A LITTLE HISTORY ON ERNIE STRAITON

- First guitar lesson from Blacksmith’s son Jim Rosie

- Farm hand neighbour Ken McIvor and Ernie sat in bunkhouse singing Gene Autry tunes, on an old Lone Ranger guitar.

- Cousin Len Lemieux (Ryder) and Ernie used to hitchhike to Chilliwack and play on CHWK radio.

- He won a few amateur contests and a trip to Vancouver to sing at the Orpheum Theatre for a Roy Gordon talent show.

- He later went on to play dances in community halls throughout the Valley.

- In the late 1940’s did some stints on CKNW radio—Ranger’s Cabin with the Warhurst Brothers, Cousin Len and Walt Sunquist.

- In the late 1940’s, the Tippie Brothers beat Ernie out of a contest in the good old Hammond Hall right here in Maple Ridge.

- Not to forget a great experience he had with longtime friend and well-known magician, Rudy Hayden. He and Ernie did some charitable Christmas Concerts for kids in Abbotsford.

- In the 1950’s more dances and banquets in the Valley with various bands. He then went on to play Jhorth Road Hall with Johnny Zapp and Buck Jenkins. Later in 1953 he joined the Hank the Hobo band at the Hollywood Bowl in New Westminster for Saturday night dances, that lasted until 1958, and then he played at Elgin Hall for 6 months with Tex Pedersen. He did the legion circuits with Johnny Zapp, Ed Swift, the Tommy Gilligan Bands, and gigs with Alberta Slim, and Kerry Regan, and lots and lots of gigs with Hank the Hobo.

- From the time he was 15 years old his association with a band out of Sumas, Washington, with Roland Smiley and the Penn Brothers, led him to a life-long association with those people whom he referred to as his American friends. This band played Saturday nights at a little hall outside of Sumas called Damn Town. They performed to packed houses due to the fact they had a 15 minute radio tape that was on KPUG Bellingham radio that he was a weekly guest on. About this time Loretta Lynn, after moving to the area, heard the radio show, traced it back to the radio station, and then arrived at John Penn’s house and said she wanted to join the band. If you want to know any more about Loretta Lynn’s time in this area give Ernie a call—he would love to share his experiences with you.

- He always considered his music as his “half-acre of raspberries”.

- Ernie says that his time with the Hank the Hobo Band was his favourite time in his musical career. Hank taught them how to play music and have fun.

- There are so many people that Ernie would like to thank and credit for his wonderful career/experiences with his music, which includes each and every one that have already been mentioned, but never to forget Dave Hamel, Harold Bakke, Rod Gregg, Bill Allen, Frank & Shirley Rodgers (who he still does gigs with today), Wendy Clark, George Isbister, Steve Kresta, Jake Doell, and lots of good times at Pogo’s Tavern in Bellingham with Frank O’Connell and many, many, many special friends.