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Bios
Laurie Berkner has been a professional musician since 1992, but
her success as a children's recording artist was a surprise to
her. "It was so unexpected," says Laurie. "I'd been performing
in rock bands (including Lois Lane, an all-female cover band, as
well as her own original rock band, Red Onion) and struggling to
write original music. Writing music for kids has not been a
struggle at all. The more I started working on material for
children, the more I realized that it opened up creativity in me
that I never knew I had."
These days critics widely acknowledge Laurie's major
contribution toward launching what is now dubbed the progressive
"kindie rock" movement Ð that is, less saccharine, more rocking
music that is not dumbed down for children. But it wasn't
simply an enormous amount of talent that helped create an entire
genre and skyrocketed Laurie to her current position as "the
queen of children's music" (People Magazine). It was an ability
to gain parents' enthusiasm for the songs too. According to
Laurie, "When I'm writing a song, I'm thinking about whether the
kids will like it and whether I'm going to connect to them
through it. I'm also thinking about whether I want to sing it
over and over again, so I guess that's the part that connects
with adults. 'Old MacDonald Had A Farm' is a great song for
kids, but I couldn't sing it 100 times!"
While Laurie never planned to be a children's performer, looking
back on her career it almost seems inevitable. While growing up
in Princeton, New Jersey, Laurie was always involved in music,
whether singing in choirs, playing in bands, or performing in
musical theater. Laurie recalls enjoying Gilbert and Sullivan
operettas and Broadway musicals ("especially ones starring Julie
Andrews!") as a young child, as well as Simon & Garfunkel and
Marlo Thomas' 'Free To Be You And Me' album. In high school and
throughout college (at Rutgers University), she toured Europe
with several choirs and orchestras as a soloist and guitarist.
After graduation, Laurie worked at summer camps and then spent
several years as a children's music specialist at New York area
preschool and day care centers. Working with children became
the perfect creative outlet for Laurie to express her talents
and create something that, she says, "has turned out to be
incredibly rewarding."
Laurie's first release in 1997, Whaddaya Think Of That?
(only available on cassette at the time) was inspired by the
parents of her young students. "The children were really
responding to the music we created together," explains Laurie.
Many of the songs involve movement, and all of them invite
children's participation. Songs such as "We Are The Dinosaurs"
(now considered "a stone-cold classic" by noted children's music
critic Stefan Shepherd) allow children to express anger and to
feel powerful, while quieter songs inspire feelings of security
and warmth.
By the time she released her second CD in 1998, the irresistibly
catchy Buzz Buzz (the title track is an in-concert favorite),
Laurie had formed her own record company, Two Tomatoes Records,
LLC. Her work began to sell briskly in the New York area as
word of mouth began to spread and critical acclaim for her
inventive, playful and well-crafted songs began pouring in.
Laurie's third release, Victor Vito (1999) drew her first
stellar reviews in the national media. Us Magazine proclaimed,
"The title cut has already become a birthday party anthem."
Laurie began performing live with Susie Lampert on keyboards,
later adding Laurie's husband Brian Mueller on bass, and thus
the first incarnation of The Laurie Berkner Band was born. The
trio began performing high-energy live shows that inspired tots
to form kiddie mosh pits and throw stuffed animals on the stage.
After their national TV debut on the "Today Show" in 2001, the
band's fan base grew so much that Laurie was able to move Two
Tomatoes Records out of her one-bedroom apartment into a real
office.
Laurie's fourth studio CD, Under A Shady Tree (2002), garnered
multiple awards, including a N.A.P.P.A. Gold Award and a
Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award. Critics singled out the
recording as one of the best of the year. In 2003, Laurie's
"hip" quotient rose when Entertainment Weekly proclaimed her the
"in" children's performer, and HBO's "Sex & The City" used one
of her songs for an episode (she later sang her own version of
the theme song for the Showtime TV program "Weeds").
2004 marked a major turning point for the band. Laurie, Brian
and Susie made their debut on the Nick Jr. TV channel (formerly
called Noggin, it is Nickelodeon's educational, commercial-free
preschool sister station) with a series of six music videos
airing throughout the day's programming as part of the network's
"Move To The Music" series. Laurie admits, "I didn't really
anticipate the impact being on TV would have." Indeed, the
exposure on national television made her a household hit to
millions and sent sales of the band's CDs soaring -- hitting
Billboard's ÔTop Internet Album Sales' and ÔTop Kid Audio'
charts.
