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Robert Laing

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Robert is from Southern Ontario. He was born in Fort Erie, and grew up in Guelph. Robert lived, went to school, worked and played music in the Guelph area for the next 29 years. It was here after going through the rock, blues and folk scene that he discovered Bluegrass music. One day at a free concert in High Park in Toronto, Robert caught a Good Brothers Bluegrass show and was just thrilled with the instrumentation and harmonies. From there he endeavored to learn all he could about Bluegrass music, going to festivals, and shows, all over Southern Ontario.

Robert formed his first bluegrass band in the Guelph area in the mid 1970s calling the band the Wellington County Kickers. The Kickers later changed their name to Diamond Rio (not the country band). In late 1979 after the Kickers split up, Robert did some single gigs and played in some pick up country bands. In 1985 Robert moved to Toronto where he got into the systems analysis and computer support work. He continued to do single venues in the meantime, playing when he could get a chance.

In 1995 Robert moved to Ajax. One day sitting in front of his computer he thought how much he would like to play some good old Bluegrass music again. Robert began an extensive search on the internet where he found the Pine Ridge Bluegrass and Folklore club in Oshawa. Seeing Terry Lane’s email address there he sent Terry an email asking him about the Bluegrass picking in the area. Terry invited Robert to come down to one of their Saturday night jams. When mentioned that there would be a banjo, mandolin and guitar player there, Robert said that's OK, and brought a bass. A good time was had by all. Robert also started going to the Pine Ridge Bluegrass and Folklore club once a month meeting other area Bluegrass enthusiasts.

Although, Robert always played rhythm guitar and sang vocals, decided that there were enough guitar players and singers, but not enough bass players and singers. So, he got an upright bass and started playing bluegrass bass and singing lead and harmony. In 2001 Robert also moved a little further east and now resides in Oshawa where he fills in bass and harmony with one other duet, Lynn and Larry Hornsby which is a husband and wife traditional Bluegrass and Gospel band. Robert keeps a special place in his heart for the guys in Keslering Ridge as they were the ones who welcomed him into the Durham Bluegrass community and showed him around. Oh yea, and they also let him play bass and sing with them. The folks with Keslering Ridge have been a lot of fun and a sunny highlight in Robert’s life. 

Here's a picture of him in Nashville from the IBMA 2005.

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