Bob Snider Bio

"Who is Bob Snider?" I asked him. He didn't know. "Regarding music, or the words part of songwriting", he says.
"I seem to have a twist in my brain that associates words. In rhyming and in other ways. I know this goes way back so I guess you could call it a knack. If I can take any credit for it, it's just that I've always enjoyed playing with this knack If one can take credit for enjoying something."

In the winter of 1986, he started writing songs. Tens years later his CD Words and Pictures, was nominated for Juno Award in the Best Roots Album category.

In between these two points? He says:
"I was finishing my house in Nova Scotia and I started picking up the guitar. I played a little guitar now and then but that was all. Suddenly I got interested and almost at once a song popped out. This was Coffee Break Blues, in short by the end of that winter I had 8 or 10 original songs, 4 of them brand new. In the spring I decided to take my act back to my home town of Toronto. People liked my songs and I met with I think great success right off the bat. I went to open stages, busked on the street and people started hiring m. All the while I kept writing songs. One self declared fan Howard Druckman, offered to manage me. He got things organized and they began to happen."

Like a publishing deal with Peermusic and a record deal with EMI Music Canada. Like rave reviews in newspapers across the country and verdicts of Genius" "National Treasure", " Folk Hero", and " Living Legend".

"What did you think of all that?"
"Well, the ego side of me loved I, but the other side wondered how it could be translated into dollars".

Musicians covered his music and even put out a compilation CD of 20 bands playing songs by Bob Snider There was touring, folk festivals, radio play and TV exposure, all the while winning many and diverse fans. The CBC has been a constant friend, as has campus radio. A TV show or two has used excerpts of his music. He was nominated for 2 East Coast Music Awards.

Things were off the ground and flying for awhile there, so what happened?
"Aha! Lets see now. There are a few short answers so I will try and think of them
1) bar burn out. It's something every musician has to deal with. My act is not built for it.
2) It is a serious business and requires a commitment I was not prepared to make.
3) I was not inclined at that time to all the travel involved
4) I must be told what to do, not allowed to wander aimlessly around and decide for myself.
Those are 4 factors. There were others."

What's Up Now?
"Well Borealis Records found me and offered me a deal. Now with my friend and producer, arranger and guitar player David Baxter and a bunch of well loved friends we have made a new record and I hope to run around some more and play music and promote the record."

"Why are you jumping up and down?"
"I want to plug the album!"

"Oh, go ahead"
"Thank you, thank you, It's called 'Lots of Bob'"

The albums name was later changed to 'Stealin' Home'

Quotes and Blurbs

' Bob Snider….author of some of the best Canadian songs of the decade' Dave Bidini Toronto Star

The wily, witty Snider regularly bags rousing ovations…. He can charm a laugh out of the most cynical music vet' Christopher Jones, Words and Music Magazine

We love Bob Snider…. He's an amazing songwriter and an amazing personality' Steven Page, Barenaked Ladies

Bob's a living legend…. His sheer ability to entertain commands respect, and there's no one more deserving of a serious listen' Robert Earl Keen Jr. Exclaim Magazine

'To see this man sing such exquisitely crafted tunes with such melody and feeling is a truly remarkable musical experience… a talent not to be missed Mark de Boer Exclaim Magazine

'One of our best songwriters' Jenny Punter, Soundcan magazine

Incredibly witty songs John Keily Kitchener Waterloo Record

Observant, often hilarious songs built of such sturdy, natural simplicity, you'd think they had written themselves' Tom Harrison, Vancouver Province

'The songwriters songwriter' Sandy MacDonald The daily News, Halifax

"…he performed a set of simple, homespun blues and folk that his fans know so well but never seem to tire of…if there would be one folk singer to carry the flag for the genre, Snider would make an ideal representative. He embodies everything that is good about folk' James Marck NOW Magazine

'When Bob Snider picks up his classical guitar and starts to sing, it's a pure and powerful expression Mike Beggs EYE Magazine

You can also find Biographies of Bob Snider at:

Borealias Records

Peermusic Canada

Jam! Music (with articles from the Edmonton Sun, and the Toronto Sun)

The Stan Rogers Folk Festival

Canadian Online Musicians' Association (COMA)

Courage Artists + Touring

HUGHSRoom

Interviews

Mote MGZN

Cosmic Debris Musicians Magazine