The first lady of the accordion: Minnie White - musical tribute to renowned accordionist Minnie White

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Summer, 1998 by Cathy Gale

On Sunday July 26th, 1998, residents of the Cod roy Valley, Newfoundland held a "Tribute To Minnie White Day" at the Cormier Complex in Upper Ferry, to honor "The First Lady Of The Accordion". Special guests and friends of Minnie performed during the day's festivities and shared special memories of her 25-year involvement in the music industry.

Those taking part in the tribute to Minnie White were Fergus O'Byrne, the Fogo Island Accordion Players, The Ducats, Kelly Russell, Friends Of Minnie White Band, Shirley Montaque, Joe Tompkins, Phyllis Morrisey, Charlie Mercer, all Newfoundland folk artists.

Minnie White, 82, from Tompkins in the Codroy Valley, has touched the hearts of both young and old with her unique blend of traditional Newfoundland accordion music.

She was introduced to the accordion at the early age of eight, by her late father, Samuel Hoskins. At age sixteen from her home in St. Albans, Bay de Espoir, Minnie came to the Codroy Valley, where she later married and raised a family of five daughters and one son. After her family was grown, Minnie met Lew Skinner of The Ducats, and he introduced her to the music industry, at which time she recorded her first album with the Audit Record company. From then Minnie's calendar was filled with playing for festivals, carnivals, come home events, plus radio and television appearances.

For 13 years, the versatile accordionist entertained at the Starlite Lodge in the Codroy Valley on Sunday afternoons. At first Minnie started off thinking it was entertainment for senior citizens, but it wasn't long before the younger generation was turning out to hear her perform. Her shows soon became a tourist attraction, and the Starlite would be filled with people vacationing from all across Canada, the United States and other countries.

To date, Minnie has 5 albums/cassettes to her credit, many of which she composed herself, I Play it My Way; Mountain View Valley and others. Her latest CD, The Hills of Home, was nominated in 2 categories for the East Coast Music Awards.

Minnie White has her fair share of awards and achievements. In 1993 she was awarded the Order of Canada for her outstanding achievement in music and traveled to Ottawa with her daughter Barbara to accept the award.

In 1994 she received The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Award. That same year, she was presented with The Harry Hibbs Award for her own composition, The Hills Of Home, and she was credited for bringing traditional Newfoundland music to the rest of Canada and beyond.

In 1995, she was recipient of The Ambassador Of Hospitality Award which recognizes people who promote Newfoundland through their work.

During her career, Minnie has travelled Newfoundland from one end to the other, appearing at numerous functions and has performed on many occasions in Nova Scotia.

Her living room walls are filled with honors, awards and photographs. Minnie is particularly fond of photographs taken with well known singers George Fox and Randy Travis.

In 1996 she was honourary patron for the Codroy Valley Winter Carnival. A picture of Minnie can be found on the cover of the most recent Newfoundland Newtel Communications book.

Minnie White remembers the past 25 years with pride. She has made many friends through her music, and the recent tribute recognized her contribution to the music industry, an honour she richly deserves.

Cathy Gale resides in Newfoundland where her articles appear in The Western Star. She is also a published poet.