Harry Hibbs

Who was Harry Hibbs?

Harry Hibbs was Newfoundland's best-known icon for traditional Newfoundland music.

He was born Henry Thomas Joseph Hibbs September 11, 1942 on Bell Island, Dominion of Newfoundland. He was educated at St. Kevin's High School, Wabana, and moved with his family to Toronto shortly after the death of his father. There Harry worked at various manufacturing facilities such as an auto parts factory, printing plant, and a munitions factory. At one of these plants he suffered a career changing accident that prevented him from any strenuous work; this led Harry to take up performing music. He had learned this skill from his father, who was an accomplished fiddle player.

Hibbs became a member of the Caribou Show Band that played regularly to expatriate Newfoundlanders living in Toronto. Members of the band at that time were Johnny Burke on bass guitar, Norma Gale, vocals, Brian Barron, mandolin and fiddle, Roddy Lee on drums, Bob Lucier on steel guitar and Harry Hibbs on accordion. Hibbs was signed by Arc Records by Phil Anderson, president of Arc Records, and the first album released on October 1968 with signature song The Black Velvet Band.