Kim Robins started her music career at age 5 when she sang along with her father’s country band. Forty years later, she is pursuing her music career that was halted as a teenager. She and her band, now appropriately named Kim Robins and 40 Years Late, will perform their first real show this year at Silver Lake Days. When she was younger, Robins traveled with her father and his band throughout Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. During this time, she met a disc jockey with the radio station WIRE, Lee Shannon, who helped give her many opportunities to perform. She eventually was the opening act for Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell and The Oak Ridge Boys. She sang with her father’s band until she was 17 years old. At 19, she was ready to go to college and she realized she was pregnant. She put her musical career on pause to raise her daughter. “At the time it was more important to give my daughter a home and a life and provide for her than to pursue music,” she said. “It was more about a good life for her.” While raising her daughter and earning two college degrees, Robins still sang a little bit in her spare time. She would spend hours on the highway, reflecting on her life. She knew she still wanted to pursue her music career and all she could think was “someone else was living my dream.” Many of her song lyrics reflect her time on the road. Robins is now a bluegrass artist. She thinks her voice sounds more country, and she said that many other female vocalists can sing higher than she can. This is also part of her appeal because her different sound separates her from most bluegrass artists, she said. She also plays the guitar but said she is fortunate to have a talented band consisting of Spencer Salle, Jeremy Morris, Tobe Woodrough, Caleb Garrett and Dennis Lane, because that takes some stress off of her while she’s singing. Her band consists of musicians from across the state – Alexville, Fishers, Muncie, Westfield and Silver Lake. She is from Bloomington, but she is the one that makes the long drives to practice with her band. They practice twice weekly and perform at nearby flea markets. The band released its debut album “40 Years Late” on Feb. 5, 2013. It was the number six most downloaded bluegrass album and number one on Indiana American Roots charts. The band has opened for JR Sisk and Ramblers, and Bobby Osborne. They also performed for The Folk Alliance, Merlefest and Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival. They recently found out they will be opening for first-generation bluegrass artist Ralph Stanley this summer. The entire band also is excited for Silver Lake Days to be their first real show of the year. Band member Spencer Sallee has family in Silver Lake, and when the band was asked if they would perform, it was a yes for everyone. “We have a great sound system, we’re ready to go,” Robins said. She said performing at a town festival will be a nice change of pace because the band will have more creative freedom. “Sometimes you can’t be yourself,” she said. “It’s fun to come to a town festival that doesn’t have rules.” Kim Robins and 40 Years Late are scheduled to perform a four-hour set June 19 in the downtown area of Silver Lake, starting at 8 p.m. She said she is excited to spread their name across the state and make some new fans. Even though she is a seasoned performer, Robins admits she still gets a little nervous. “It’s really just excitement. Hopefully this show is successful and they have us back,” she said. “I know it’s going to be a beautiful night.”
