98-year-old fiddler wows crowds during Calgary Stampede: ‘He’s got stamina’ – Calgary

Music is at all times a giant a part of the celebrations through the Calgary Stampede. And there’s one musician within the Calgary space who’s been hitting a excessive be aware with the crowds lots longer than most: Reg Evans.

The fiddler was taking part in Thursday for sufferers outdoors the Excessive River Normal Hospital.

“It’s one thing I look ahead to on a regular basis, simply to return and play,” he stated.

Reg can also be wanting ahead to an upcoming celebration with family and friends.

“I’m going to be 98 on Monday,” he stated.

He’s been a musician for nearly all of these years, bringing alongside an outdated instrument Thursday to point out to a International Information crew.

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“That’s the violin I realized to play on after I was 8 years outdated,” he stated. “My dad made that out of a cigar field.”

Reg was accompanied on the Excessive River Normal Hospital by his longtime bandmates, 82-year-old accordionist Shirley McDowell and 80-year-old keyboardist Invoice Holmes.

Holmes stated he generally finds it a problem to maintain up with the fiddler.

“He can go for hours,” Holmes stated with fun. “Yeah, stamina, he’s acquired stamina!”

That stamina additionally got here in helpful through the fiddler’s working life.

“I farmed all my life, grain and elevating cattle,” he stated.

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And the fiddler exhibits no indicators of slowing down.

“I simply really feel on prime of the world — I stroll a mile each morning,” Evans stated. “I’m just like the little rabbit: I simply hold a-hoppin’ alongside.”

Requested what retains Evans going, his son Jim Evans was fast with a reply.

“Oh, it’s the music, completely,” Jim stated. “It will get him up within the morning and he’ll say he’s going to retire from taking part in, however he’ll by no means retire from taking part in.”

Reg says making music stays one of many highlights of his life.

“It provides me a carry,” he stated. “to make the day just a little brighter for someone else.”