ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Jay Tucker remembers it like it was yesterday — sitting on the edge of the stage at a dance hall in Toronto watching his uncle, Harry Hibbs, amaze the crowd with his musical talent.
He would be transfixed on how effortlessly Hibbs' fingers moved across the buttons of his accordion, to the delight of hundreds of people who filled the floor, hands clapping and feet stomping.
"I was in complete awe of him," Tucker told The Telegram Tuesday during a telephone interview from his home in Ontario. "I would always ask him to play 'Between Two Trees' because that was my favourite.
"I was so proud of him. … He was a little man with such a big talent. I could just watch him and listen to him all day."
And many people across Canada did, especially in his home province, where be became a music icon with tunes like, "Black Velvet Band," "Nobody's Child" and "Mussels in the Corner."
Born Sept. 11, 1942, on Bell Island, Hibbs moved to the Toronto area in the late 1960s after his father died. An injury while working at a manufacturing job prompted him to pick up singing and playing the accordion, having learned much about music from his father, who was a talented fiddle player.
Hibbs and his band began performing gigs at the Caribou Club, which attracted many expatriate Newfoundlanders.
With his lively traditional jigs and warm ballads, he became an instant hit, and a few months later he recorded his first album, "Harry Hibbs at the Caribou Club."
That led him to host a weekly television show and appear on many other television shows, including "The Tommy Hunter Show," and at various other events across the country, including in his home province.
By the early 1980s, Hibbs had recorded 26 albums — seven of which became gold records. Over the years, his music has been heard in households from coast to coast.
He died on Dec. 20, 1989, from cancer.
Thirty years later, Hibbs is still a recognized name and his music continues to entertain people around the world.
There's an effort underway to ensure Hibbs gets the kind of recognition he deserves.
Not only will the Harry Hibbs exhibition open this summer on Bell Island to become a permanent fixture of the No. 2 Mine Museum, there's also a push to have Hibbs get his own star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
'A click of the button'
Tucker started campaigning for his uncle's star in 2008, but got rejuvenated to push again after a visit to Bell Island in September when his father, William, died. With the internet and social media more of an influence, he hopes more people will be compelled to go on Canada's Walk of Fame website (www.canadaswalkoffame.com/the-walk-of-fame/nominate) to vote for Hibbs.
"It's as easy as a click of a button now," said Tucker, who has started a Facebook page, "Harry Hibbs needs a star on Canada's Walk of Fame."
"Everyone just can't understand why he was always overlooked (for the star honour). It's heartbreaking. … He showed that a small guy with a big dream can bring so many people together with music."
Linda Hickey, president of the Bell Island Heritage Society, was instrumental in getting the Harry Hibbs exhibition, which is scheduled to open July 25 to coincide with 2020 anniversary celebrations.
"Harry Hibbs was such an integral part of our culture," Hickey said. "It's finally time to get recognition for the legendary Harry Hibbs."∂
The exhibit will include many of Hibbs' belongings, including one of his framed gold records and his accordion, which was donated to the society by the family when they brought it back to the province in September.
Influenced others to play the accordion
Hickey said many people have called the accordion, "the holy grail of Newfoundland music."
Well-known local accordion player Mark Hiscock of Shanneyganock said Harry Hibbs had a huge influence on why he started to play.
"There was always a large collection of Harry Hibbs albums at our house," said Hiscock, who has been helping with the Hibbs exhibition. "If it wasn't for Harry Hibbs, there wouldn't be fellows like me out there playing. He opened a lot of door for others."
Hiscock actually got to play a duet with Hibbs. Last year, Hiscock, while working on his solo album, "The Old Fishing Schooner," was offered to play along with an unreleased recording by Hibbs. Hiscock jumped at it and put it together for a song, which he called, "Song of Ireland."
"I was in the studio with the headphones on and it was an emotional moment," Hiscock said. "Even Ian Chipman, who engineered the album, was emotional. To have that opportunity was amazing."
Fourteen-year-old Brandon Bowen, who plays accordion with his band at various venues and festivals, was one of the lucky ones to play Hibbs' accordion last week.
"It was a pleasure, a real honour. That definitely was a dream come true," said Bowen, adding that his favourite Harry Hibbs tune is "Fighting 59." "It made me think a lot about the past and how much his music inspired me."
Twitter: @TelyRosie
