Serge Plotnikoff: Minstrel in the Boundary
BY: BG EDITOR
Apr 14, 2018 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
Among the many Canadian folksingers whose music will go down in history as a celebration of the people and places of British Columbia, Doukhobor singer-songwriter Serge Plotnikoff will be remembered as one of the best.
The cover notes on his first album, "Life In Our World", released in 1970, tell us something about this minstrel, who wrote several songs mentioning our beautiful Boundary country:
"Gaining rapid recognition on the music industry scene is Canadian-born Serge Plotnikoff. This writer-composer-singer-recording artist has been involved in music since early childhood. Born and raised in the Nelson area of British Columbia, he wrote, produced and recorded numerous selections while still in his teens.
Recently, more determined than ever, he began to write again, creating a new, distinctive style in the Folk-Country field, and making a strong bid for recognition on the current music market.
Serge is now a Broadcast Music Incorporation affiliated writer and publisher, and many of his compositions are listed with BMI.
An appearance at the Jubilee of Canadians of Russian Descent, held in Saskatchewan in July, 1969, was an overwhelming success, and a turning point for Serge, where the response to his songs was fantastic.
The Canadian National Library has asked Serge to have his songs and future recordings placed in the National Library of Canada in Ottawa for purposes of research, study or entertainment, along with other Canadian artists.
The injustices of our society, as seen by Serge, prompted him to write the title song, "Life In Our World". From here he went on to pen "Ballad of the Doukhobors", tracing briefly the history of this small religious group who migrated to Canada in 1899, suffering from many outside prejudices when they rebelled against society for the right to live as they chose. The historic flight of the Apollo Eleven astronauts provided the incentive for the number "Footsteps On the Moon". "Canada Song" is written and dedicated to all the people who are a part of the mosaic of this vast country.
All of the songs on this album are Plotnikoff originals, some co-written with his wife, but all reflecting the way Serge feels about people and "Life In Our World."
Recently, more determined than ever, he began to write again, creating a new, distinctive style in the Folk-Country field, and making a strong bid for recognition on the current music market.
Serge is now a Broadcast Music Incorporation affiliated writer and publisher, and many of his compositions are listed with BMI.
An appearance at the Jubilee of Canadians of Russian Descent, held in Saskatchewan in July, 1969, was an overwhelming success, and a turning point for Serge, where the response to his songs was fantastic.
The Canadian National Library has asked Serge to have his songs and future recordings placed in the National Library of Canada in Ottawa for purposes of research, study or entertainment, along with other Canadian artists.
The injustices of our society, as seen by Serge, prompted him to write the title song, "Life In Our World". From here he went on to pen "Ballad of the Doukhobors", tracing briefly the history of this small religious group who migrated to Canada in 1899, suffering from many outside prejudices when they rebelled against society for the right to live as they chose. The historic flight of the Apollo Eleven astronauts provided the incentive for the number "Footsteps On the Moon". "Canada Song" is written and dedicated to all the people who are a part of the mosaic of this vast country.
All of the songs on this album are Plotnikoff originals, some co-written with his wife, but all reflecting the way Serge feels about people and "Life In Our World."
Canadian musicologist Robert Williston, of Alberta,
"Serge Plotnikoff, a Doukhobor singer from Kinnaird, British Columbia moved to Castlegar, BC in 1959 with his wife Violet, author of the book Head Cook at Weddings and Funerals (she passed away in 2008). In Castlegar, Serge joined a local band, playing bass with Buddy Marr and the Versatiles from 1958 through 1966.
Serge and his wife were active in their community and were members of The Doukhobor Cultural Association. Serge was also a part-owner of Castlegar radio station CKQR until 1991. He composed an official song to commemorate the 1971 British Columbia Centennial, but lost official adoption of his song to Bobby Gimby's "Go, British Columbia Go".
Serge and his wife were active in their community and were members of The Doukhobor Cultural Association. Serge was also a part-owner of Castlegar radio station CKQR until 1991. He composed an official song to commemorate the 1971 British Columbia Centennial, but lost official adoption of his song to Bobby Gimby's "Go, British Columbia Go".
In 1972, Serge Plotnikoff recorded the album "Beautiful British Columbia" on his own label, which he named after his hometown region (Kinnaird, Castlegar). Listening to Serge's tributes to British Columbia, we find many references to the Boundary country and its close neighbours, east and west. Here are a few tracks from "Beautiful British Columbia":
Cover notes on "GRAND FORKS COUNTRY":
While this song was dedicated to the Grand Forks Diamond Jubilee (1897-1972), the words are equally true for Greenwood and the rest of Boundary Country:
"There isn't enough room on this album cover to do justice to Grand Forks in terms of its history, its people, its beauty.
Like many communities in this magnificent province much of its beginning is owed to the miners, prospector and ranchers who came looking for material wealth and stayed on when they found an even greater wealth in the beauty of the valley and the hospitality of its people.
If you happen upon this modest community by chance, don't assess it visually and pass it off as a wide spot in the road between two "Slow to 30" signs, or you will have cheated yourself of an opportunity to get a feeling for this land and its people like no other place on earth."
MIKE SHAINLINE - CKGF, Grand Forks
Like many communities in this magnificent province much of its beginning is owed to the miners, prospector and ranchers who came looking for material wealth and stayed on when they found an even greater wealth in the beauty of the valley and the hospitality of its people.
If you happen upon this modest community by chance, don't assess it visually and pass it off as a wide spot in the road between two "Slow to 30" signs, or you will have cheated yourself of an opportunity to get a feeling for this land and its people like no other place on earth."
MIKE SHAINLINE - CKGF, Grand Forks
Discography
1970 Life In Our World
1972 Beautiful British Columbia
2007 People of Our World
Candles (date unknown)
You Can't Stop Time (date unknown)
There Is So Much Life to Live (date unknown)
1972 Beautiful British Columbia
2007 People of Our World
Candles (date unknown)
You Can't Stop Time (date unknown)
There Is So Much Life to Live (date unknown)
REFERENCES:
Serge Plotnikoff Discography
https://www.discogs.com/artist/4613249-Serge-Plotnikoff
Museum of Canadian Music
http://citizenfreak.com
