2019 Winner
Wise 50 Over 50 Award™
Robert Campbell + Cailin Green – Campbell + Green
www.CampbellAndGreen.ca
We formally began our songwriting & performance business when we moved to Nova Scotia from Vancouver in May of 2012. Robert was 56 and Cailin was almost 51.
We came to the realization that we wanted ‘more than the usual’ in our lives. We needed to find a way to fully express our creativity. Songwriting was the logical choice to find the challenge we were looking for, both being musicians and performers already.
To learn the craft, we began hosting House Concerts in our home around 2009, asking accomplished artists to lead songwriting workshops in addition to performing. We had the great privilege to learn from some excellent songwriters from Canada, UK and the US. The following three years led us to make a leap of faith and leave our ‘day jobs’ to focus solely on our music.
We have a strong belief that it is never too late to begin anew, so we sold our home in Maple Ridge and moved to East Preston, Nova Scotia – a small community on the outskirts of Halifax – to make a fresh start.
Campbell + Green is our moniker for writing and performing as singer-songwriters. Since 2012 we have written and co-written many songs. To date, we have recorded three full albums and one EP, have toured several times across Canada, and completed three successful tours through Europe. We recently garnered the 2019 International Singer-Songwriters Association ‘Album Of The Year’ Bronze Award and we are very honoured to now be part of the 50 Over 50 for 2019!
The music business has unique challenges for all artists and especially so for unknowns over 50. It has not been a bed of roses BUT it has been very rewarding. After seven years, our business continues to grow and provide us with unique challenges and opportunities. We never could have imagined we’d perform on television in the Netherlands, or have our music played on radio in Germany, let alone been to all the amazing places we’ve played across our own, vast country.
We have always been committed to community.
Robert has been a volunteer for numerous events including Director of Ceremonies & Events 2009 BC Disability Games; 5 years Chair & Producer Maple Ridge Jazz & Blues Festival (up to 5000 one day attendance); President of Meadowridge Rotary Club; and has donated whole blood over 78 times
Cailin was a founding partner in a successful community theatre troupe in the Vancouver area, directing, producing and performing; teaches guitar & voice, when not on tour; was a member of Rotary International and an active volunteer. Today, Cailin leads a ladies amateur pop choir of 20+ women, all over 50, called the Monday Music Mavens. The group meets every Monday afternoon and has become a loving and supportive community. Many members have expressed how their lives have been forever changed, leaving depression behind, overcoming grief, and finding new meaning & friendships in their lives.
We are also very fortunate to be “Artists on Board” with VIA Rail, playing for passengers from Halifax to Vancouver. For us, the best part of the music business is meeting a wide range of fascinating people. Learning about their lives, sharing our songs & stories and making personal connections is very rewarding. It shows us how unique and amazing the world community truly is.