Austin Montague was born on Sept 30, 1934, in Northwest River, Labrador, where his father Austin was also born. His mother, Florence, née Flowers, was originally from Rigolet. He learned to play fiddle from Martin Broomfield and later picked up many tunes from records by Don Messer and Ned Landry, slowing down the speed from 78 rpm to 33 ⅓ to better pick out the exact melody. Additional tunes were learned from other musicians while playing at the Old Town Hall in Northwest River. Aukie’s three brothers played fiddle (Lester, Eric & Wilbert), and his sister is well-known singer/songwriter Shirley Montague.

Collector’’s Note: I spent an evening at the home of my niece Carolyn and her husband Irving Montague, and Aukie dropped by with his fiddle. Most of the tunes he played were familiar to me, but I got a couple of gems, notably Aukie’s Jig, his own composition, and Uncle Willie Baikies Tune, named for a well-known trapper and fisherman from the Northwest Islands. Aukie is the brother of well-known NL singer Shirley Montague. He also played Smash the Window, Soldiers Joy, Blueberry Quadrille, Father O’Flynn, Too Young to Marry, The Girl I Left Behind, Miss McLeod’s Reel, St. Anne’s Reel, Trip to Boston.