The network then asked Laurie to guest star in its' new original
half-hour series "Jack's Big Music Show." Laurie is featured
in nearly every episode. Hosted by Jack, a preschooler puppet
with a backyard clubhouse, the show features videos and
in-studio performances by varied artists. "The accessibility
and the combination of the visual with the music is a positive
way to connect with kids and their parents," says Laurie. "The
kids really love it, and the parents go from thinking ÔPlease be
something I can tolerate' to being moved by it themselves."
In February, 2006, the band co-released their first DVD, We are
...The Laurie Berkner Band (Two Tomatoes Records, LLC/Razor &
Tie Entertainment/Starbucks Hear Music), produced by
award-winning children's film producer Jane Startz. Packaged
with a compilation CD, the DVD entered Billboard's Top Music
Video chart at #1, where it stayed for six weeks, and went
quadruple platinum. We are...The Laurie Berkner Band marked
the first time Starbucks Hear Music co-released a family title.
Prior to the DVD release, Laurie and Brian made a joint decision
that it was best for them to keep their work and family lives
separate. Brian's departure from the band left him free to go
back to school and pursue a graduate degree in psychology, while
Adam Bernstein, who performed on bass for Laurie's first three
CDs, happily stepped in. The new trio performed in the Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade® at the end of 2006.
2008 saw the release of the long-awaited CD Rocketship Run.
Says Laurie, "It's a much more collaborative effort than I have
ever done before. We arranged most of the songs as a band,
Susie and Adam have both contributed songs, and I co-produced
the album with Bob Golden, who recorded/produced the sound for
all our Nick Jr. videos and our DVD." Laurie, Adam and Susie
were happy to welcome Bob as an official member of the band (on
drums/percussion) the following year.
In June 2010, Laurie released her first-ever compilation of
songs, The Best Of The Laurie Berkner Band. All five of the
band's CDs are represented, along with special bonus tracks
including a new song, "Open Your Heart," which was written for
the children's charity The Pajama Program. A deluxe digital
version features four videos including the new "Mouse In My
Toolbox."
Laurie continues to be inspired by her audience. "I want to
create songs that matter for children," she says. "I was
singing once and saw a four-year-old girl shut her eyes and
start swaying to the music. I thought, ÔThat's the reason I got
into music.' It keeps me wanting to do more."
Laurie is the author of two picture book-with-CDs based on her
songs, Victor Vito and Freddie Vasco, and The Story of My
Feelings (Orchard Books). She has also released a sheet music
compilation, The Laurie Berkner Songbook (Music Sales Group) and
is featured on a software cartridge that accompanies
Fisher-Price's® award-winning toy, Learn Through Music Plus.
When she's not making music, Laurie enjoys visiting the farmer's
market for organic produce, making pottery, biking and spending
time with Brian and their young daughter Lucy. They live in New
York City.
The Laurie Berkner Band are: Laurie Berkner (guitar/vocals),
Susie Lampert (keyboards), Adam Bernstein (bass) and Bob Golden
(drums/percussion). Their concerts have been held across
America at venues from the White House to Carnegie Hall.
Susie Lampert grew up in Pomona, NY in a large family with five
siblings, dogs and cats. From an early age, she loved music and
played piano. Her first live venture came at age 15, playing in
a jazz group influenced by Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, John
Coltrane and Lee Morgan, among others.
That same year, Susie hooked up with a punk band called Ruby and
the Rednecks, which became the house band for New York City's
Playhouse of the Ridiculous. She wrote music for and played
keyboards in a number of Off-Off-Broadway plays, and shared
stages at legendary NYC venues Max's Kansas City and CBGB's with
such infamous musicians as Iggy Pop and The New York Dolls (Ruby
and the Rednecks have survived and Susie and the band are as of
2006 working on a second CD).
Susie performed in many other bands throughout the years, in
genres ranging from Country to Bluegrass to Rock. During the
early '80s, she discovered Milton Nascimento and Brazilian
music, and found herself "enraptured and forever changed." She
learned Portuguese and traveled to Brazil frequently to buy
records and become acquainted with the culture. During those
years, she also became a registered nurse and worked part-time
while pursuing her music.
