GORD BARNES (2016 Inductee)

As a boy growing up in a house where nothing but country music was played, friends would leave their guitars behind for Gord to play. People like Gerry Levac, Reggie Young, and his uncle Bob Barnes were all big influences in his early years. Gord’s first official music gig was playing at his Public school for the Red Cross assemblies at age 10, however, this was playing 60s pop music. Then he heard Buck Owens and the Buckaroos and everything changed. The first country song he heard was Act Naturally.

At age 15 he was playing in some of the bars and community centres around the Ottawa Valley with his step-father Art Simpson. In 1988 Gord Barnes and Laredo was formed. This band played all over Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec under Phil’s Entertainment Agency. Gord has written a number of songs and released a self-titled CD in 1991 that included two original songs: If We Were Only Friends and Till the End of Time. Over the years, Gord has shared the stage with a few Nashville artists, such as Marty Haggard, Stonewall Jackson, Tommy Cash, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Moe Bandy.

After a 15 year absence from playing music, he returned where he left off. In 2014 he recorded his second album, Family, Friends and Favourites. It has been very well received and he has plans to record again very soon. Gord retired after 33 years with the City of Ottawa and is continuing with his love of music.

Gord is married to his lovely wife Gail and they have two children Derek and Natalie. Their first grand-child will be arriving in the fall of 2016.


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