JEFFERSON CITY, MO. ? 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 City resident was diagnosed with the neurologic disease in 1994 and has faced challenges, but he 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.

Haslag said his hands continue to shake more and he has noticed his chin beginning to tremble from time to time.

“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.”

For a few years, Haslag left show business behind and joined the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Being a trooper didn’t stop his devotion to music or appearing on stage.

“I performed on The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour and also played The Orange Blossom Special,” Haslag said.

It wasn’t long until his first love brought him back to the Ozark Opry Show, where he played until 1974. Haslag then pursued a career in commercial and industrial art.

“I did a lot of the gold leafing at the Governor’s Mansion and I also did some renovations on the ceiling,” he said.

Again, music was never far from Haslag’s mind when working as a commercial artist, and he had the opportunity to have a jam session he will never forget.

“When I was working in the building, I would hear John Ashcroft, then governor of Missouri, banging away on the piano. He was very good,” Haslag said. “So I asked him if I could bring my fiddle in and play with him. That was probably the most memorable experience I’ve ever had.”

In 2001, Haslag was forced to retire because of Parkinson’s, but again returned to where it started for him. He decided to record an album in tribute to those he once played with at the Ozark Opry.

“Producing the CD required many hours and days of effort because of my limitations,” Haslag said. “I was determined not to give up and do it to the best of my ability.”

He said once he breaks even with the sale of some of his musical favorites, the rest of the proceeds will go to Parkinson’s research.

“Now that I can hear and see the results, it brings me a great sense of accomplishment and closure, since I may not be able to do this again,” he said. “I hope I can inspire others with this crippling disease not to give up.”