There's Four in our Trio

By: Matty Heathe

"Four in Our Trio"

I think the picture says it all.

"How many are in your trio?" the tourist asked.

"Why, there's four in our trio, Ma'am."

After twenty years as a trio, The Sharecroppers have not added a fourth to their group. But they have had visitors ask thousands of times to have their picture taken with them. Some have even purchased a "salt n' pepper" hat to go with the shot. No doubt it is one of the souvenir photos they take back home to "upalong".

The Sharecroppers, Ed Humber, Guy Romaine and Mike Madigan are now celebrating their 20th year doing what they love to do best......sing and teach about Newfoundland. This summer the trio will once again do about 45 shows to coach tours and cruise ships that visit the west coast of Newfoundland. Their audience, mainly folks 55 years old and over, are from all over North America as well as England, Ireland, Germany and even the occasional visitor from "down under".

The shows are lively, humorous and all acoustic with no mics except for Mike Madigan. "We teach them everything from Newfoundland chin music where we get them to sing it back to us, to teaching them I'se the B'y and laughing at what happens when they come to the line Fogo, Twillingate, Morten's Harbour, " says stand-up bass fiddle player Mike Madigan.

Two of the Sharecroppers, Ed and Guy, are educators at the high school level while Mike does his Learning Through the Arts program in 14 schools with District 3 School Board. Guy is retiring from 30 years in the classroom in June 2008 and looking forward to polishing up his button accordion for the Trio. "Guitar and mandolin are his forte but I see a lot of promise in the young feller," says a smiling Ed Humber.

One time a tourist actually did come up to Mike and ask how many there were in the trio. She was serious. Mike smiled and showed her the trio's 2nd cd This New Founde Lande where the three are standing next to the statue of John Cabot in Bonavista. And he did say, "Why, there's four in our trio, Ma'am." She laughed and bought three cds.

Playin' on a Cruise Ship

Since then the b'ys are always happy to have someone else come into a photo-shoot and be a fourth member. "We always spend lots of time after each show talking with folks. It's what has kept us easy-going and natural. We even named our first cd Natural," says Madigan.

The past twenty years has seen the Sharecroppers leave the island a few times for special gigs. From Seoul, Korea for an ISME conference to represent Newfoundland... to Bristol England to participate at the Newfoundland Pavilion at the International Festival of the Sea,... the Sharecroppers have entertained thousands about Newfoundland and Labrador. They were also called upon to do "Newfoundland Night" at the Brandon Manitoba Canada Summer Games. And now there's talk and planning about performing at the Tommy Sands Festival in Ireland for 2009.

But probably the best gigs in the world, according to the trio, are their dozens of performances aboard cruise ships like the Norwegian Sun and The Seabourn Pride that arrive in Corner Brook. The majestic theatres on board are beautiful, hold about 1000 in the audience, and are acoustically perfect places to play. From wireless mics to surround-sound , the Sharecroppers love the crowds from all over the world and are amazed at how the audience listens to every word spoken in verse or song.

"They have just visited Newfoundland for the first time for only about ten hours and they just love the place and the people and scenery of the Bay of Islands. Then we get to tell them in song all about Newfoundland and actually ask how many are intending to come back," says Mike Madigan.

That response according to the trio is always amazing and it's no wonder the Sharecroppers do their part for tourism. A few years back the Sharecroppers co-won a Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Award with Stan and Jenny Parsons of Woody Point. The Parsons own the award winning restaurant called the Seaside Restaurant in Trout River, Newfoundland.

As Mike Madigan jokes, "Just pause to consider this - He who hesitates is lost." The Sharecroppers are not hesitant about the future. Having completed a third cd "Home, Boys!" the Sharecroppers are happy to be right at home here in Newfoundland as well as on the world wide web at www.thesharecroppers.net "Our cds are being ordered and sought right 'round the world," says Mike Madigan, "and what more can you ask for but to have your music heard around the globe."

May the Sharecroppers go on for another twenty years!

Media

Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 | Video 4 | The Sharecroppers Online

+ Lloyd Candow - He's some shockin' good! - New!
+ American Convair B-36
+ April in Newfoundland and Labrador
+ Autumn Reflections
+ Destination: St. Anthony Part One
+ Destination: St. Anthony Part Two
+ The Fighting Newfoundlander
+ Gardening in Cottage Country Part One
+ Gardening in Cottage Country Part Two
+ Gardening in Cottage Country Part Three
+ Geocaching in Cottage Country
+ Heritage Tree
+ The Jenniex House in Norris Point : A Must Visit
+ Kayak Adventure
+ Keeping a Pond
+ Lasagna Gardening in Newfoundland and Labrador
+ Memories of Pack's Harbour
+ Mummering on the Rock
+ NL's Super Food : The Wild Blueberry
+ Random Island Charter
+ Rare Birds
+ 'Tis May 24 & We Gotta Get Away...
+ The Resilient Poppy
+ The Sharcroppers : There's Four in our Trio
+ Sad or Blue? Embrace Winter
+ Sandwich Bay Meets the Puffin Post
+ Setting Up Your Own Bird Cam
+ Surviving Yesteryear : A Glimpse to the Past
+ Winter Birds