Laird started playing music when he was 12 years old and then played in North Hagerstown (Md.) High School’s Hub Marching Band. As an adult, he played guitar and sang with several bands that entertained across the United States. Laird embraced music from many genres, revving up crowds with jazz, blues, soul, funk and Top 40 hits.
He also was instrumental in organizing the Western Maryland Blues Fest, Wind Down Friday at the Maryland Theatre and Augustoberfest - all in Washington County, Md., where he lived.
A week before Laird died suddenly in 2013, he was busy organizing a Pink Floyd tribute concert with his fellow musicians in a band called “Skweez Play.” Laird wanted to use profits from the event to help find used instruments and refurbish them for young people wanting to express themselves through music.
To carry out Laird’s wish and fill a growing need in the community, his widow, Brenda Bush, and friends started a drive to collect instruments for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s instrument bank. This little-known program has been in place for years. We like to say that the symphony built the engine, and the MIC program and the Laird Bush Music Education Fund is now fueling it with a robust collection drive.
