THE TEAM
GORD O’BRIEN
Gord is a living legend. He is well known across the province, the country and different parts of the world, for his dedication to Newfoundland musicians and music appreciators alike. He has weathered many storms and has more stories up his sleeve than you can shake a stick at. He has been repairing accordions since the dawn of time and can fix any traditional instrument from fiddles to banjos and guitars. His easy-going nature encourages many “non-paying” customers to drop in and have a chat. He has no plans of retiring. His children (and co-workers) only recently convinced him to take Mondays off. Now he only works five days a week. He plays guitar in his spare time and has been the captain of his dart teams for ages at the Knights of Columbus.
MIKE O’BRIEN
Mike is told on a regular basis that he looks just like his father. He just smiles and nods. Mike has been dedicated to O’Brien’s Music since the age of thirteen. He was in computer school and worked a few terms in Ottawa for the federal government, but like most Newfoundlanders, missed Newfoundland. He went to work in the store full time when Roy Jr. left the business. Like his father, Mike contributes to all aspects of the business from repairing to selling to cleaning. Mike plays guitar and accordion and is often the life of the party. He is one minute older that his twin Angela, and lives for that minute. It’s the minute that makes him the big brother, older and wiser. He has an adaptable personality and can get along with any type of person. He has his loyal customers who only want to deal with him. Mike has no plans of leaving, and is in it for the long haul.
ANGELA O’BRIEN
Angela is proud to be a part of her family history, working at O’Brien’s. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts- Visual Arts degree and an Education degree from MUN and loves substituting in and around St. John’s. She plays the fiddle, mandolin and bodhran, a former member of The Celtic Fiddlers who’ve recorded and toured Ireland and Newfoundland. She teamed up with musician friend Allan Ricketts in 2009 and got to work painting and updating the shop, bringing out the original qualities from a hundred years ago. She is dedicated to keeping the shop fresh with a unique variety of instruments and providing top quality service. She’s grateful to be working alongside her brother and father, and hopes to live up to her late grandparents dreams of carrying on, making a living and being happy. As Nellie always said “Life is what you make it.”
