Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Leroy Haslag - Fiddling around foils Parkinson's
From the Jefferson City (MO) News Tribune
Daily tasks like tying his shoes, buttoning his shirt or brushing his teeth aren't easy for Leroy Haslag. But Parkinson's disease hasn't kept him from playing his beloved fiddle.
The Jefferson Citian was diagnosed with the neurologic disease in 1994 and has faced challenges, but said he won't give up. Some typical characteristics of Parkinson's are a fixed, inexpressive face, tremors, slowing of voluntary movements and muscle weakness.
"When I play the fiddle, though, the tremors aren't nearly as bad," he said. "My hand and chin are much steadier during those times, but I can't play like I once did."
Haslag grew up in Loose Creek and started playing the fiddle at an early age. After learning a few waltzes and hoe-downs, he joined a band at the age of 16.
By the time he was 19, he had won several fiddle contests and even took first runner up in the Missouri State Fiddlers Contest. In 1963, Haslag's joined Lee Mace's Ozark Opry at Lake Ozark. The schedule was grueling, but he said he enjoyed his job.
"We would play 10 shows a week to about 10,000 people each week," he said. "We also had a live television show on KRCG, so we kept very busy."
Read the article
Jefferson City News Tribune
Daily tasks like tying his shoes, buttoning his shirt or brushing his teeth aren't easy for Leroy Haslag. But Parkinson's disease hasn't kept him from playing his beloved fiddle.
The Jefferson Citian was diagnosed with the neurologic disease in 1994 and has faced challenges, but said he won't give up. Some typical characteristics of Parkinson's are a fixed, inexpressive face, tremors, slowing of voluntary movements and muscle weakness.
"When I play the fiddle, though, the tremors aren't nearly as bad," he said. "My hand and chin are much steadier during those times, but I can't play like I once did."
Haslag grew up in Loose Creek and started playing the fiddle at an early age. After learning a few waltzes and hoe-downs, he joined a band at the age of 16.
By the time he was 19, he had won several fiddle contests and even took first runner up in the Missouri State Fiddlers Contest. In 1963, Haslag's joined Lee Mace's Ozark Opry at Lake Ozark. The schedule was grueling, but he said he enjoyed his job.
"We would play 10 shows a week to about 10,000 people each week," he said. "We also had a live television show on KRCG, so we kept very busy."
Read the article
Jefferson City News Tribune
# posted by Dave Sichak @ 10:38 AM 
