THE VOYAGEURS

The “Voyageurs” were a Toronto-based folk music group between 1961-1967 which began as a foursome, and ended as a duet.

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The group was comprised of Allan Beattie, Jay Telfer, Armour “Scoot” Irwin and myself. We were managed by Bernie Finkelstein and Peter Simpson, and all of us were students at Downsview Secondary School in a suburb of Toronto, Canada.

As I remember, a couple of us were harmonizing in math class to a Kingston Trio song, and a musical group was born. All we needed was someone who could play a guitar and sing properly!

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With schoolwork, and other interests the group disbanded sometime around 1963. Some time later Scoot Irwin and I re-formed the group as a duet.

Bernie Finkelstein

As a young man Bernie understood the music business like few others, and promoted us to some top-notch venues of the day.

Bernie went on to become an iconic figure in the Canadian music industry and today his name is synonymous with Canadian music excellence. He was awarded the prestigious Order of Canada in 2007, is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and during his career Bernie managed such stars as Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLauchlan, and others. Bernie is still hard at work in the entertainment business.

Allan Beattie

Allan was the “voice” of the Voyageurs. His velvet but powerful tenor vocals separated us from other teenaged bands of the day.

Typically, young teens all want to sing lead, however. I always felt we were a step above-a more polished and “pro” group with Allan on lead vocals. Allan lives not far from me in Toronto and we stay in touch. Today, he enjoys singing and playing guitar at his Church.

Jay Telfer

A high-end musical talent was Jay. He was the youngest of the original Voyageurs and while we didn’t know it at the time, his talent would later surface-initially with the group A Passing Fancy, and later on with hit singles such as “Anything More Than Your Smile” & “Time Has Tied Me”.

I can remember sessions when Jay would suggest a unique and more creative way to arrange something we were working on. He had a knack to package up a song so it sounded its best.

Jay unfortunately passed away in 2009.

Scoot Irwin

Scoot was our leader, and even as a teenager a very strong songwriter. Much of the Voyageurs material was written by Scoot. His vocals were very soft-almost ”beckoning” in texture and provided the perfect balance to Allan’s.

As the Voyageurs duet Scoot and I performed at the Grand Ole Opry (Ryman) a number of times and I can remember our very first appearance. Back at the hotel afterwards, I didn’t sleep much-eyes glued to a snowy off-air TV screen. During those visits to Nashville Scoot and I were fortunate to have met many stars of that era, including my childhood idol, the late Earl Scruggs.

After 1967, Scoot and I lost touch as we went our separate ways.

Peter Simpson

Bernie’s partner at that time was Peter Simpson. After the Voyageurs, Peter pioneered Media Buying Services-a company which purchased time and space for advertisers and agencies. At the time I was a media buyer who Peter introduced to the President of the TV Bureau which I worked for a number of years.

He then moved to the film industry & produced movies such as Prom Night. Since the Voyageurs days, he’d been playing and writing music which led to writing movie soundtracks-one bringing a Genie Award. In 2004 the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television bestowed a Special Award on Simpson for his “commitment to the production and distribution of Canadian films.

Peter passed away in 2007.

Paul Ryan

After the Voyageurs, and high-school, I attended university and upon graduating received the H. Stovin Award (graduation thesis) & entered the world of advertising and marketing.

Later on, I joined the Television Bureau and became VP Research. In 1979 I created my own market research and polling company which I ran until recently. I’ve always enjoyed sports and competition including ski racing, cycling, and as a master’s athlete I competed in two World Triathlon Championships during the 1990’s.

But the music was never far away, and by early 2000’s began writing and playing again.