Minto Country Music Wall of Fame

Charlie and Alice met in 1948 at the Hibernia Hall and were immediately attracted to each other and decided to sing a song together. It wasn’t long before they were married and after 58 years continue singing together. Times were hard on a truck driver’s salary with eight children (Barbara, Iris, Louise, Gary, David, Larry, Brenda and Joan) so music became the main entertainment around the kitchen table. Charlie taught all the children to play musical instruments and encouraged them to pursue a career in music.

Charlie and Alice encouraged their children to sing in the church choir. They would have their children accompany them as they traveled around the province singing at different concerts and shows. Charlie and Alice were part of a band and their daughters, Iris and Louise (The Kennedy Sisters) would sing with them while the boys in the family formed a rock band with a country flavor. The two younger children, Joan and Brenda, were busy singing on stages for variety shows and pageants.

The youngest child, Joan, became a recording artist and Charlie and Alice would sing with Joan during her performances on TV, Radio, and many charities and benefits. Joan was inducted into the New Brunswick Country Hall of Fame and the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame due to her long and successful career in the music industry.

Since Charlie began singing and playing music at the age of 15, Hank Snow has always been his idol and possibly that attributes to his style and choice of songs. Before he met Alice, Charlie was singing as a guest on the CHSJ Maritime Farmer’s Show in Saint John, N.B. He played at several dances in community halls around the Fredericton and Saint John areas.

Charlie and Alice did live performances at many Jamborees, Service Clubs, Legions, School, Churches, Town Halls, Senior Citizen Homes, all over the Grand Lake Area. They performed with well-known artists such as Joan Kennedy, Hank Snow, The Diamond Trio, Aubrey Hanson, The Golden Guitar Boys, and many others. They also played at the Fredericton Co-op Jamboree, Stacey’s Jamboree in Brewer, Maine, Urban Coral in Moncton, Fredericton Exhibition, Gagetown County Fair, Gagetown Jubilee, Hide-a-Way in Sussex, JRs in Charlottetown and the Fredericton Boat Club to name a few.

Throughout their musical performances, they have made many friends across the different provinces. They continue to play and sing at the Jemseg Lion’s Club on a regular basis as well as many of the nursing homes in the area.

Charlie and Alice released a CD called “Family Memories” in June 2006 as a tribute to all the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, who are very involved in the music scene. The Kennedy family is a very close and loving family and country music has been and will continue to be a part of all the family gatherings.