Robert Eric "Lars" Laine -- Jazz Musician

 

 Robert Eric "Lars" Laine

Robert Eric “Lars” Laine was born on February 2, 1910 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of Franz Viktor and Gertrude Matilda Johansson Laine. During the early days of the depression Bob came to America and settled in New York City. Bob could not speak a word of English. His first job was as a dishwasher, but he was a talented jazz piano player.

After he learned to communicate better, he was invited to a party where he was asked to play the piano. A man at the party gave him his card and asked him to call him the next day. The following morning Bob went to meet the man and was ushered into a swank office. This is where he met Billy Fiske.  Billy said he liked his piano playing and wanted to help him form his own band and asked how much money he would need to start the band. Bob said, “$3,000” and Billy gave him a check for that amount.  A few years later, Billy Fiske, who had won gold on the U.S. Olympic Bobsledding team in 1928 and 1932, was the first American pilot killed in the Royal Air Force in 1940 at the beginning of World War II. Billy was a great benefactor for Bob Laine.

With Billy’s check, Bob was able to start his career as a jazz pianist and he became the first Swedish musician to make it on the America jazz scene.  He performed a solo act in the 1930’s at various New York City piano bars, among them the famous Stork Club and Nick’s. He later joined with other jazz groups and worked on a combination of swing and New Orleans jazz.  Several of his early works were documented on recordings.

Studio opportunities continued to follow him as he moved to the west coast in 1936. He spent three years working under bandleader Ben Pollack.  Ben’s band over time had included Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. Bob’s recordings released under r Pollack’s name on the Decca label, included "Cuddle Up a Little Closer," "Nobody's Gonna Take You from Me" and a song called "Morocco,"

On September 3, 1943, Bob married Iris Faye Riley in Los Angeles, California. Iris was born on November 6, 1919 in Texas, the daughter of Thomas Henry and Grace Underwood Riley. Thomas Henry was the great-grandson of Orren Dates Bridges. Bob and Iris had one child, Iris G. Laine who was born in 1957.

Laine served in the U. S. Army beginning in 1942 for four years.  He served primarily stateside during the war.  His activity in the 1950s involved more vocal music than jazz. The family moved around between Los Angeles, Hawaii and Las Vegas, finding crooners and warblers looking for accompaniment.

For the last 30 years of his life, Bob and Iris settled in Palm Springs, California where they became the owners and operators of the Lars Laine Art Gallery.

Bob died on December 30, 1997, at Monterey Palms Convalescent Hospital in Palm Desert, California.  He was buried in the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.

 Robert Laine at the far right

 

Robert Laine tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Robert Eric "Lars" Laine was the husband of Iris Faye Riley. Iris was the daughter of Thomas Henry and Grace Mabel Underwood Riley, granddaughter of William Sylvester and Mary Anne Hixon Riley and great-granddaughter of Thomas W. and Peachie Elizabeth Bridges Hixon.  Peachie was the first child of Orren Dates and Mary Elizabeth Hixon Bridges.  Orren Dates was the first child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Mary was the fifth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)