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Don Perkins |
I began playing the fiddle at five years of age. I didn't learn how to read music, but rather listened intently to my mother, Lois, as she would hum the tunes while playing the piano. My maternal grandfather and my paternal grandmother were both fiddlers. The Perkins family is steeped in French-Canadian fiddle music tradition. On the maternal side, ancestors emigrated from Canada to the USA back in the early 1800's and on my paternal side, ancestors came from Scotland and Ireland.
My father, the late Francis Perkins, considered one of the best square dance callers around, called to square dances at Grange halls in the North Country, and as a result of this early exposure, I played my 1st square dance at the age of ten. Been fiddlin' ever since.
I've been privileged to travel in the company of such fiddle greats as Jimmy Hamblin, Frank Orsini, the late Ken Bonner, George Pratt and Rollie Swinton. I've also had the good fortune to guest with many well known bands, including Bobby Hicks, won many championships and to carry on this beautiful music I've loved for so very long. Even got a tip of the hat once from none other than Bill Monroe who smiled and said "Mighty fine job, son."
It don't get much better'n that!
Don Perkins
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