Elmer Tippe was born in Eatonia, Saskatchewan on January 21, 1933, one of 10 children. At 8 years of age Elmer started playing the banjo & fiddle at a little school house south of Innisfree, Alberta. The family moved to British Columbia when Elmer was 12 years old and settled on a farm in Pitt Meadows, BC.
At the age of 15 Elmer started entertaining professionally. He played dances up and down the Fraser Valley with his two older brothers. He went on to play as a sideman with other bands until 1975 when he formed and fronted his own band called 'Supercountry'. This group became very popular and were nominated many times for awards by the BC Country Music Association.
Elmer has experienced most facets of the business. In 1957, he traveled with the Royal Canadian Shows billed as the 'Pine Mountain Boys' doing their country show in a tent and sometimes sleeping in the tent as well. He also toured with the Rogers Brothers in 1966 playing rodeos and fairs in Alberta sponsored by CFCW radio. Elmer also toured Germany with a group of country musicians (Dick Damron, Roy Warhurst, John Berg & Hank Smith) for the Alberta Government Exchange program. Over the years Elmer has shared the stage with many major artists, either entertaining on the same bill or acting as Master of Ceremonies.
Through out his music career, Elmer always had a steady day job from working on the farm to spinning songs as a disc jockey.
Elmer was already a well known singer and fiddler when Joe Chesney of CJJC radio thought the popular Tippe would help attract listeners to their new country music format. In 1966 an incredible broadcasting career began at that little station in Langley. After 9 years at CJJC, Elmer moved to CKWX in Vancouver. He started on the 'All Nighter' but soon moved to the 'Noon to Three' time slot. Elmer had a "My Door is always Open" policy that made for very entertaining radio. If an artist had a new record he could stop by and talk about it on air and Elmer would play it.
It didn't matter if it was a local artist or the likes of Mel Tillis, Dick Damron or Chet Atkins, Elmer treated them all the same, showing the same honesty and respect towards all of his guests.
One of his accomplishments that he is most proud of is a feature that he called, "Where the Bands Are". As he often talked about where Elmer Tippe & Supercountry had played he thought it only fair to give the other bands the same exposure. Soon every band in the Vancouver area would phone Elmer to tell him where they were playing to get on his feature. Elmer retired in 1991 after 25 years in radio.
Elmer has many awards to his credit: BCCMA's first Male Vocalist, Country Music Broadcaster - 7 times, BCCMA Hall of Fame - 1988, Country Music Person of the Year - 1991, inducted into the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in Sacramento, CA - 1993, Pioneer of Western Swing Hall of Fame, Seattle, WA. - 1996, Canadian Country Music Assn. Broadcaster's Hall of Fame - 2002 and Ridge Meadows Hall of Fame - 2004, his home town.
A devoted husband and father, Elmer is very proud of his wife Alice, children Rick, Melanie & Guyle and grandsons Tyler, Cameron, Brett, Trent, Nathan and Dylan.
It was a proud moment when Rick Tippe won the BCCMA Male Vocalist Award 25 years after his father had won the first one. Rick went on to win that award 8 years running. Elmer's grandsons, Brett & Trent (The Johnson Brothers) are also musicians and have been nominated for BCCMA awards in 3 different categories over the past 2 years.
Elmer still does his music when Rick is in town doing a performance and asks his father to come out and join him. Brett & Trent keep their Papa busy by asking him to join them on stage as well.
He has spent the last 14 years vacationing in Yuma, Arizona where he is a favourite with his fiddle and fine Ray Price style vocals.
When not playing music you can find Elmer and Alice on a golf course somewhere.
Elmer has a 18 song CD with 16 songs from his Albums along with
Old Christmas Card and You Gave Me a Mountain.
To contact Elmer: dalicelmer@shaw.ca
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Dear Elmer,
Thank you so much for the add.
You've been such an inspiration to me. You've got so much talent and I enjoy your music so much.
Your family is number one and it has just been wonderful knowing them.
I wish I'd met you guys sooner, maybe I'd be a country picker now instead of a bluesman.
Keep it up pal,
Randall Crow.
Hi Elmer,this is Curtis Cowan.We met at the BCCMA awards show last year.I'm Terri Clark's cousin and also a country performer.I've done 1 album in Nashville so far.I'm also in a local country band Laredo.Anyways you've always been an inspiration to me.Say hello to your son Rick for me,too.I haven't seen him for years.
