One of Bermuda's most popular entertainers steps back into the limelight this week with the release of his first tape, "From the Heart''.

Often described as "the father'' of Bermuda-style country and western music, Mr. Jack Whitney has finally produced what his fans have long been clamouring for.

From the late 1940s to the end of the '50s, Jack Whitney and his band, The Bermuda Plowboys, had a huge following throughout Bermuda who would gather four nights a week to hear their unique country sound at Rowley's guest house in Hamilton. He also played at Somerset Workmen's Club, was a regular at the Base and also took part in the first local radio television show from Kindley Field in the 1950s.

Says Mr. Whitney, "For years, my friends have been asking me to make tapes and I kept saying `one of these days'! But then I thought I would like to make a donation to the Bermuda Heart Foundation and it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to do that by making a tape. Most of all, I wanted to do this in memory of my wife, Verna, who died in 1991. The proceeds will go to the Foundation, so I hope that my friends who like country music will go out and buy it!'' The tape includes many favourite numbers, featuring Mr. Whitney on no less than five different instruments -- the six and twelve-string guitars, banjo, mandolin and one-string bass. In one number, "Wabash Cannonball'', he takes on the role of singer, and the first two numbers, "Bermuda Winds'' and "Moonshine Jackson'' are his own compositions. Other numbers include "Under the Double Eagle'', "Little Jimmy Brown'', "The Banjo Song'', "Wildwood Flower'', "Chime Bells'' and "Spanish Fandango''.

He says he would like to thank all the people who have encouraged him to go ahead with the production of the tape, "especially Victor Chambray, who is a musician himself, and who did everything -- except actually play my instruments!'' Mr. Whitney, who modestly admits to playing "about eight instruments'' in all, is a self-taught musician who says he "got hooked'' on country music as a very young child, listening to the Grand Old Opry which was broadcast live on the radio.

"I did have music lessons as a child, and studied the violin, but didn't continue. I had a good ear, though, and just seemed to pick it up.'' Today, his love of country and bluegrass takes him on frequent trips to the US. "I travel back and forth a lot. I love the mountain areas and the mountain people -- especially the Appalacians. Music and dancing is their life, their heritage and, I'm sure, will always be part of their lifestyle.'' One of his greatest thrills, he says, was his meeting some three years ago with the man whom he calls "the father'' of blue grass, Bill Monroe.

"We have met several times since then and become quite friendly. It was also an honour to meet the Osmond Brothers. I've played with Dean Osmond -- he has his own band and I played with him in Kentucky.'' After a decade of dominating the music scene here, Jack Whitney stopped playing. Asked why, he says, "I think I quit when I got married!'' After his various instruments had remained silent for about 25 years, he suddenly had the urge to play again, "and I've been playing ever since''.

Amazingly, he says, as a result of that, he has discovered there is a lot of truth in the phrase that "you're never too old to learn''. In the past five years he has mastered two instruments that were completely new to him -- the banjo and mandolin.

These days, he gets together with a small group run by Ms Jean Howes and they play mostly for senior citizens and people in hospital. In Kentucky, he performs for charity at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children and for the United Way, both of which he describes as "great organisations''.

Although music has played an important role in his life, Mr. Whitney spent several of his earlier working years in a rather unusual occupation. This was acting as the double for actor Sandy Canyon who, with Forrest Tucker made the "Crunch 'n' Des'' TV series on Darrell's Island.

"I worked there until they closed the studio down and went to see (Sir) John Plowman and asked if he had a job. He said no, but called me back the very next day to say he'd liked the look of me and had managed to find me a job, after all! That was in 1956 and I stayed with him until I retired in 1992.'' "From the Heart'' is on sale in The Bookmart at the Phoenix Centre and at Dom's Barber Shop in the Armory Building on Reid Street.

All proceeds will go to the Bermuda Heart Foundation.