Congratulations to Kelly Russell for being awarded the Order of Canada today. Kelly has made an immense contribution to the music and culture of Newfoundland.

He was an early collector of Newfoundland folk music & collaborator with seminal fiddlers Emile Benoit & Rufus Guinchard. He is a musicologist, founder of Pigeon Inlet record label, music publisher and multi-instrumentalist/performer with many groups, including Figgy Duff, Wonderful Grand Band, Plankerdown Band and Irish Descendants.

And he’s a monster fiddle player.