Calvin Vollrath facts for kids

Calvin Vollrath (born May 16, 1960) is a talented Canadian fiddler and composer. He is one of the few European-Canadian fiddlers who plays professionally in the unique Métis style. Calvin lives in St. Paul, Alberta.

He has won the Grand North American Old Time Fiddle Championship twice, in 1985 and 1998. Later, he became a judge for the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Competition. In 2005, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Association. Calvin taught at the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp for many years. He has played music with other famous musicians like John Arcand. His music mixes different styles, including jazz, Métis traditions, French Canadian, Scottish, Irish, and even pop music.

Calvin is a big inspiration for many Canadian fiddlers, such as April Verch and Patti Kusturok. Another fiddler, Jerry Holland, even wrote a tune called "Calvin, Fiddler's Idol" in his honor. Calvin has shared Canadian music around the world, like at the World Music Expo in Berlin. He was the first fiddler to play at an NHL hockey game. This happened when the Edmonton Oilers invited him to play during the Stanley Cup Finals in 1988. He has also recorded music with artists like Ian Tyson and George Fox. The CBC show "Adrienne Clarkson Presents" featured Calvin Vollrath and John Arcand in a program about Métis fiddling.

Calvin composed and performed five special fiddle tunes for the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Early Life and Music

Calvin Vollrath's love for music started when he was very young. His father, Art "Lefty" Vollrath, was also a great fiddler. Art grew up near Barrhead, Alberta, and five of his brothers also played the fiddle. Calvin's father became well-known in the Edmonton area for his fiddling. He passed this family tradition on to Calvin.

When Calvin was a little boy, he would pretend to play the fiddle using two butter knives, just like his dad. He grew up listening to the show "Don Messer's Jubilee". Calvin got his first real fiddle when he was eight years old. It quickly became clear that he was a natural talent. At 13, he entered his first fiddle contest. By age 17, he was already winning championship titles in various fiddle competitions.

Music Career Highlights

In 1982, Calvin Vollrath joined the Clearwater Band. He played swing, jazz, and country music with them. This helped him become a skilled backup fiddler. In 1983, he joined Edmonton country singer Danny Hooper's band. He later moved to Vancouver in 1988 to join the Jess Lee Band. After returning to Edmonton, Alberta, he performed with a four-piece band called Wheel Hoss.

In 1988, Calvin started teaching at the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp. Since then, he has taught at many fiddle camps across Canada and the United States. He also gives fiddle workshops for all skill levels. These workshops have taken him to Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Great Britain. He also teaches online through his website.

Calvin started his own recording studio in Edmonton. When he moved to St. Paul, Alberta, in 1998, he named it Astromonical Studios. Besides fiddling, he also plays acoustic guitar and bass. He records backup fiddle for many projects in his studio.

Calvin Vollrath has created nearly 700 original tunes. He has released more than 70 albums. He has also published many music books and an instructional DVD to help others learn.

He wrote the main song for the "Fiddles of the World" convention. This big international event was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in July 1999.

Calvin Vollrath was also asked to compose five fiddle tunes for the Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies in 2010. These tunes were chosen to show off the different styles of fiddling found across Canada.

Awards and Honors

Fiddle Achievements

• Grand North American Fiddle Champion: He won this top award in 1985 and again in 1998.
• North American Fiddlers' Hall of Fame: Calvin was welcomed into this special group on July 31, 2011.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: The Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship gave him this award in August 2005. It recognized his amazing contributions to Old Time Fiddling.

Country Music Recognition

• Lifetime Achievement Award: The Alberta Men of Country Music (AMOCM) honored him in 2007.
• Bev Munro Award: He received this award in 2009 from the Association of Canadian Country Music Legends.

Community Honors

In 2016, Calvin Vollrath was honored in his hometown. His name was added to the welcome signs on both the east and west sides of St. Paul.

Discography

• Special Delivery (2021)
• 20/20 Fiddlin'-Calvin Vollrath and Friends Volumes 1 and 2 (2020)
• The Gift (2019)
• The Old Wagon Wheel (2018)
• Me, Myself & I (2017)
• A Fiddle of This, A Fiddle of That (2016)
• Fiddle Lickin' Good (2016)
• TGIF (2016)
• 'Approved' Canadian Fiddler (2015)
• 'Certified' Canadian Fiddler (2015)
• The Journey (2014)
• Vintage Vollrath (2014)
• Unmistakable (2013)
• Super'CALiFIDDLE'istic (2013)
• Spring Creek (2012)
• The Homecoming (2012)
• Fiddle Nation (2011)
• Dancing Northern Lights (2010)
• 50 (2009)
• Fiddle (2008)
• Looking Back, 25 Years of Recording (2007)
• The Big C (2006)
• The Big C02 (2006)
• Air Mail Special (2005)
• Strings of Pearl (2005)
• Métis Style Fiddle (2005)
• Car Tunes (2004)
• Just for the Swing of It (2004)
• New Fiddle Classics (2003)
• Maple Sugar and Other Old Time Favorites (2003)
• Friendship (2002)
• Calvin Vollrath Waltzes (2002)
• Fiddle According to Cal (2002)
• Autumn in Vermont (2001)
• Uncommon Sense (2001)
• Fiddling My Way (2001)
• This Old Tune (2001)
• Live, From Our Place (2001)
• Fiddillennium, Volume 1 (2000)
• Fiddillennium, Volume 2 (2000)
• Steppin' Out (2000)
• Precious Melodies (2000)
• Old Time Dance Party (1999)
• UFO Sessions 99 (1999)
• Bonjour comment ça va (1999)
• Let it Jig, Let it Jig, Let it Jig (1999)
• Thanks to Emma (1998)
• Jiggin' at the OK Corral (1998)
• Tamarack'r Down (1997)
• 20 of my Favorites (1996)
• Instrumentally Yours: Somethin' Different (1995)
• Live From Calvin's Kitchen (1995)
• Métis Old Time Dance Tunes (1995)
• Red River Trails (1995)
• Cracklin' Fire (1994)
• Too Close For Comfort (1994)
• Wild Alberta Rose (1993)
• Cat Gut Boogie (1993)
• New & Used (1989)
• Fiddlin' Again (1984)
• Red River Jig & Other Old Time Fiddle Favorites (1983)
• The Reel Thing (1981)

Calvin Vollrath has also done many more recording sessions. These include live recordings from the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp. He has also recorded with various other musicians.