Call it a comeback if you will, but you can always call Robert Ossem Hagan — “awesome.”
Hagan, 69, has a storied career performing across the globe as a solo artist and with groups and now he’s looking to revitalize his main act, Awesome Bob’s One-Man Variety Band. He’s set up a show from 6-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at the Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, with an $8 cover charge.
Since moving to Sequim, he’s married his wife Sue but he’s experienced some hardships while trying to break back into the local music scene.
Hagan said he’s had quadruple heart bypass, a pacemaker installed and he most recently broke his neck in two places after swerving to avoid a deer in his car. Since recovering, he’s lost a few gigs at local hotspots, so he’s hoping to turn to more private functions such as weddings, birthdays, benefits, events and festivals.
“I came here fully intending to retire, but I ran into a community with many octogenarians in it still performing who are so inspirational,” Hagan said.
In his short years here, he’s played trumpet with the Sequim City Band and Peninsula College Jazz Ensemble and he continues to play and sing with the Stardust Big Band.
The band plays at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the James Center for Performing Arts in Carrie Blake Park to finish its summer-long Music in the Park series. They also play at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, in 7 Cedars Casino.
But Hagan craves playing more solo shows singing and playing piano and trumpet to more than 3,000 songs from all genres and generations.
“It’s songs that I grew up with from pop to country to rock to standards,” he said. “I play whatever kind of music you like. You just have to ask.”
Hagan said he wants people to come in with an open mind that his shows are a full experience.
“It’s an art to play my part and not clash with what’s pre-recorded material,” he said. “It’s all live.”
About Bob
Prior to Sequim, Hagan performed regularly at the Lake of the Ozarks resort for about 10 years including some marathon performances lasting 10-plus hours for incoming and outgoing tourists.
Over the years, he’s performed with big names like Bob Hope in Viet Nam and for Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. He even went far in a Nashville, Tenn., TV show contest, “You Can Be a Star” in 1985, beating out 3,000 groups to be on the show performing original songs.
Following prompting from audiences and other musicians, Hagan eventually embraced his stage name “Awesome Bob” and legally changed his middle name to “Ossem” more than 25 years ago.
He also went to the U.S. Navy School of Music and received five combat stars for being on a ship in combat. He spent more than 18 years performing in Pensacola, Fla., too.
But accolades aside, Hagan wants people to know he can do the job of a big band.
For more information on Hagan’s music, visit www.awesomebobonline.com, or email awesome.bob48@gmail.com. Watch videos of Hagan performing as “Awesome Bob” and as a contestant on “You Can Be a Star” at youtube.com/user/RobertOssemHagan.
Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
Robert Hagan, seen here singing with the Stardust Big Band, plays as his alter-ego “Awesome Bob” on Sunday at the Sequim Elks. He also performs with the Big Band on Aug. 29 at Carrie Blake Park and Aug. 31 at 7 Cedars Casino. Submitted photo
Robert Ossem Hagan, aka Awesome Bob, plays at the Sequim Elks Lodge at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. He hopes the show kickstarts interest in his one-man variety band playing special events and shows in the area. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
