This March 14, 2021 our beloved island luthier turns 80 years young, and we just couldn’t let this milestone go by without a little fanfare….
Rufus Stewart has been building and repairing guitars for over five decades now. He has been looking after instruments for professional musicians such as Valdy, Jesse Winchester and Reid Jamieson for as long as some folks have been in the business. Back in the day Rufus also toured as a guitar or audio tech for numerous acts such as Supertramp and The Tragically Hip. Now located in Parksville on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, over the years Rufus has started shops in Halifax-Nova Scotia, Kingston-Ontario, and Montreal-Quebec. And yes, the shop in Vancouver is named after him. An authorized Martin repair guy for many decades, folks should consider bringing their precious vintage guitars to him for a tune up while they still can as he has yet to find a replacement.
Sharing a birthday with Einstein and Quincy Jones, Rufus was born March 14, 1941 in Buckinghamshire, England, and came to Canada as a child. His mother was French-Canadian and he considers himself an Acadian, East Coaster, West Coaster, and road warrior always in search of new vistas and communities. About as humble as a man can be, Rufus has never been one to seek center stage. Always learning, he is as comfortable tinkering with boats and trucks as he is with stringed instruments. Known to enthusiastically lend a hand to anyone who needs the help, he has been doing an annual ‘repair tour’ to see to the needs of remote communities as far east as PEI. Tho the tours are on hold for now, Rufus continues to work at his craft, and currently lives happily with his weaver wife Charlotte in Parksville BC. Rufus’ Island Guitar Shop https://www.rufusguitars.com
Vancouver’s Reid Jamieson has broken a year long pandemic induced songwriting paralysis – and he has Rufus to thank. It’s not the first time this hardworking luthier has had an impact on this particular artist’s musical life. When Reid and his songwriting partner and wife Carolyn (who incidentally shares a bday with Rufus) first moved to BC back in 2005, they connected with Rufus immediately as the best person to tend to Reid’s jumbo Taylor steel string. However, that big beautiful guitar soon found its way to Craigslist. It was after trying a cheap well worn second-hand nylon string guitar in Rufus’ shop (back when it was in Cook St. Village) Reid’s musical output was changed forever. Something about what happens to an instrument after this luthier has made his adjustments left it feeling like a long lost friend. Transformed now into a nylon string player, Reid adapted to a whole new way of playing and has since toured North America, with the likes of Stuart Mclean and the Vinyl Café, and the little beaten up guitar that could. Written by Reid and Carolyn the week before Rufus’ 80th, ‘The Ballad of Luthier Rufus Stewart’ is a tip of the hat to someone who has touched many and isn’t done yet. Our elders bring wisdom and knowledge, and sometimes much needed inspiration. Happy birthday Rufus – long may you run!
THE BALLAD OF RUFUS STEWART
Written by Reid Jamieson & Carolyn Victoria Mill
ABOUT: https://reidjamieson.com/the-ballad-of-rufus-stewart-rufus80/
DOWNLOAD: https://app.box.com/s/h7tzt5tpw17xywxj1ahae19p5mllfp27
https://youtu.be/QBX4SpHu_OU
https://soundcloud.com/reidjamieson/the-ballad-of-rufus-stewart

THE BALLAD OF RUFUS STEWART Written by Reid Jamieson & Carolyn Victoria Mill Here’s your story, in all its glory, tho you’ve never been one for center stage Bombs in your backyard Losses taken hard Gone forever, turn the page Found a broken wing Set it right, made it sing Claimed a calling and a wage From Montreal to the Maritimes where mermaids call You rise, you fall in Kingston and its music halls To Vancouver isle from the Valley to Victoria In every song there is a note for us that must ring true You made a life out of keeping all of us in tune Part of every song that we create well it was made by you Tinker, sailor Martin, Taylor boat or bow the wood will bend Songwriter's savior Cracked neck, failure Fret not my friend for bridges mend At your bench nightly with strings wound tightly Second-hand is new again From Montreal to the Maritimes where mermaids call You rise, you fall in Kingston and its music halls To Vancouver isle from the Valley to Victoria In every song there is a note for us that must ring true You made a life out of keeping all of us in tune Part of every song that we create well it was made by you Found your weaver wife Her web a happy life And still the sea and highway call From Montreal to the Maritimes where mermaids call You rise, you fall in Kingston and its music halls To Vancouver isle from the Valley to Victoria In every song there is a note for us that must ring true And you made a life out of keeping all of us in tune A part of every song that we create well it was made by you Here’s your story, in all its glory, tho you’ve never been one for center stage...