Nestor Pistor
Nestor Pistoris the stage name ofDon Ast,aCanadiancomedian of Romanian heritage[1]who performs in the character of a heavily accentedUkrainianimmigrant.[2]He has been a three-timeJuno Awardnominee forComedy Album of the Year,receiving two nominations at theJuno Awards of 1979for his albumsNestor Pistor for Prime MinisterandBest of Nestor Pistorand one nomination at theJuno Awards of 1980for the self-titledNestor Pistor,[3]and a nominee forMost Promising Male Vocalistat theJuno Awards of 1977.[4]
Pistor began performing in the 1970s on the comedy circuit in Western Canada, and released two albums,Live(1974) andHere We Go Again(1975) before breaking through to national attention in 1976 with his third albumWinestoned Plowboy.[5]Backed by thecountry musicgroup Prairie Fire,[6]the album deviated from Ast's usualstand-up comedyact and instead featured him singing country songs in character as Pistor. Its title track, a parody ofGlen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy",was a charting hit inRPM'scountry music charts, peaking at #16 in the week of February 12, 1977.[7]The album was certified gold by February 1977,[8]and resulted in Pistor's Juno nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist; by March 1977, both of his earlier albums were also charting in theRPM100 Albums chart.[9]He released several further albums by 1980, receiving his three Juno Award nominations for Comedy Album of the Year in 1979 and 1980.
He faded in prominence in the 1980s, but still performs occasional shows.[10] In 2019, he celebrated 50 years of performing, with shows in British Columbia and Alberta.[11]
Discography
[edit]- Nestor Pistor Live At World Championship Snowgolf, Prince George BC(1974) (#78[12])
- Here We Go Again - Nestor Pistor #2(1975) (#84[13])
- Winestoned Plowboy(1977)
- Nestor Pistor for Prime Minister(1978)
- Almost Alive(1978)
- It's a Heartburn(1980)
- Beer Commercials Drive Me...Nuts [On Radio & TV](1980)
- Plugged In(1997)
References
[edit]- ^Robert Klymasz,"Ukrainian Canadian Folk Music", no date,University of Manitoba
- ^"The Case of 'Nestor' and 'Metro'". Manoly R. Lupul,Visible Symbols: Cultural Expression Among Canada's Ukrainians.Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies,1984.ISBN9780920862278.pp. 51-56.
- ^"Complete list of nominees for tonight's Juno Awards".The Globe and Mail,April 2, 1980.
- ^"Juno 1977".Billboard,April 23, 1977.
- ^"Backstage".The Globe and Mail,February 26, 1977.
- ^"Nestor Pistor, Winestoned Plowboy".Ontario Library Review,Volumes 62-63 (1978). p. 51
- ^"RPM Country Playlist".RPM,February 12, 1977.
- ^"From the Music Capitals of the World: Toronto".Billboard,February 12, 1977.
- ^"RPM100Top Albums ".RPM,March 5, 1977.
- ^"Nestor Pistor Fundraiser to Benefit Both the School and Community".Smoky Lake Signal,February 24, 2016.
- ^"Nestor Pistor Productions - Edmonton Entertainer".
- ^"RPM Top 100 Albums - March 12, 1977"(PDF).
- ^"RPM Top 100 Albums - April 2, 1977"(PDF).
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Nestor Pistordiscography atDiscogs
- Canadian country singers
- Canadian comedy musicians
- Canadian stand-up comedians
- Singers from Saskatchewan
- Living people
- Canadian people of Romanian descent
- 20th-century Canadian male singers
- 20th-century Canadian comedians
- Comedians from Saskatchewan
- Canadian male comedians
- Ukrainian-Canadian culture
- Ethnic jokes