INNISFAIL – Raven’s Betty Belenky calls herself a “founding mother.”
She was one of the original founders of today’s Foothills Centennial Fiddlers, an 18-member band based in Olds that barnstorms across the region’s halls and lodges with up to 25 shows a year with their distinct brand of olde tyme country music.
And she truly loves to play the fiddle and the piano.
“I've been out at Raven for 40 years, and I started up with the fiddlers,” said Belenky. “I started playing piano when I was like eight, and it's just been music to sooth the soul.
“It's not about the money. It's just about the music and making people happy, you know, the lodgers, and things like that.”
Belenky’s band was at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104 in Innisfail on Jan. 16 for a good old fashioned Old-Time Country Dance Afternoon.
The band played to Don Messer-style waltzes, the two step, jive, schottische partnered dance, the seven step, polka and ragtime.
And as always, they added in some east coast fiddle music and country standards made famous by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
Most importantly for band members on Jan. 16 it was a show to celebrate their 20th anniversary of providing down-home entertainment to countless folks across the region.
The show at the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Innisfail, which featured an intermission to mark the anniversary with cupcakes and a group photo, was the 398th performance since the Foothills Centennial Fiddlers’ founding 20 years ago.
The group, originally started by Olds' Earl and Anne Bowles in 2005, now has a membership that features musicians from Olds, Innisfail, Didsbury, Sundre, Airdrie and Red Deer.
Innisfailian Murray Cameron has been the band’s musical director for the past 12 years, taking over from the late Bob Schaefer..
“It is a very social thing for us. You know we mess up and we laugh about it,” said Cameron with a chuckle. “When I came in to the band 12 years ago, I was a very novice fiddle player. I sat in the back row and played along with the fiddle and learned the tunes they were doing that Bob Schaefer was leading at the time.
“And then as time went along, I got those going,” he added. “Sometimes I would play bass for the group. If the bass player couldn't come then I would play bass for the group.”
Belenky proudly noted that most group members can play multiple instruments. Along with the fiddle and piano she can also play the accordion and mandolin.
“Everybody has a little bit of tune with different instruments. So, if somebody's not there then somebody can fill in, and it's back and forth. Yes, we're all music,” said Belenky.
For most members there is no expiration date as to how long they will keep on going.
Many are senior citizens. In fact, Innisfail's 92-year-old Arnold Jones played with the band on Jan. 16. Their love for the music is absolute.
For Belenky, the music and performing has also been therapeutic.
She used to be nervous playing with the original members of the band but over time group members have helped her build confidence.
“Through the years, as people have come and gone, I really have gotten a lot of confidence. People don't judge. You can do whatever. You can mess up,” said Belenky. “I come here, and everybody is just perfect, and so you keep going. So yes, as God gives me my whatever's I'm going to be here for sure.”
