Ivan Hicks is one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet and if you're into fiddle music, he's from heaven. He has been entertaining the people of New Brunswick since he was a mandolin child backing his father - Porcupine Hall of Famer Curtis Hicks - at dances. In the early 1960s he was a member of the Golden Valley Boys who went on to record an album of country music. In the 1970s he won various fiddle contests, including the prestigious Maritime Fiddle Contest (twice). A teacher by profession (now retired) he understood how to teach young fiddlers how to play properly. Coming from the old school of thought where the music accompanies the dancers, he understands the very nature of what he plays. In 1985 Ivan was inducted into the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame, followed by induction into the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame (1990) and now the Porcupine Awards Hall of Fame. In fact, Curtis and Ivan Hicks are the first father and son members of the Great Hall of the Porcupines. He has appeared on my radio shows with his wife, Vivian (pictured above) and his band, The Maritime Express. He is a true gentleman with a legion of fans and friends that stretch from one end of this country to the other.