Al Swayze
| Al hails from Wheatland, MB (just south of Rivers) but grew up in Pilot
Mound, MB. He started playing guitar in 1951 and says his inspiration came
from Dad who played the fiddle. He is one of 7 siblings and the only one to play
music. He is the proud owner of his Dads violin that is 278 years old! Yes
you read that right. He spent 10 years in the service travelling all over the world and ended up posted to Rivers when the base still existed there. Al then spent 7 years in Winnipeg working as a chef in the Mall Hotel and also played in a group called " TheBluegrass Four". His wife played bass and guitar and was the lead vocalist. In 1970 he moved to Kenora Ontario and was an Executive Chef for 131/2 years in the Kenricia Hotel. A good friend then started a half-way house and asked Al to be the Assistant Manager which he did for 8 years. When the halfway house closed Al went to work for the Northern Youth Center for young offenders as a counselor. In about 1995 Al took courses in plumbing and electrical where he worked as a building superintendant at the Lakeview Condominiums. In 1997 he lost his wife to cancer and following that tragedy in approx 2000 he moved to Rivers where his Mom, sister and brother in law all lived. Today Al is spending his time with his new love, Betty and belongs not only to Westman Jams but also to MOBS and we love his bluegrass style of music. We look forward to his infectious laughter and hijinks and he is a beloved member of our troop. |