Bill Lamey

Who is Bill Lamey?

William Hugh "Bill" Lamey was a renowned and influential Cape Breton fiddler. He was a pioneer in recorded performances of the music. As an avid collector of rare tunes, he amassed one of the most comprehensive and valuable collections of written Scottish violin music.

Lamey was born in River Denys, Inverness County on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia on March 9, 1914. His father's people were of Irish descent, arriving in Cape Breton from Ireland around 1800 CE. It was, however, his mother, Margaret Lamey, whose deep love of Scottish music was an early influence on the young Lamey.