Robbie Tucker

To avoid any confusion as to who I am right away, I'll tell you so you can keep it on file. I am Robbie Tucker. I was born in the small community of what is now known as Miramichi, and within the most loving family that anyone could have ever hoped for. My mom Lois, and father Sherman, cared as much as they could for my older brother Jason, and I. From our front door I could see my grandmothers' (who I've always referred to as nanny) house, with its red trim and a honey suckle tree guarding her front door; the house was surrounded by trees and more grass than I ever cared to mow. I grew up in what some people could consider paradise. Summers were spent barbequing and swimming in the river that was visible from nanny's', which as I mentioned before was also in view from our front door. As a child the life I had was a good one.

Dinners and days passed, as I grew older and taller. In 1989 cancer abruptly took my mom leaving her family in a state of shock that was not easily absorbed. My father continued to drive trucks and support and love us as best he could. My father was forced to work and my brother began to go off with friends; I was left alone; well, not completely alone; I found a new best friend, music.

In 2003 I released my first album, The Ledden Street Sessions. It would prove to be one of my great accomplishments. Not having had much or any experience in recording, playing bass, drums or piano, I did a fairly good job at fooling people into believing I did. This album brought together an appreciation for and love of Elvis Presley’s, Roy Orbison’s and Paul McCartney’s music. They gave me a chance to see how my original material went down with others. These days, no matter where I am, when I write a new song, I'll call my dad and play it for him.

My dad bought me my first guitar and has always been supportive of my music career. I should also mention that he bought me my first set of drums, bass and digital recorder that were used in making The Ledden Street Sessions. Umm…yeah! And he also paid for half of its manufacturing and printing costs. Like I said, I couldn't have asked him for any more. He’s always been there for me. My album had landed me a summer gig doing theatre in Charlottetown and this without having to audition. Playing music and making people laugh, it was great. Not really knowing what to do with myself after that gig ended, I kicked around for a few months in Toronto, ON. I guess I started to feel lazy or something.

During my brief stay in Toronto, I was able to get booked on The Toronto Show, which was a pretty big deal for me. Unfortunately, after a bad rehearsal it was cancelled. And when I say badly, I mean bad on my part. I wasn't sure why but I was losing power in my voice and the fluidity in the movement of my performing abilities.

The cancellation of my first big Television appearance hit me pretty hard and I had a hard time shaking it off. At this point I began writing a new song, Betty’s' Summer Vacation, which would have been the second song I'd written since my debut in April 2003.

Feeling hurt by my lost television opportunity, a month or two later I retreated back home to my dads to gather my thoughts. I knew that I did not want to stay in Miramichi but I also didn't know where I was going to go. It was at this point that I came into contact with one of the guys I had done theatre with in Charlottetown. He was living in Halifax, NS doing theatre there and so I went down for a visit and ended up moving in with him, his brother and another guy I'd done theatre with. I felt good about the move, and everything else. But things were about to change.

Slowly I began to write more material and I fancied putting together a band and playing some shows featuring my original work. Nathan, my theatre buddy and then roommate quickly voiced his interest. With a few calls and a lot of imploding bass players I actually pulled it off. I had formed a band, the first since high school. Now the next step was playing some shows.

I had worked in my hometown of Miramichi at a restaurant for 3 - 4 years before my summer in Charlottetown. Though I told myself I would not return there, I found myself having a job opportunity at the same franchise in Halifax and since I had previous experience it made it very easy getting the job. This is when things started to seem a bit different. My ability to make drinks, roll forks, but most devastatingly and heartbreakingly my piano and guitar playing began to disintegrate. My inabilities to perform simple tasks got to such a point that I just couldn't function at work. I felt awkward, out of place and a touch useless.

In order to continue performing I had to switch off piano and re-work the songs, so I'd be able to play (hide behind) my guitar. My voice though not in top form, was much better than when I had been in Toronto. I began to notice some frequent back pains but attributed them to the constant moving of stage equipment.