The Brooklyn Kid

The raw story of Bob Hansen and how “The Brooklyn Kid” came to be.

Written by Cameron Lane Cook | Photographed by Cameron Lane Cook

Time tells tales - so do tattoos. People create connections - so do passions. Music evokes emotion - so do memories.

Such is the story of Bob Hansen, a man hailing from South Brooklyn. Bearded from ear to ear with wind-burnt cheeks shaded by his brow. He holds more interest than a first impression may tell, even his tattoos cause curiosity. His mystery is what truly defines him, and it begins with a notable title he is too humble to share himself.

Born in 1950 and growing up in the 1960’s era, Hansen thrived off expression, inevitably leading him to become infatuated with music and all the aspects of life it touches. He delved deep enough into his passion to come out an inspiration. In 2002, the classic Southern rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed wrote the song “Brooklyn Kid” to commemorate Hansen with a loose timeline of his life lived simply.

“Well, I got a friend that lives south of town, loves to sit and burn one down...” begins the tune of a humble man’s life story.

This title was not gained by his love of music or by his sense of mystery. Hansen, being a man with strong people-skills, was also a Vietnam veteran. As a veteran, he stayed connected with the men he considered brothers and was always seeking to meet the “three million – two million – or however many brothers are still out there.”

In 1999, while working as the chief custodial engineer at a local Methodist church, Hansen would use his coffee break to search the newspaper for positive articles about people involved in the church. He'd pin them to the church’s bulletin board on display. One Friday morning, in that same year, he came across an article titled “Oklahoma Rednecks Invade Stephenville, Texas” about Cross Canadian Ragweed playing a gig at City Limits, a local dance bar. Despite his love of music, what really caught his attention with this gig announcement was the mention of the band’s frontman, Cody Canada, and a song called “One Way Home” that he wrote for his father - a Vietnam veteran.

Hansen had a buddy named George, also a Vietnam veteran, who served in the 101st Airborne Division (“Screaming Eagles”), and, in Hansen's opinion – “a real soldier”.  They would meet up on weekends for a PTSD support group or to grab a drink while catching a local gig.

Wanting to meet another brother, Hansen told his scraggly comrade, “We’re not going to just hang out – we’re going to get front row...I wanna hear these guys.”

They showed up to a packed City Limits and the Oklahoma boys put on a show, but Hansen anticipated meeting Cody and speaking to him about his father, more so. Being regulars of the bar and these local gigs, and also very respected individuals, Hansen and George were able to stay past what was closing time for others until the crowd had cleared.

Hansen walked up to the merchandise table and asked a bandmate to tell Cody he would like to say hello. Instantly, Cody comes out from behind the table as Bob puts out his hand.

“I said ‘Cody, how’re you doing? My name is Bob Hansen. I am a Vietnam Vet from Brooklyn. Your dad’s my brother…Tell him I said Welcome Home’.”

Hansen said you could see the gratitude Cody's father would’ve had in that moment if he were there to hear it himself. He went on to mention the song Cody had written for his father, and that he was hoping to hear it played tonight but hadn’t.

“If you’re not in a hurry, I’ll go out in my van and get my guitar to play it for you,” Cody responded.

Of course, he wasn’t. George joined Hansen and four others that were traveling with the band around a pool table.

“He’s real serious in his playing, and I’m real serious in my listening…so not even halfway through I’ve got my eyes closed so I could really feel his passion…it got me tearing up, almost crying…a real heartfelt song.”

He couldn’t play an instrument, but the appreciation for music Hansen has is astounding, and you can see how it moved his soul. He joked that the only instrument he could play is the radio, and still not the best. It just goes to show his whole-hearted humor and appreciation for talent found in others. Living with the belief that experience defines an individual, there is nothing worth more to him than experiencing and supporting another individual’s passions, using it to mold yourself along the way

“Theoretically, since I was a music lover since I was six-years-old…I know the rough 'n tumble…the highways 'n byways…blowing up and down the country…”

Hansen offered up his home to Cody and the band, and his father, with a welcome-status equal to family. 

“If your dad is my brother, than that makes you my nephew.”

Cody and the numerous people that travel with him still to this day keep in touch with Bob and are still getting to know everything in his mind. It goes without saying that he kept on livin’ that simple life and remained joyful.

“Several years came and went, not one of them was poorly spent, a good man’s life he was chiselin’”, finishes the old tune.

The Brooklyn kid is a man with a stern disposition, but he never let his yearning for a fulfilled life disappear despite the experiences he's gone through.

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