Len Sauverwald recalls his years of making music with the Belltones
By Joan Janzen
KERROBERT— Len Sauverwald’s eyes light up when he recalls bygone days of playing with the Belltones, a band that entertained in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The 91-year-old resident of Pioneers Haven in Kerrobert was born on the family farm located between Kerrobert and Luseland in December 1933.
“I was the last one to be born on the farm,” he said. “My dad’s mom was the midwife for the district.”
Siblings: (L-R) Adrienne, Ken, Len, Bill, Eileen, John and their parents Pauline and Philip Sauverwald.PHOTO KERROBERT HISTORY BOOK
The Belltones: L-R: Len Sauverwald, Wilf Lindeman, Mel Mullin, Steve Brandon, Mike Senger, Leona Halter, and Lawrence Halter.
Len Sauverwald from Kerrobert shared his many memories of singing with the band The Belltones.PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Len had seven siblings, although two of his brothers died at a young age. He grew up on a mixed farm with plenty of pigs, chickens and cows to milk. The family sold cream for $8/cream can, and eggs sold for only 3 cents a dozen.
“We were very poor, but we enjoyed sitting around the table and singing. Mom would harmonize, and that’s where I learned to harmonize,” he explained.
In 1942 Len and two of his siblings sang at the amateur hours in Kerrobert and Luseland. “We won in both places and then went to Saskatoon to compete,” Len said. The competition was a fundraiser for Tuberculosis.
As well as learning how to harmonize, the family all learned to play instruments. Len learned how to play the guitar.
The siblings, along with some friends, formed an orchestra in the 1950s. “Adrienne sang harmony with me, and Ken sang a good soprano,” he said. They played for the Kinsmen in Kerrobert every Saturday night for a grand total of $15/night. Somehow, they managed to buy all their instruments with the money they saved from playing for dances.
In 1965, Lawrence Halter formed the Belltones. Lawrence and Len were joined by Lawrence’s wife Leona and Mel Mullins, all of Kerrobert, and Mike Senger of Tramping Lake. Later the band also included Steve Brandon and Wilf Lindeman of Tramping Lake. The band members played with various other bands prior to joining The Belltones.
“We were a German band and played German music … polkas and waltzes,” he said. “Me and Lawrence were the vocalists. People liked our country and old-time music.” Once again, Len was harmonizing. Many people have fond memories of learning to dance to the music of The Belltones.
They enjoyed entertaining for weddings, anniversaries and other functions in Kerrobert and district, and in parts of Alberta. They made many friends along their travels and found playing for friends a most satisfying hobby.
“We used to go to Lawrence’s place and practice,” he recalled. Then the band would head out to perform. “We usually played from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. Then it was time to go home.”
“My brother Ken had a show in Arizona; he sang with Mini Pearl. He more or less put us on the map,” Len recalled. Mini Pearl was an American comedian and country singer who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry.
Later on, the band recorded an album in the Kerrobert Hotel. “Rick Orr from Saskatoon came out to do the recording right in Kerrobert.”
The album cover says: “For Variety in Dance Music dance to the Belltones - Vol. 1”. “The cover photo was taken in Unity,” he said. “We sold 2100 albums. I sold most of my records in Provost. They loved that German music.”
“It seems like I was in the band all my life. Unfortunately, I’m the only one left from the Belltones,” Len said. But he has his Belltones album and many good memories from his years of making music.