Inducted in 2024
A very humble, quiet man, Bob McDonald is a renowned steel guitar musician, widely sought after and appreciated for his musical talent and ability. He has been playing the steel for more than 50 years, having learned the art from his father, Len McDonald.
A master of his instrument, Bob has shared his talent with many local bands as well as touring Canada and the United States. In or about 1974-75, while living in Ontario with the “Singing PostFamily” and playing around the Bellville area, Bob had the opportunity to tour across eastern Canada from Ontario to Nova Scotia with George Hamilton IV.
In 1982, after moving back to Nova Scotia, he joined “Boothill,” a well-known band at that time in the Halifax circuit. Later that same year, along with Art Fitt and Stallion, Bob played a very busy western Canada tour with Ronnie Prophet, performing in 15 cities in 16 days.
By 1983, he became part of the band called “One Way Rider” giving him the opportunity to play for George Jones when George was in Dartmouth. This also landed him a job on the TV show called “Country East.”
By 1984, Bob had joined the Joey Knight show band and was playing all around New Brunswick and doing showcases in Nashville. In early 1988 Bob took a short leave from playing, but by the mid 1990's he was back at playing with local bands in the Halifax-Dartmouth area.
In 2006 and 2007, he joined Frank Lowe and the “Side Kixx Band” out of Halifax, opening for Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill at “Country Rocks the Hill” in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Bob has appeared on several TV programs over the years, including “Country Time,” “The Gazette,” and with Frank Spinney. He also played on the TV Series with Bell TV in or about 2020.
Bob can be seen at many local venues on a monthly basis and has been the steel player for the house bands at the Fox Mountain Country Music Festivals for the past 18 years. Currently, he performs with Ruth Manning and The Prospectors doing shows in and around the Annapolis Valley.
Bob was inducted into the Atlantic Steel Guitar Club Hall of Fame in 2020.
