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Lawrence “Teddy Boy” Houle is Anishinaabe Métis from Ebb and Flow, Manitoba. He picked up the fiddle at an early age, reportedly teaching himself to play “Red River Valley” on one string. Houle went on to learn many more tunes and is an influential fiddler, vocalist and respected elder, recording a number of albums and maintaining an active performance schedule.

Houle had a challenging childhood. His father was absent from his life and his step-father did not value his musical talents. He left school after repeating the eighth grade three times.

As a part of the folk revival movement of the 1960s, Houle performed at festivals such as the Mariposa Folk Festival He has also appeared as a fiddler in several films, including "Spirit rider" and "Medicine Fiddler."

In keeping with Metis fiddling style Houle often jigs while playing, demonstrating the inseparable link between the music and dancing. His rhythmic playing style and jig was documented by the New York Times in a concert review in 1990. The University of Aberdeen named him one of the world’s most unique fiddlers.

His musical style follows in the Métis and indigenous traditions and he has been devoted to a recovery of his Anishinabe heritage in the last twenty years. He has taken on deliberate projects aimed at recovery and renewal of the Ojibway language, including releasing several recordings of Ojibway music. He is an Elder and cultural resource person at Métis Calgary Family Service Society where he facilitiates a variety of workshops.

Discography

• Old Native And Métis Fiddling in Manitoba, Vols 1 & 2, Falcon FP - 187 and 287 - 1987
• Houle, L. T. B., Houle, L. T. B., & Manitoba Association for Native Languages. (n.d.). Anishinaabe Christmas. Winnipeg, MB: Sunshine Sound Studios.
• Benitez, J. E., Lorenzano, A., Silva, M., Silva, M., Nayap, P., Xal, M. M., Coc, C., ... Lee Cremo Trio,. (1997). Wood that sings : Indian Fiddle Music of the Americas.

References

1. ^ "Lawrence Houle". ArtsLink. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
2. Mariposa Folk Festival 1987 program. Toronto: Mariposa Folk Foundation. 1987. p. 10.
3. Lawrence “Teddy Boy” Houle. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2016, from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2801122/
4. Watrous, Peter (6 December 1990). "Review/Folk; Embracing Indian Culture With Music and Dance". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
5. Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen (14 July 2006). "Canadian fiddler set to thrill audiences at NAFCo 2006". University of Aberdeen. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
6. "Cultural Teachings". Metis Calgary Family Services Society. Retrieved 7 October 2016.

See also

• Lederman, Anne. "Native and Métis Fiddling: Portrait of a People," Fiddler Magazine Vol. 8, Winter 2001
• Haigh, Chris. "Canadian Fiddle". Fiddling around the World. Retrieved 7 October 2016.

• Canadian fiddlers
• Canadian Métis people
• Métis musicians
• Living people