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My Unsung Hero : Don Laird Jr.

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Looking back to the 1980s I believe I was at the height of early creative work with many projects . Going from one to the other were threads characterized by unique unsung heros, that I thought would never die.


This blog post is about my collaboration with Don Laird Jr. ( brother of Peter Laird of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Fame). Don was acting resident director of Fort Ontario, Oswego, and I met him following an ad I placed in The Syracuse New Times for a composer and singing partner.

I had my fill of traveling with a show band, and creating a libretto for a light opera. I had done single song projects with CNY locals, Jason Kessler and Rob Orizino.

I had something more in me, to simply find an able acoustic guitarist and make and sing songs. My emotional nature was spilling out countless pieces on notebook paper and I was searching for someone to help me determine if they were worthy of song. As always, I was seeking a new adventure.


When Don replied, it was a promising phone conversation. We both liked some of the same older music, clicked with other tastes and soon I drove the 45 minutes to Fort Ontario to meet him.

His training in classical music and a solid tenor singing voice blended well with my emotional, story telling lyrics , and it was an amazing scenic setting to ignite more of my creativity.

He stayed in the house on the grounds of Fort Ontario, and entertained me ( on an old piano ) with the music of former historically charged music eras. I heard " Whiskey in the Jar" , and older spiritual songs like, " Wayfaring Stranger " .

Practicing harmonies were effortless for me though I had no formal music training and could not even read music. I heard the harmony in my head and if the composition was logical enough in my range , I could sing right through. On the other hand, Don had complete classical music training and could alter keys easily to suit our song .


The pattern became me traveling, leaving a new set of lyrics on his old piano , and taking a walk by the lake. On more than a few occasions, I would return maybe 30 minutes later and Don would be producing a melody from the lyrics.


We produced about 13 songs together, presented historical musical events for elementary schools, performed at holiday events in malls, and went into an East Syracuse Studio one afternoon and put everything original on cassette ( the style of capturing music way back then , lol) .


Years later, in South Florida, with another song writing partner ( she'll be another blog) , I needed a strong song to add to our 11 song CD , produced in Hollywood, Florida in the Fall of 2006. I shared the song. " When Mexico Was Mine" , with Don. When it was produced in Syracuse. Don sang lead ,I was harmony. I wanted to reach him to get his permission to produce the song with my lead and other harmony for our CD.


When I attempted to Google him ( thinking he probably long retired and moved) I got a memorial site. Don had passed away. I spent a few hours in mourning and shock.

I knew he would want our songs to live on. And I found contact information for his brother Peter Laird.

Peter shared that Don had worked for the Marine Museum in Oswego , not yet vested in health insurance. Cancer appeared to have taken his brother.

Peter was fine with my use of any songs, just suggesting that if I produced shows with the music and could manage a fund raiser for the Marine Museum, that would be fine. He needed no compensation from me.

Now, in 2025, I have started to dig into my stash of collaborative work, starting with my childhood poetry, and when I play or sing, " When Mexico was Mine", I think of walking around Fort Ontario, and rejoining my friend at his piano . Time stands still and then , my life refreshes as more light graces a path further down the road.

Which is what the unsung Heros of our life do for us

as their memories live on .










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