don Messer’s Jubilee and worked on CFTM television in Montreal from 1962 to 1963. He returned to Winnipeg in 1965. Messer told the Winnipeg Free Press in 1966 that DeJarlis was one of the greatest old-time players in Canada.
He changed his legal name to Andrew Joseph Patrick Ephreme DeJarlis in 1971. He died at St. Boniface Hospital on September 18, 1975, at age 60, and was buried in St. Vital Cemetery.
Playing style
DeJarlis played the clean, danceable Down East style that Messer made the national standard, and he filled it with Métis and Red River tunes. His records are square dance records first. Many tracks carry names like “1st Change” and “2nd Change” because they were built for the figures of a dance set. The bowing stays smooth and steady, with the melody clear enough for a caller to work over.
His waltzes are the thing people remember. Manitoba Waltz, Rainy River Waltz, and Village Waltz all sit in the singing, lilting style that made him a favorite on the Prairies. He wrote in a way that a dance band could pick up on one hearing.
Influences and legacy
His grandfather was his first teacher, and W. George Rutherford gave him formal lessons in 1938. Don Messer was his biggest influence and later his champion on television. The Canadian Encyclopedia credits his blend of Messer’s Down East style with Métis repertoire as the model for younger Métis fiddlers. That line runs through Manitoba players like Patti Kusturok and Alex Kusturok, and on to Saskatchewan’s John Arcand.
Signature tunes and songs
Manitoba Waltz Rainy River Waltz Village Waltz Black Moustache Reel Buffalo Chase Teetotaller’s Reel Soldier’s Joy.
Essential recordings
Jolly Old Time Music (London, 1965) Square Dance With Calls (London, 1969) Old Time Waltzes (London) Early Settlers Old Time Tunes (London)
Awards and honors
BMI Canada’s first annual award (1969) City of Winnipeg Community Service Award (1968) Manitoba Centennial Medal (1970) Manitoba Fiddle Association Wall of Fame (2004)
What to learn from DeJarlis
Learn Manitoba Waltz from his London recording. It teaches how to play a waltz that dancers can follow, with a long bow on the downbeat and a melody that breathes. The technique to steal is his dance timing. Put on Square Dance With Calls and play along with the reels. Hold the tempo flat for three minutes without pushing. That is the skill every Canadian fiddle contest judge listens for in the waltz and the reel rounds.
Sources
Andy Dejarlis, The Canadian Encyclopedia Memorable Manitobans: Andy De Jarlis, Manitoba Historical Society Andy De Jarlis, Discogs Andy De Jarlis, Square Dance With Calls, Discogs Andy Dejarlis, Jolly Old Time Music, Discogs
Related players
See the fiddle players hub and the fiddle guide for more Canadian fiddlers. DeJarlis learned from Don Messer and shaped the Métis players who followed, including Patti Kusturok and John Arcand.