Bob Mason (Yakoweshen) has made significant and lasting contributions to Ukrainian-Canadian music in Alberta as a performer, recording artist, and bandleader. Born May 2, 1934, in Wostok, Alberta, he began playing accordion at a young age with Mike Kozak and John Zelisko from Andrew, Alberta, and became deeply rooted in the province’s Ukrainian music tradition. Originally performing under the family name Yakoweshen, he later adopted the name Mason in the early 1960s.

In the 1950s, Bob performed with the Radium Rhythm Kings in Port Radium, NWT and later joined Metro Radomsky and his Orchestra in Alberta. At just 22, he recorded on Metro’s first album and went on to contribute to multiple recordings, including a Ukrainian Christmas album featuring traditional carols performed by George and Jean Bidniak. In the early 1960s, he joined Bill Boychuk and The Easy Aces, where he also began composing and recording his own works, including the “Mason Polka” and “Bob Mason Waltz.”

A defining chapter in Bob’s career came in 1964 and 1965, when he collaborated with renowned violinist John Zelisko and an accomplished ensemble to record 26 selections across two albums. These recordings represent an important contribution to the preservation of traditional Ukrainian-Canadian music in Alberta.

In 1970, Bob founded The Playmates, a highly popular Edmonton-based band that performed for nearly four decades. While rooted in Ukrainian music, the group’s versatility helped bring this tradition to wider audiences, and they recorded multiple albums, including A Tribute to Ukrainian Music and Song. The Playmates played their last gig on February 24, 2007.

His musical legacy continues through his family, with his son Bruce a drummer for over 50 years, and his grandson Bobby Yakoweshen performing as the band leader and drummer of Millenia.