Elmer Tippe

Elmer Tippe, born in Eatonia, Saskatchewan, January 21, 1933, began began playing banjo and fiddle at the age of eight in Alberta. At 15, Tippe started entertaining professionally, playing dances up and down British Columbia’s Fraser Valley with his two older brothers, forming Ray’s Harmony Five. The group came to a tragic end in 1955 when his brother Clarence was killed by a drunk driver. Two years later, Elmer and his brother Ray formed The Pine Mountain Boys and landed a job performing with the Royal Canadian tours.  

For more than 50 years, as a performer/disc jockey, however, Tippe was the force behind traditional country music and Western Swing. He started his broadcasting career in Langley, BC on CJJC, BC’s first full-time country music station. He was then at CKWX Supercountry radio in 1975 where was on the all-nighter shift, but quickly moved to the Mid-Day slot where he stayed for 25 years.

He recorded several albums (Cynda Records) and charted three singles on the RPM charts during the 70’s.  The Elmer Tippe show was a destination for listeners each day. Known for its down to earth style, Tippe became a local superstar after developing fan favourites such as star phone ins from Nashville, as well as Elmer’s Choice, a special song chosen by Tippe each day.   Tippe received numerous BC Country Music Awards, including the first Male Vocalist Award. He has been inducted into the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame , the Western Swing Hall of Fame and The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2002). During his career, Tippe took home seven Country Music Broadcaster Awards.