A lifelong love of music

Randall (Randy) Priest was born in Montreal and had the privilege of growing up in a very musical environment. His father Ross was a multi-instrumentalist, while his mother had the voice of an angel.

The musician has fond recollections of his youth. He recalls that every Saturday night was party night at someone’s house. People would go, men dressed up in costumes and their wives wearing their nice outfits. The musicians would play until the wee hours of the morning.

“Us kids were all in one bedroom and the oldest of the bunch was in charge. The last one responsible, I remember was a girl by the name of Penny Lang. She went on to become a well-known folk singer in Montreal,” said Priest in an interview.

But he didn’t want to spend his Saturday nights confined to a room, he very much wanted to be part of the party. It wasn’t long before his interest in music became a serious matter.

“I started to play guitar around seven or eight years old. My dad bought me a Harmony F-hole, electric, showed me three cords, and told me that when I could change chords without thinking or losing tempo, he would show me more. Mom had the hardest part, singing the same song over and over,” he explained about rehearsing his chords on the guitar.

Priest who currently lives in Knowlton moved to Magog in the early 60s where he met the late Steven Powers. They formed a band called the Galaxies and performed a repertoire of good rock and roll.

“My first job was at the Cabana Lodge in Magog, we made $7.50 each, and all the coke and chips we wanted. We had to take our breaks in the kitchen. Later I was also asked to replace a player in another band that Steve Powers was playing in. I got there and was told I was playing bass, they handed me a jazz bass and that triggered my love for the bass and country music,” he recalled.

Priest finally joined the Army in 1964, and spent over two years in Germany. During that time he joined a band and played mostly at The Red Patch clubs and private parties. He returned home (at the time Mansonville) and in 1968, he got a call to replace Jim Belknap for a gig at the Glen Sutton Hotel.

It was that night that he met Buck Sayers and drummer Steven Hoyte. He got to replace Belknap several times, mostly when he went fishing or moose hunting. Later on he played with a band that included Dean Fraser, and drummer Kenny Brabant. Priest went on to play at the Maple Hotel in Stanstead, then played the Mansonville Hotel, and several other places.

Priest then moved to Newport, Vermont. That is when he joined a band that included Galen Decoteau, Steven Hoyte, Steven Powers and himself on bass. At that point he started to really embark on the local bar circuit.

They would in turn play at the Hut, the Legion in Magog, the Four Corners, the Union Hotel in Magog as well as the Hillcrest in North Hatley. The band would play at the Beecher Falls café in Vermont up till the hunting season, then the Del Monty for the winter months.

Priest worked on many jobs, from being a shoe salesman to being a butcher. But even if he had to keep a full time job to earn his living, music always occupied a huge part in his life.

He also has great memories of that time spent playing music and all the friends he made through the years. Something in particular comes back to his mind, a souvenir that he cherishes.

“Galen was friends with Dick Curless who did a show at the Wagon Wheel on Sherbrooke Highway so we were asked to back him up. We also accompanied him when he did a show in Beecher Falls,” shared Priest. “There was another show planned at the Del Monty, but I had an accident on my way back from Vermont, so Jim Belknap got to replace me,” he said.

Priest moved out west for a couple of years and when he came back he did some recording with Colony Records in Mansonville, and played in a band called The Stony Mountain Canyon Band, which included Floyd Ling and his wife Joan, Steven Powers on lead and a drummer from Sherbrooke.

The musician quit playing for several years, then joined the band Keeping it Country featuring Ross Roach (steel), Leo Wilson (lead, vocals) Roger Bockus (drums) and Terry Howell (lead, vocals, fiddle).

“We play every second and fourth Saturday, at the Anglican church in Cowansville. I also play with Country Cousins, which includes Connie Rhicard, Tom Kilbride, Ross Roach and Terry Howell,” he said.

“I've been very fortunate to have made so many friends and got to play with some great musicians, but most of all I got to do what I always wanted to do, play music.”

Country Musicians for the cause

Country music singer Chantal Paradis will be hosting a Jam session to benefit The North Hatley Legion on Saturday Oct. 19. The Jam will be held at the Legion, 95 Jackson Heights, North Hatley starting at 1p.m.

Bands, musicians and singers are welcome to donate their time and share their talents to help out. Big River will be the leading band but many musicians have already confirmed they will be present. Instead of an admission fee, there will be a donation box at the door. The canteen will also be open for supper. Everyone is welcome!