Whiskey Jack Music - Venerable Talent

The early years (1970's)

The Tommy Hunter years (1980's)

The Stompin' Tom Connors years (1990's)

Back in the Saddle (2008)

The Whiskey Jack line-up is not to be missed. These venerable talents have been buddies for many years, and it shows in their performance. They each bring their own personal creative influence to this ever-evolving amalgam of the music they love. And since they've surprisingly made many friends along the way, you are bound to see a selection of their notorious musical pals joining them in the fun on stage at any given time.

Duncan Fremlin, one of Canada’s premier banjo players, met co-founding member of Whiskey Jack, mandolin/fiddle player John Hoffman in 1977, through what they like to refer to as a “musicians’ dating service” – a peg board at a local music store. They liked playing together so much that they promptly quit their day jobs and began a seemingly endless tour of Canadian musical venues as Whiskey Jack. Untold numbers of musicians have been lured into the Whiskey Jack web, and now after 30 years this band is still going strong and performing some of the finest music in its history.

Bob McNiven, our official “son of a preacher man”, spent his childhood criss-crossing North America with the "Singing McNiven Family". Then, throughout his misspent youth, he played the proverbial road warrior with country rock bands "Open Road" & "Derby, Saunders and McNiven". We’re pretty sure Bob knows every song ever written. He’s also a stellar songwriter who has contributed many fine tunes to the band’s huge repertoire.

Arlene Zock, long-time friend and fan of the band, was finally enticed into joining this combo, adding her dynamic vocal stylings to the Whiskey Jack sound. She finely tuned her exquisite voice while singing professionally with the "Kidd Sisters" and, most recently, with the George Lake Big Band. The addition of Arlene to the vocal mix brings a rich and varied dimension to the complex harmonies this band is famous for.

Rob Whitehead chose the bass at 14, because the band he wanted to join already had two guitarists. His 15-year residency with the band "Generations", later "Erin Davis & Generations", had Rob playing posh gigs all over Ontario throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Becoming part of Whiskey Jack has been a dream for Rob ever since he first saw them in late 2003.

Howard Willett, vocalist and harmonica player extraordinaire, stepped into the band like he’d been playing with us since day one. That can only come from one place, experience. He toured internationally with "B.W. Pawley", "The Shifters", and the "Good Old Boys", but has achieved fame coast to coast as the leader and vocalist for Canada’s number one western swing band, The Bebop Cowboys. His credits on CBC radio and TV, and TV Ontario, are extensive.

Randy Morrison first stepped on stage with Whiskey Jack to help mark their 30th anniversary. This premier fiddle player combines the sounds of legendary players like: Ward Allen, Don Messer, Al Cherny and Graham Townsend. Randy has performed with top country artists such as, Gordie Tapp from TV's Hee Haw, CBC Television's Bluegrass Band "Whiskey Jack" and Canada's polka king and Grammy award winner Walter Ostenak.

Bruce Brooker is "The Shuffle King" on drums and percussion. The newest member of the band, Bruce brings 25 years of recording and performance experience to Whiskey Jack by way of Dutch Mason, Kenny Neal, Mike Mckenna, Buddy Guy, Richard "Hock" Walsh, Jani Louzon, and Big Daddy G, to name a few. His solid, swingin’ drumming provides a firm foundation on which Whiskey Jack can work it's musical magic.