Robertson, Kathy (Kari)

Websites:  No
Origin: Scotland - Toronto - Ottawa, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Kari Robertson (formerly known as Kathy Robertson) is a Scottish-born Canadian folk singer-songwriter whose career blossomed in the vibrant folk club circuit of 1970s Toronto. Born in Scotland and raised in Toronto from infancy, Robertson began performing at age 14 in the city’s coffeehouses, honing her craft with a distinctive lyrical voice and a love for acoustic storytelling.

In 1972, she released a self-penned 45 on her own Hero Records label, recorded at ZaZa Sound Studios in Toronto. The single—featuring two original songs—found unexpected success, topping local charts in smaller markets such as Corner Brook, Newfoundland. That same year, she became an iconic visual figure in Canadian music culture when she appeared on the cover of the Hagstrom Guitar Catalogue. The photo was taken at Scarborough Bluffs after a chance encounter with a Hagstrom rep who saw her performing at The Moorings Lounge in Toronto. Touring Alberta at the time, she had bought the guitar out of necessity—her original six-string had warped in -40°C weather, and the only available replacement was a 12-string Hagstrom.

Her image as the “Hagstrom Girl” later resurfaced in pop culture when she was profiled by Kim Mitchell on Guitar Picks, decades after the catalogue had taken on cult status. At the time, few knew her identity due to her later name change and departure from the Canadian music scene.

Following the release, Robertson toured in the UK with established country acts and continued performing under her new name, Kari Robertson. In the early 1990s, she recorded a second project—issued on cassette and CD—shared only with local radio stations.

While her recording output is limited, her songs, story, and enduring image represent a unique chapter in Canadian independent music history. Her early musical influences included Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Nancy Ames, though she developed a voice uniquely her own—rooted in folk traditions but shaped by travel, resilience, and artistic independence.
-Robert Williston

Originally posted here Nov 26, 2011. Kari contacted me June 14, 2025.

Knockout Canadian psych-soul with killer vocals and a Joni Mitchell vibe – total obscurity and an amazing find.
Written by Kari Robertson
Produced by Paul Zaza