Red Moncrief, born in South Monaghan, learned to play violin and piano as a child. As a young man, Red combined farming and music, gaining popularity performing at local house parties and barn dances.
During the days when there were few records, and electricity wasn’t readily available outside the city, weekly dances were a top source of entertainment. Red decided to form a dance band; ‘Red Moncrief and the Haymakers.’ The band stayed together for 22 years, garnering an immense local following by playing at area Legion halls . For three years, the band performed weekly live shows on CHEX radio.
For many longtime Peterborough area residents, Red Moncrief and the Haymakers remained the most popular, and fondly remembered musical act during the Depression, and into the War years.