Wilf began his career in entertainment performing with local POP and Dance Bands at various clubs and venues around his home province of Prince Edward Island. The best way to describe Wilf's musical speciality is to simply state that he can perform among the best of the best in almost any Genre.
Big Band, Swing and JAZZ artists including Chapter III, Champ Champagne, Lowel Huestis Orchestra, Len Weeks Orchestra and many more have proudly credited Wilf amongst their featured musicians. Performing in many elite and charitable events in front of many respected dignitaries, politicians and television audiences, Wilf has contributed countless hours serving his community though his gifts as a performer.
Wilf has earned the admiration and respect of his fellow colleagues in the Country Music industry. Many Canadian and worldwide Country Music legends have worked side by side with Wilf at popular Ottawa Valley venues and North American events. Wilf has become renowned for his signature Lead Style and his straightforward, calm and relaxed attitude. Now that's COUNTRY!
Wilf was born July 12th 1934, in Egmont Bay, Prince Edward Island, Canada. When he was 13 years old his Grandmother bought him his first guitar, a "Roy Rogers" acoustic guitar from Simpson Sears. Wilf played and sang mostly country music but at the age of 17 years old he performed in his first paying job with a local piano player performing mostly standard songs for dancing.
At around 18 years old Wilf moved to Summerside, P.E.I., got a day job and in the evenings and on weekends he started performing with the Lowell Huestis Orchestra, a 5 piece band featuring POP standards and a bit of Jazz for Dances.
Wilf purchased his first "professional electric guitar" a "Gretch Duo Jet", and hard shell case through a catalogue listing from Peates Music Store in Montreal, Quebec and had it shipped to P.E.I.. Every now and then he still uses that very same, yet now vintage guitar on the appropriate show.
Wilf moved to Ottawa in the late 1950's where he met drummer and singer Merle Mitton and joined Merle's Dance Band where he performed mostly POP music in clubs and hotels. In the early 1960's Wilf met Ralph Carlson who performed Country and Rockabilly music and he worked with Ralph at many shows around the Ottawa Valley (he also played lead guitar on Ralph's Album). At around the same time Wilf also met, and worked with Hugh Scott and for 3 years, they performed 5 nights a week at the Chamberlain Hotel in Aylmer, Quebec, (he also played Lead Guitar on Hugh Scott's Album).
Throughout Wilf's impressive entertainment career he has performed with many other singers and entertainers including Dave Dudley, Hal Lone Pine, Doc and Chickie Williams, Big Al Downing, Lucille Star, Stella Parton (Dolly Parton's sister) to name but a few. Wilf and his band also had the honour of participating as the opening act for the George Jones Show.
Wilf performed for many years as a member of the Valley Legends band, featuring Ottawa Valley and Canadian Country Music Icons such as Ron McMunn, Terry Carrisse, Ralph Carlson, Lawanda Brown, and other special guests. They performed around the Ottawa Valley for a few years at various fairs, radio and television events.
More recently, and for well over 10 years, Wilf has been a part of the band W.R.D. that fellow Hall of Fame inductee, the late Shirley Sinclair, founded. The name W.R.D. was chosen to represent the original members of the band... Wilf Arsenault, the late Ralph Carlson and Doug Sinclair. They still perform today at legions, fairs and special events with various special guests in the role Ralph Carlson once held.
Wilf also currently works with many other bands including Musical Memories featuring Barry and Heather O'Connor, Classic Country ReVu featuring Mike Fahey and special guests, and Gospel Matters Band featuring fellow Hall of Fame inductees Lyoness and Judy Woodstock.
Wilf was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.
Wilf and his incredible wife Kitty currently reside in Aylmer Quebec. Wilf has 2 children his daughter Kimberley Arsenault resides in Toronto, Ontario and his son Stephen Arsenault resides near Franktown Ontario but those close to Wilf know that Wilf also has a third
“extended/chosen
” daughter, Christine Bechard, that resides in Val-des-Monts, Quebec. Wilf is also the proud grandfather to William (Will Jr.) Wallace (Kimberley's family), Justin Arsenault and Katie Fenton (Stephen's family) and with his chosen daughter, well, it gets way too complicated to explain it all here, but you can ask Wilf all about the details at his next SHOW! ***** Oh and Good Luck with that! ;).
Share your thoughts on a favourite performance or memory concerning Wilf.
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