Minto Country Music Wall of Fame

Bud’s musical gift was evident at an early age. He started playing the fiddle when he was five years old. His first stage was a kitchen chair that his parents stood him on to play for the neighbors. Bud discovered his talent for guitar when he was ten. By 12, he was already playing at dances with his uncles and cousins.

In the early 50’s, Bud started playing for dances at the Minto Legion. He played every Saturday night for 10 years. After this ended, he began playing at the Chipman Legion on Saturday nights for 10 years. When this venue ended, Bud then played at the Chipman Curling Club every Saturday night for the next six years. Between these performances he played fundraisers for those who were sick, injured, or had lost their homes through fire. He also played at Cancer Telethons in Minto and Chipman during that time. Bud was well known to give “up and coming” musicians a chance to perform on stage with the band. Some of those same people are very successful musicians today and are in the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame.

In later years, Bud played with a band called “The Country Rebs” and played at the Lion’s Club on Saturday afternoons for two winters raising money for the blind. They also played at the Veterans Hospital in Fredericton, the Bethel Home, the Fredericton Playhouse, the Fredericton Elks Club and the Regent Mall.

Some of the bands Bud played in were “ The Stilwell Family”, “Bud and Harold O’Donnell”, “Bud and his Buddies”, “The Bud Stilwell Band”, and “The Johnny Arsenault Band”.

Due to poor health, Bud has not played in recent years. He and his wife Margaret still reside in Chipman. Their daughter Beth and family live reside in Fredericton. Their son Roger and family reside in Olds, Alberta. They have four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.