Peter Lafferty
Peter Lafferty promo photo, circa 1964. (photo courtesy Angus Beaulieu)
Metis musician Peter Lafferty was born in Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson, NT into a family of naturally talented musicians.
He picked up the guitar when he was 13 years old, playing the traditional Metis fiddle songs with his brothers and uncles.
In those years as a young musician, Peter was influenced by the recorded music of Wilf Carter, Jim Reeves and Hank Williams he heard on his mother’s wind up gramophone but it was the music of Hank Snow that resonated with him and he began to study Hank’s finger picking style.
In 1967, Peter moved to Whitehorse working a day job and playing in the bars.
He left to tour with Don Latimer and his band then went on to play solo and trio gigs in Ontario and Alberta before returning to Whitehorse in 1969 with bass player, Sam Briggs.
The duo played an extended gig at the “Tourist Services Lounge” also playing at “The Bamboo Room” in the 1970s.
Peter lives and still plays music in Whitehorse today.
Elsie Justus (Burger) with Peter Lafferty. 1963, Fort Providence (photo Morris Lafferty, publication unknown. courtesy of Elsie Justus (Burger)
'The Mackenzie Drifters' Peter Lafferty, Sam Briggs, 1970, Whitehorse, YT. (publication unknown)
Quartet photo L-R: Medore Laramie, Peter Lafferty, Norman Junior Brierre Don Latimer. (Photo courtesy Peter Lafferty)