Bill Guest

Inducted in 2018

Bill Guest is a renowned country fiddler and pianist who began playing the fiddle at the age of 11. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bill plays numerous instruments, although he is best known for his fiddle and piano styling.

Mr. Guest has travelled extensively throughout Nova Scotia and across Canada  and the United States working with bands such as the Ray Price Show, the Bill Munroe Show and Grandpa Jones.  He also toured with the Doc Williams Show  for 2 years. Bill performed as piano player for Anne Murray's first TV Special which aired on national TV and the nationally aired Country Time Show where he played both fiddle and piano. He also toured across Canada as piano player for the Don Messer Show and has played for many other well known artists.

One of the founders of the Maritime Fiddle Association formed in 1978, Bill has judged and participated in many fiddle contests, placing first in the Maritime Fiddle Festival on two occasions and winning the New Brunswick Fiddle Contest. Two of Bill's treasured honors were to receive a letter from Buckingham Palace to commemorate his fiddle tune entitled 'Princess of Wales' and to be an included musician in the 'Encyclopedia of Canadian Musicians'. He is also a New York Fiddlers Hall of Fame Inductee.

Mr. Guest is a graduate of the Dalhousie Music Degree Program receiving his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education. He has composed more than 375 fiddle tunes and has also composed country and Christmas songs. Bill is not only a composer, but also a producer of various recordings for Ned Landry and Hal Lone Pine to name only two. He is the publisher of several books including Gospel Favourites for Fiddle and Piano, 100 Fiddle Tunes Down East Style and an invaluable guide to fiddling entitled The Book of Canadian Fiddlers.

A graduate, composer, producer and publisher, Bill has also taught music in the Halifax area schools from the elementary grades to the senior high levels.

He is a recording artist, featured on various recordings as fiddler, pianist, and other such musical instruments as clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, bass and guitar.

Bill's work continues to receive air-play provincially.