Bob Ranger

From Glengarryceltic

Ubald “Bob” Ranger was born in Lochiel on August 16, 1924. A member of a large family, several of whom could play the fiddle or other instruments, Bob began to learn the fiddle when he was quite young. His sister, Jeanette, would chord for him and then they would trade places. When he was about twelve years old, he managed to get a fiddle of his own.

Like his brother, Lucien, Bob is noted for his large repertoire of tunes but he prefers those of the Canadian “Old Time” type. Bob has played in a variety of groups throughout his life and has won many awards at fiddling contests but his most notable activity has been playing for step-dancers in competition. This is a demanding and grueling task but Bob relished it and came to be known as the “step dancers’ fiddler”. In recent years he has given this up in favour of younger fiddlers who were keen to take this place.

Some tunes that Bob mentions among his favourites are the “High Level Hornpipe,” “Jordan’s Reel” and “The Spud Island Breakdown.” His favourite fiddlers include Ed Gyurki, Don Messer, Graham Townsend, Kelli Trottier, Chuck Joyce and the Schryers. Kelli Trottier particularly impresses him because he has watched her fiddling develop and helped her along the way but as he says “I can’t show her anything now.”

His tunes in this collection are: “Bernie’s Reel,” “Foresters Falls Reel” named after his place of residence for many years, “Jolene’s Jig,” “Ranger’s Hornpipe” and “The Welder’s Jig.”

In 1993 he was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame and also received an award from the Grand Masters for his promotion of fiddle music in the Valley. He won many awards and trophies at competitions and was always willing to help and encourage up and coming young fiddlers.

At various times Bob lived in Alexandria, Portage du Fort, Renfrew and Foresters Falls. In retirement he made his home in Ottawa until his death on Easter Friday, April 13, 2001