24 Facts About Donn Reynolds

Stanley Beresford "Donn" Reynolds was a Canadian country music singer and yodeler most widely known for his Bavarian style of yodeling.

Donn Reynolds recorded 38 singles and six albums throughout a performing career spanning over 40 years.

Donn Reynolds was born in St Vital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on June 26,1921.

Donn Reynolds was youngest of three children, with older sisters Dora and Connie.

Donn Reynolds first achieved local notoriety in 1936, winning a local radio sponsored talent contest.

Donn Reynolds married his first wife Catherine Tompkins in Vancouver in 1944, they had a daughter named Diane.

Donn Reynolds's appearances featured a heavy black beard he had grown for an acting role in the Australian film Eureka Stockade produced by Ealing Studios.

Alongside pioneers Tex Morton and Slim Dusty, Donn Reynolds was among Australia's earliest popular country music recording artists releasing several sides in 1947 for the Australian Columbia Graphophone Company on the Regal Zonophone label.

Donn Reynolds earned money playing theaters and halls in towns across New South Wales where people had heard him on the radio and travelled with Goldwyn Brothers Circus billed as the "Yodelling Cowboy".

In October 1948, Donn Reynolds became the voice of Australia's iconic Peters Ice Cream as the "Peter's Singing Cowboy".

Eager to extend his recent Australian popularity to America, Donn Reynolds departed for Hollywood California in 1949 headlining "Red Barn Roundup" hoedowns with Dusty Ellison at the Avodon Ballroom in Los Angeles.

Later that summer, Donn Reynolds teamed up with western swing band leader Eddie Cletro, recording several singles for Lariat Records at the renowned Radio Recorders studio in Hollywood.

From 1950 through late 1956, Donn Reynolds traveled the US working in radio broadcasting while regularly appearing on stage and television across the country.

Donn Reynolds opened a local record shop "The Record Corral" specializing in country and spiritual music.

In late 1956 Donn Reynolds traveled to the UK, being among the earliest artists to have recorded in London's Lansdowne Studios with British producer Denis Preston.

Less than a year after arriving in the UK Donn Reynolds returned to the US in 1957 for recording sessions at Nashville's historic RCA McGavock Studio under direction of Wesley Rose.

Cindy later parted from The Three Skylarks to travel with Donn Reynolds, combining vocal talents in duet performances during the remainder of his European tour.

In October 1961 Donn Reynolds returned with Cindy to his birthplace of Winnipeg, Manitoba joining the casts of national TV shows Cross Canada Barndance and Red River Jamboree.

In 1967 Donn Reynolds released his third solo album Springtime in the Rockies containing the single "Shut the Door".

The accomplishment generated a surge of Canadian media attention including an appearance on Take 30 that saw Donn Reynolds perform outside, atop the CN Tower, The Bob McLean Show, and US concerts with Claude King in New York.

Donn Reynolds found himself amid a stir of media frenzy including appearances on The Tommy Hunter Show, The Alan Thicke Show, Claim to Fame, Daytime Challenge, Canada AM, That's Life, Tempo Ontario, performances with Claude King in Brampton, Ontario and with Ronnie Hawkins for the Toronto Musician's Association.

Donn Reynolds struggled amidst a country music industry progressing toward more modern sound as promoters offered less work and little interest in his obscure talent.

Donn Reynolds died in Toronto on August 16,1997 following complications from Alzheimer's disease and was interred in the Meadowvale Cemetery in Brampton, Ontario.

In 2002, Donn Reynolds was honoured with a Canada Barn Dance Pioneer Award and inducted into the Barn Dance Hall of Fame.