Ottawa folk singer, musician, and actor Peter B. Hodgson has written Sneezy Waters: A Very Fine Biography. Yes, that’s what it’s called, and the book lives up to its name. The title references his popular act Sneezy Waters and His Very Fine Band, not to be confused with another of his performance vehicles: The Great Sneezy Waters and His Excellent Band.
Book cover of Sneezy Waters: A Very Fine Biography. Front cover photo: Bruno Schlumberger. Back cover photo: John Garner.
Sneezy is well known for his portrayal of Hank Williams Sr. in the hit musical and award-winning film Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave. The Ottawa native performed the role about 300 times from 1977 to 1990 in venues across Canada and the USA, ranging from the Beacon Arms Hotel to the National Arts Centre. The play and screenplay about the tragic life of the well-known country music singer were penned by the late Ottawan Maynard Collins, and the film is still available on YouTube. Sneezy has fond memories of touring with the show, as he was close to the musicians and crew and is still pals with many of them.
Born in 1945, Sneezy has lived in Ottawa for much of his life. This memoir recounts his early days growing up in west-end Ottawa and his activities as a musician, actor, traveller and stagehand. He writes that he appreciates having lived here and benefited from the camaraderie of musicians in the city, especially when starting.
“It was a small clique, I guess you’d call it, and it centred around Le Hibou,” recalls Sneezy in the book. “We saw all kinds of musicians and we’d get to know them and jam with them where they were staying.” In 1975, Sneezy was the last act at the legendary folk café.
Sneezy Waters performing as Hank Williams. Photo: Peter Lamb.
He was also a well-known busker in Ottawa locales such as the ByWard Market and Sparks Street Mall. Sneezy rounded out his entertainment career as a stagehand at the National Arts Centre for 25 years. Unions are vital to him, and Sneezy proudly participated in the local musicians’ union, ACTRA, and the stagehands’ union. He maintains his membership in the musicians’ union and still performs occasionally at venues like the Grassroots Festival.
I thought I’d read accounts of Sneezy’s musical relationships with rising stars such as Bruce Cockburn and Ian Tamblyn. What I found unexpected were the accounts of his travels and tours in Europe, Southeast Asia, the USA, Mexico and Northern Canada.
As a teenager, Sneezy lived with his family in Paris for a year; this sparked a lifelong interest in other places, food, and cultures. A three-month gig at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan, with the band A Rosewood Daydream (which included Sneezy and then-wife Susan Jains) brought him to Asia. After the Osaka engagement ended, Sneezy and his band members embarked on various fascinating travels. He credits his many journeys as inspiring him to perform for shut-ins, the disabled, and senior citizens.
Sneezy is a good-natured fellow who loves to spin yarns and tell corny jokes. His repertoire spans traditional and contemporary tunes and includes folk and country. Unlike many musicians, he is not a songwriter, although he is an exceptional singer and guitar player. He’s a charming performer who completely captivates audiences, whether as a solo performer or in one of the many bands he has fronted over the years.
Sneezy Waters playing on the Sparks Street Mall. Photo: Canadian Press.
Sneezy is also a keen observer with a great sense of humour. The more than 40 photos in this book reflect a particularly happy childhood and his progression as a performer and traveller. This memoir is candid and recounts not only the great gigs and successes, but also his failed marriage and addiction struggles. Chapters on musical influences and bandmates, his many portrayals of Hank Williams Sr. and his stagehand and acting work, plus a handy index are excellent elements.
There are also a few surprises! His father was the Dominion Seismologist in Ottawa. While touring southeast Asia in 1970, Sneezy embarked on a hair-raising journey in a Land Rover from Delhi to Denmark. And in 1989, Sneezy starred in an episode of The Twilight Zone as a blind musician (the episode, “Love is Blind,” is available on YouTube).
This volume is relatively short, just over 200 pages, and is easy to read. You will even learn how he got the name Sneezy Waters! Like many of his other tales, it’s quite the story!
Sneezy Waters: A Very Fine Biography is published by Chelsea Books. To purchase a copy of the book, visit https://sneezywaters.com.
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