God Bless the Farmer
Victor Holubowich ~ Vocals and accordion
Bill Rudkowski ~ Vocals and dulcimer and bass
Joe Wesylenchuk ~ Saxophone
Panko Chrunik ~ Vocals and guitar and bass
Dan Martyniuk ~ Drums
Recording Engineer: Joe Kozak
Producer: Kenneth Huculak
Manufactured and distributed by:
Heritage Records, Edmonton Alberta
About
The evolution of this record album – God Bless the Farmer in Ukrainian Music and Song – featuring Victor Holubowich and the Royal-Lites, dates back in history to the time when the first farming pioneers arrived and settled in this land of ours. It is from that time on that the music and song featured on this LP began to take form. These were the people who experienced hardships that seem unreal to us today. But these were the people who loved and worked the soil, loved the land, and through their determination and effort developed this land in Canada.
These were also the people who found time to give thanks to God for that which they were given. It seems fitting that almost a century after their arrival, a tribute should be given to these early farmers by a group of musicians and singers whose fathers and fore-fathers were among these early farming pioneers. The efforts of Victor Holubowich and the Royal-Lites have been put forth through original compositions and arrangements of music and song onto a record album dedicated to the farmer.
Some fifty years after the arrival of the first Ukrainian settlers to Star, Alberta, a man worked effortlessly with the farmer as a grain elevator operator in this same town of Star. I would like to take this opportunity to also dedicate this album to this man, my father, Eddie Huculak. As music and song were part of the culture and heritage of those people of the past, we pass it on to you, the listener of today, on behalf of Victor Holubowich, Bill Rudkowski, Joe Wayslenchuk, Panko Chrunik and Dan Martyniuk. I wish you many hours of listening pleasure.
Source: LP Cover