Minto Country Music Wall of Fame

Fred Melanson was born in Minto, New Brunswick on August 25, 1939 and was adopted by his Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lizianne Richard. At age five, Fred sang his first song in a one-room schoolhouse in New England for Mrs. Emily Lavoie. It was a Hank Snow song called "Your Mother is Praying for you son."

Growing up, Fred enjoyed listening to the local boys picking and singing at the Parish Hall. Fred and Eric Richard entered a talent contest at Minto Memorial High School where Fred sang and Eric played the guitar. Fred got a lot of his musical inspiration from his brothers Willie and Gerald Richard who is also known as Jerry Rich.

Fred moved to Toronto at the age of 17, and there met with guitar player John Bourque, also from Minto. They formed a duo and played at Cliffy Short's Jamboree at the Polish Hall in Toronto. After winning three talent contests in a row, they went on to play at the Farmer's Market Jamboree and other local jamborees and clubs with the help of their friend Jerry Martin, another musician from Minto.

In 1966 Fred formed a band with Jerry Vautour and George Richard called "Terry Jackson and the NB Two". Later, he formed a new dance band called "Terry Jackson and the Echo Valley Boys" that featured modern and old time music and square dance calling. The popularity of his band lead to many repeat engagements at local jamborees, dances, weddings and clubs. The band played for weekly barn dances, Sunday Jamboree and Talent Shows at The Hayloft, and the Moose Lodge in Toronto, hosting talent shows with special guests that included new artists such as Stompin' Tom Connors, Carol Baker and many others.

Fred signed on with Marathon Music Incorporated/Paragon and recorded three albums, as well as a square dance album. He also recorded four original singles which were played on CFGM, the top country radio station in Toronto at the time.

Fred had the opportunity to appear at Rockhill Park with the Stoneman Family and Stonewall Jackson, whom he idolized and found inspiration for his own stage name "Terry Jackson".

"The Terry Jackson Show" played at the famous Rockhound Jamboree in Bancroft, Ontario, and were proud to be part of Toronto's first International Caravan in 1970. Fred appeared at the All Canadian Cross-Country Jamboree in Picton, Ontario and volunteered his time to play at Mimico Reformatory Centre.

An avid country music fan, Fred enjoyed learning and sharing his knowledge of country music and country music history, which lead to his own television show called "Country Music" on McLean Hunter cable from 1976 to 1978.

Fred is retired and shares his time between his summer home on Grand Lake and his home in Toronto with Shirley, his wife of 44 years and their four children and seven grandchildren.