There are some remarkable musicians in the Battlefords and area so when I refer to Duane as, “the best in the business” I mean he’s the best steel guitar player, and the best fiddle player in the Battlefords and area, a distinction he shares with a First Nations fiddle player (an article on this gentleman at a future date).
I met with Duane on Dec. 15 (last year) at the Co-op Cafeteria (where I generally meet with every musician I interview). Our conversation was both engaging and focused. Duane gave me his life story and an account of his musical career from the beginning to the present. I was more than impressed.
Duane Heinze was born on April 1, 1940, to August and Pauline (nee Skoronsk) Heinze at Wadena. He’s 76 (but he looks much younger) so he’s one of the more mature musicians in the area. Duane grew up on a farm located between Wadena and Kelvington. He attended Wolverton School (a three mile walk) for Grades 1 to 9. He took his Grades 10 to 12 at Kelvington. He graduated with a high school diploma in 1959.
After graduation, Duane worked on the family farm for a considerable stretch of time. He subsequently applied for a position as lineman with SaskPower. To qualify, he had to take a course in electronics with Devry Technical Institute from Chicago. He was required to take the last three weeks of the course in Chicago. Then he got a break – an interview with SaskPower. He was hired in 1961. Duane didn’t qualify as a lineman at first. He had to work his way up. He started in Ruddell hauling steel to construct a new tower line. He got his journeyman papers in Yorkton. Eventually he was promoted to the position of journeyman lineman. Duane worked on sub stations all over the province before he was transferred to North Battleford in 1969. He worked with a construction crew in surrounding communities.
During his last five years with SaskPower, he was foreman in charge of district operations. His favourite work was “hot stick live line work” at 25,000-72,000 volts. He spent 35 years with SaskPower.
Duane Heinze’s music career:
Duane was 12 years old when he got his first instrument – a violin that cost $9.98 from Eaton’s. Duane had to travel three miles to a neighbour’s to have it tuned ... think it was out of tune by the time he made it home. Duane listened to records (45s and LPs) and copied the lyrics and melodies. Some of the musician celebrities performed on the Tommy Hunter Show – Don Messer, Ned Landry and King Ganam. At a young age, Duane started playing in halls such as Rose Valley (not far from home near Wadena) for whist nights and card parties. He was fortunate to have a piano player to back him up. When he was in high school in Kelvington, he started playing for dances in various halls around Wadena, Rose Valley and Kelvington. He was soon asked to join a local band. The musicians included Bill Katchur on Hawaiian guitar, Howard Tjernstrom on guitar, John Bajbula on accordion and Duane on violin. No one sang at that time.
On one occasion, Duane was booked to play for an old schoolhouse dance. He had no car so he rode horseback with his fiddle and case in hand. The fiddle started rattling. The horse spooked and started to run. The good news is that Duane made it to the dance on time.
On another occasion, Duane and his band were booked to play for a barn dance. Duane was driving this time. He took a shortcut home across a muddy road and soon got mired in the deep mud – he was stuck and couldn’t move. He had to walk to a farmyard to get the farmer to pull him out. Eventually he made it home.
In 1958, Duane was 18 years old. He joined a band from Rose Valley – the Blue River Ranch Boys. Members included Peter Chaykowski (accordion), Bill Chaykowski (guitar), Robert Torgerson (lead guitar), and Duane (fiddle). They were pretty good and played for weddings, anniversaries and the like.
When he was working for SaskPower up north near Squaw Rapids, Duane and a few other guys put together a pick-up band. It was fun and no one took the music seriously.
Duane and his family moved to North Battleford in 1969. It wasn’t long before he was entrenched in the music scene. One time he had an opportunity to listen to some USA musicians at the House of Kwon. But what Duane was really interested in was the steel guitar. He was fortunate to get information from a steel guitar player in the United States. Shortly thereafter, Duane purchased an MSA steel, an E9th 12 string converted to an E9th/B6 universal. But in order to take possession, he had to drive to Dallas, Texas. And, of course, there were add-ons like foot pedals and knee levers. The instructions were in Nashville so Duane made a side trip to Music City to pick them up. If all this seems complex that’s because it was. But it was a testimony to Duane’s attitude. He was serious about music.
The first band that Duane played with in the Battlefords was the Gardipys – Henry Gardipy, lead singer (front man) and guitar, Pat Smith on bass, Delores Gardipy, back up singer and Duane on fiddle and steel. They were a good four-piece band.
In the early 70s, Duane once played in Quebec with The Gardipys. Winston Wuttunee and Hap Boyer were guests. They flew in to Toronto and then on a twin Otter to Quebec. In the mid 1970s, Duane joined another band – Emmett Otter’s jug band. The band leaned strongly to folk music. Band members included Peter Kingsmill on guitar and lead singer, Pat Smith on base, Paul Heon on drums and Duane on steel and fiddle. They played in an eclectic mix of locations. For example, they played for a week in Lloydminster, three nights in the Wynyard Hotel, and north of Grand Prairie, Alta.
After the jug band ran out of steam, Duane stepped in with Sundown (Schira’s band) from Spiritwood. Band members included Dan Schira (guitar and vocals), Doreen Devlin (bass guitar and vocals), and Duane (fiddle and steel). It was an excellent band and they played, “all good country music.” They had great appeal and played many different venues – rodeos in Spiritwood, Canwood, Chitek Lake, and Debden to name a few. Duane stayed with Sundown well into the nineties.
After Sundown folded, Duane joined a First Nations band, Kelly Atcheynum and the Blue Water Band. The musicians included: Rod Atcheynum, manager, Kelly Atcheynum, fiddle, Lance Whitecalf, guitar and vocals, Paul Heon on drums, and Duane, fiddle and steel guitar. Blue Water was a great band. The group showcased by far the best fiddle players in the area – Duane and Kelly.
In 2000, Duane parted company with Blue Water and joined Cherokee Rose, a very good band. Members included Charles Schira on guitar and vocals, Clare Schira on bass guitar and vocals, Randy Randell on drums, Gary Gansauge on keyboard, John Chipak on lead guitar and Duane on steel and fiddle. Duane’s first gig with Cherokee Rose was a New Year’s dance at Livelong. He was with this band until 2014 – a decade and a half. Duane is presently playing with “Keeping It Country” with Larry Symynuk on vocals and rhythm guitar, Dennis Pidwerbeski on bass and vocals. They mostly play at senior citizens community residences such as Villa Pascal, Caleb, Harwood Manor, etc.
Duane Heinze is one of the most remarkable musicians in the Battlefords and area. He has no peer when it comes to playing the steel guitar and he’s at the very top as a fiddle player. His musical career has spanned 64 years. On top of all this, he is a man of integrity with an outgoing and friendly personality. It has been my privilege to get to know Duane, and to write this essay.
