Jack Smith

From Glengarryceltic

John Duncan [Jackie] Smith, born 10 August 1939; deceased 23 October 2008

Even in his early years, Jackie knew there would always be music in his life. In the house at 18/4th Kenyon, home of his parents, Mary and Alex Smith, Jackie was influenced by the many voices and songs he heard. Father MacPhail, Vince Cameron, Mrs. Donald Edward MacPhee and Duncie (Picket) McDonald, Howie Morris and many others could be heard as part of the seemingly continual chorus at the happy parties and gatherings in his childhood home. Bishop Smith, Uncle Billy to young Jackie, attended some of those gatherings, and could often be coaxed into singing one of the favourites, In My Bonnie Native Glen.

Music was in Jackie's blood, perhaps. When his dad, Alex, danced and sang at the Scottish Concerts in Alexandria, Jackie came along. He was about ten years old when he began singing at those concerts too, accompanied on the bpiano by Christina MacDonald or Mary Frances MacPhee.

As he grew, Jackie continued to pursue music. In 1953, Jackie began to play the acoustic guitar in the Glen Orchestra with Rene Trottier, Bev MacQueen and Donnie MacLeod. He also played piano, using his skills at the Greenfield socials to accompany various singers. Taking up the bass, he also began playing country and Celtic music with Johnnie MacCaskill and Art Currier in 1966.

Jackie began sharing his talents, playing in various bands. With Irene and Freddie Lavigne and Billy Cousineay, in the band known as FBI, Jackie played piano at local hotels and dances, and also with the Celts, a band from Ottawa. With them, he had the distinct pleasure of playing the bass accompanying Leim Clancy at one concert. Jackie later joined the Clansmen, at the request of Sylvester, playing acoustic guitar with them. Later he joined Hughie MacDonell and Lyle MacMillan as The Dornie Express, which eventually became The Dornie Duo with just Jackie and Hughie. He was also very proud to play bass with The Strathspey and Reel Society, touring with them in Cape Breton. During his time playing with these various bands, Jackie's musical talents were sought out for recordings. He was invited to play bass on some of the tunes on an album recorded by the Morris Family. He was also guitarist on The Brigadoons' first recording, Heather.

In 1977, Rob Taylor invited Jackie to play with The Brigadoons, doing concerts and playing at local hotels and events. The band has gone on to achieve much more than that. Certainly, one of the greatest honours Jackie achieved with The Brigadoons was performing for the Queen in 1984. The Brigadoons are now known internationally. Their music has been enjoyed by thousands of people every March for fourteen years during their week long engagements at Florida's Epcot Center. As well, every January for the past ten years Jackie and The Brigadoons have entertained audiences aboard the "Scotland Goes to Sea" cruise in the Caribbean. Jackie has also played at Highland Games from coast to coast across the United States, and was very proud to perform internationally with Rob Taylor for Rae MacCulloch and her dancers. He also played for Rae during last year's rain-soaked Glengarry Highland Games, helping Rae and her dancers into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Even though The Brigadoons enjoy international acclaim, Jackie maintains a solid relationship with the community that gave him his song. Jackie and the band give volunteer performances, two or three times per year at cancer and hospital foundations, and for the elderly at all the nursing homes and senior centres in the area, particularly for special concerts at Christmas and birthday parties. The happiness on everyone's faces is enough satisfaction for Jackie. Being a Brigadoon -keeping his ancestors' traditional songs alive for this generation and the next, through the band's recording- is very rewarding. Through his efforts, the marches, strathspeys, reels and songs from so long ago on 18/4th Kenyon still play on for the entire world to hear.