Canadian Country Music Association
Hall of Fame
Al Cherney

Al Cherney

  • Inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989
  • Birth: Medicine Hat, AB, November 1, 1932
  • Death: August 25, 1989

    • Background:

    Born Alexander Peter Chernywech, Al Cherney is considered to be one of Canada's finest fiddle players of his day. In his youth, he studied violin with Frank Nowak, moving on in his teenage years to play country music live on CHAT radio in Medicine Hat.

    After moving to Ontario, Cherney won the Canadian Old Time Fiddlers' Contest. He won the novelty class for three consecutive years (1959-61) and the open class in both 1960 and 61. Cherney also performed regularly on 'The Tommy Hunter Show', until his death in 1989.

    By the early 1970s, Cherney had become a leading studio musician, recording with Gary Buck, Dick Damron, Tommy Hunter and Sylvia Tyson amongst others. Cherney released over ten studio albums and received an RPM Big Country Award for Top Country Instrumentalist in 1978.

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