Donald Charles Frederick Messer (May 9, 1909 – March 26, 1973) was a Canadian musician, band leader, radio broadcaster, and defining icon of folk music during the 1960s.
Messer also began to make personal appearances throughout the Maritimes and New England using a smaller group named the "Backwoods Breakdown."
Messer left Saint John in 1939 and moved to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island where he joined CFCY as music director.
The show established itself as the most popular on Canadian radio during the 1940s-1960s and Don Messer and The Islanders began to tour outside of the Maritimes.
It was formed around two of the original members, lumberjack-vocalist Charlie Chamberlain from Bathurst, N.B., and bass player Julius (Duke) Neilson from Woodstock, N.B.
[8] In 1956, Messer's music group began to make regular television appearances on CBHT-TV in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The show was notable because it had a regular guest performer time slot, giving rise to many important Canadian folk singers through their national exposure, including Stompin' Tom Connors and Catherine McKinnon, and fiddler Graham Townsend among many others including a young 10 year old fiddler named Jim Elliott.
[1] Don Messer's estate, which is run by his daughter Dawn Attis, has attempted to protect his name and image and his music.
The estate gave sole license to contemporary Canadian folk musician Frank Leahy, who also owns and performs with one of Messer's fiddles.
[13] A plaque to recognize the former home of Don Messer was installed by the City of Charlottetown to commemorate his contribution and presence in the community.