Band Member Bio's
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(Vocals, Banjo,
Button Accordion)
first 5 string banjo when he was14.
Oliver has lived in Ontario since November 1969. He
loves to write songs using his Fender Villager 12 string
guitar which he's had since 1973. He is the band's
leading composer with a number of songs to his credit.
Ollie's father played the button accordion and was a
strong musical influence on him which may have
something to do with his talent and love of music.
During the day, Oliver works in the Animal Care dept. at
the Toronto Zoo; he's been there since 1974. Ollie lives
in Newmarket, Ontario.
(Vocals, Guitar,
Mandolin, Fiddle)
family resulting in music being a large part of his life.
Playing in a number of bands as a teen and young
adult, he got his musical influences from Country, Rock,
Folk, and traditional styles of music. Some of his all time
favorite bands include the Beatles, Peter, Paul, and
Mary, The Kingston Trio, Rush, and Deep Purple just to
mention a few. Now Stan Rogers and Great Big Sea are
among his favorite performers.
Variety has always been important and Hardtack &
Harmony provides the opportunity to continually learn
and expand both musically and as a performer.
Andy now lives in Burlington, Onario, with his wife and
works in Sales and Marketing. He's an active member of
the community, is involved with the Chamber of
Commerce, and a volunteer with Burlington's Sound of
Music Festival.
(Vocals,
Accoustic
Bass)
started playing bass when he was about 13. While in
high school (Riverdale Collegiate), he played bass with
the Stage band. Later infulences include Rush, Kiss,
Max Webster and Genesis.
During his early years as a member of various local
bands including "Praying for Rain", he played a number
of local venues such as "Larry's Hideaway". A couple of
independant tapes and one Indy 45 release enjoyed
airplay on some of the smaller local radio stations.
Dave is now married, has one daugter and lives in East
end Toronto and is an ECE Child care teacher. He is
passionate about history and is an American Civil war,
War of 1812, and a WWII reenactor.
(Vocals,
Hammered
Dulcimer, and
percussion)
and vocal arranger, is a member of the founding class of
Humber College's Music program and one of their first
five graduates in 1975.
Leigh spent the next 10 years of his life touring North
America and Europe with a variety of bands before
"giving up the road" and settling down to a "real job".
Leigh saw his first hammered dulcimer played at a "Blue
Gray Ball" held by the American Civil War Historical
Re-enactment Society, and as a percussionist thought
"Gee, a stringed instrument that you hit with sticks - I
could do that!"
Although he still considers himself to be a student of the
instrument, he has mastered the art of tuning the
hammered dulcimer - which he seems to do almost as
much as he plays the darn thing!
