In 1948, a small group of Doukhobors from Grand Forks, BC (Canada) went to Vancouver's Aragon Studios and from there, Canadian Doukhobor recording phenomenon began. From then to the late 50's (the advent of the micro-groove - or 33 1/3 RPM LP) Doukhobor artists would record a significant number of 78 RPM 'manufactured' records and an untold number of 'one-offs'. One-offs were made on an early recording machine and though not common, some had access to one for home-recording use. It was the predecessor to the tape recorder, using acetate-coated blank records able to record nearly 5 minutes per side. The quality wasn't up to par with a studio recording, nor was the microphone used of average studio quality either. It wasn't capable of duplicating, so if one wanted a copy of a recording, the artists would have to record it again. (It's thought that some of these 'one-off's' were actually taken to a manufacturing plant and manufactured in numbers from there).

The era of the 78's encompassed early recordings from 1948 on the Aragon label (Vancouver), through to the latter 50's which boasted labels such as Tovarischi, Cascade, Sunrise, and other independent labels, and the USCC (Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ) label. As no such complete and full directory of the 78's was ever archived (or rather, no complete public listing existed until now), DoukhoborMusic.ca has ascertained that a total of 54 manufactured 78 RPM records were made (109 separate recordings - one record squeezed in two songs on one side) during that era. These represent BC Doukhobor artists only and excludes any other potential recordings that may have originated from Alberta or Saskatchewan Doukhobors of that time, and as well excludes the 'one-offs' mentioned earlier. This is an incredible amount of recordings considering that there might have been as little as a hundred or so vocalists/artists who were responsible for these 52 x 78 RPM records! After the original 12 recordings of 1948, in 1952 another lone recording ensued. In the Doukhobor publication of Iskra (1975) writer Joe Novokshonoff states "After returning from this trip, in 1952 the choir (Grand Forks, U.S.C.C. choir) cut its first recording which was very well accepted and widely distributed amongst the Doukhobor people." DoukhoborMusic.ca tracked down this very rare recording and has made it available here.

While the U.S.C.C. might have originally led the Doukhobors in 1948 to the recording era on the Aragon label, without a doubt the leaders in the independent (and musical accompaniment) field were three young fellows (Frank Konken, Bill Saliken and Fred Zibin) who in 1954 started the Tovarischi label.

The self-owned Tovarischi label not only released an impressive 21 records in total of the three founders, and included records featuring the talents of John Evin, Katie Zibin, Alex Konken, and Molly Popoff, but Tovarischi also gave Frank and his wife Ruby their 'voice' on record. Frank and Ruby soon became a household name and the pride of Doukhobors of that era, even receiving some radio airplay with their Russian-lyrics records. (Frank and Ruby later recorded a number of LP album projects both with and without their children Stefanie, Frank Jr., Jamie, and Dominica, as well as teaming up with the Pepins and Lazeroffs to produce the LP entitled 'Friends'. Frank and Ruby's career could encompass an entire website all on its own; we've done a modest tribute to them here.

Soon after the Tovarischi releases, artists such as Peter Gritchen (along with Bill Khadikin), Paul Chernoff, and others as well emerged with their own 78 RPM records. Peter Gritchen too followed up with five LP album releases after the demise of the 78's era.

...there was a music store in Castlegar by the bowling alley; this was way before Pete's TV was established. My inlaws purchased records there. I believe the Faminoff family owned the store. Also, the Brilliant Co-op sold records. Fred Zibin owned a store by the Robson Ferry. Country stores owned by Doukhobors also sold these records such as in Thrums, Glade, Cresent Valley, Slocan Park, Winlaw. In Nelson, Ben Sutherland Music store sold all kinds of Russian records; he brought them in especially for the Doukhobors. Peter R..

As with the LP Collection, these recordings fell into two categories - traditional Doukhobor a cappella (vocal-only) found on the Aragon and the U.S.C.C. label, and musical accompaniment recordings (on most others). While the musical accompaniment recordings shouldn't technically be referred to as 'Doukhobor music' (in the traditional a cappella genre), no one can argue with merit that it doesn't qualify as music by Doukhobors. Though this database contains all known 78 RPM manufactured recordings, not every song contained in the database is available as a listening sample within this archive. Some of the records found were of too poor condition to even try harvest / restore for digital archiving, so they were eliminated as possible inclusions in this library. (Perhaps at some time should better quality recordings show up, they might be processed for inclusion).