Susie met Laurie Berkner over 10 years ago when they were both
working at New York City's Rockefeller University. Laurie was a
preschool music teacher, and Susie was a research nurse. Says
Susie of their first meeting, "Laurie was sprawled out on the
floor, lost under her headphones with her eyes closed, listening
intently. An aerobics class was assembling around her and I
intervened, suggesting she might want to make way for the class,
and asked her what she was listening to.... It was her own band
(adult music) and she shared the tape with me. We made a fast
and deep connection, resulting in spending three years gigging
with Lois Lane, an all-female cover band. When Laurie left the
band to pursue her kids' music career I joined her playing
schools, libraries etc. as a duo. The rest everybody knows!"
These days, Susie is excited with her musical life. She not only
sang and played keyboards on 2008's 'Rocketship Run,' she also
wrote several songs and co-arranged much of the album's music
with her bandmates. Susie relishes time with her long-term
boyfriend, family, friends and cats. She enjoys her daily
meditation practice, yoga and samba, as well as her special time
with her fairy godchild, otherwise known as Laurie's daughter,
Lucy Day Mueller.
Adam Bernstein is no stranger to performing with Laurie! Adam
played bass on Laurie Berkner's first three award-winning and
critically acclaimed releases, 1997's 'Whaddaya Think Of That?',
1998's 'Buzz Buzz,' and 1999's 'Victor Vito' before officially
joining the band. On 2008's 'Rocketship Run,' in addition to
singing and playing bass and electric guitar, Adam also
contributed his songwriting and arranging talents.
An accomplished composer, arranger and educator as well as
bassist, Adam led the successful folk/rock/klezmer/funk 14-piece
big band All God's Children for six years. The Aquarian Weekly
(NJ) named Adam "Best Bassist" and the band "Best Band" in 1993.
He later performed and/or recorded with a wide range of talented
musicians and dancers, including Levon Helm, Sahib Shihab, Perry
Robinson, Walter Perkins, Ethel (string quartet), Teocinte (from
El Salvador), Jack Hardy, Claire Daly, The Angstones, Solar,
David Driver, Sean Altman and Jennifer Muller/The Works.
In 1990 Adam toured Japan with Hilario Soto's Higher Culture,
and in 1993 studied percussion at the Escuela Nacional De
Danzaq Moderna Y Folklorica in Havana, Cuba. As a composer and
arranger, Adam co-arranged the score for a television program
on Groucho Marx that aired on the A&E network's popular series
"Biography." He has composed many scores for dance, performed
at Columbia and Rutgers universities as well as other
performance spaces.
In 1998, while continuing to perform and record, Adam turned his
attention toward jazz education. He is the jazz director at the
Berkeley-Carroll School in Brooklyn, NY and on the faculty at
Jazz at Lincoln Center. He received a proclamation for his
outstanding work in jazz education from Brooklyn Borough
president Marty Markowitz on June 3, 2005.
Laurie contributed to Adam's latest CD, 'Dust Off the Timeless
Night.' Produced by They Might Be Giants drummer Marty Beller,
the CD is an original collection of pop gems with thoughtful
lyrics and fine musicianship. Says Laurie, "I'm proud to have
been a part of this album. In listening, I am transported to a
world of soulful grooves and heartfelt melodies that have
quickly become familiar friends."
Find out more about Adam at adam-bernstein.com.
Bob Golden joined The Laurie Berkner Band as an official member in the spring of 2009.
Says Laurie, "Bob Golden is the perfect fit for our band. He's a great drummer who is
extremely creative with every sound that he brings to each song. His playful energy and
strong musicianship is just right for our live shows and recordings. He's also a
wonderful guy and a great engineer and producer. We're so happy and lucky to be working
with him!"
Laurie and Bob met on the set of "Jack's Big Music Show," for which he was writing and
producing songs. Laurie asked him to co-produce 2006's "We are . . . The Laurie Berkner
Band" DVD, and 2008's "Rocketship Run" CD, on which he also performed on drums,
percussion and miscellaneous instruments as well as orchestrating several songs. Bob
later began performing with the band at live shows.
Bob's prolific television career has included writing and producing songs for Nick Jr's
"Dora The Explorer" and "The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss"; PBS' "Sesame Street",
"Gullah Gullah Island", "Lamb Chop's Play-Along" and "Seemore's Playhouse"; Noggin's
"Jack's Big Music Show"; Disney's "Out of the Box" and HBO's "Jammin' Animals." Bob
collaborated with Jonathan Larson (the late Tony and Pulitzer prize winning author of
"Rent") on the popular children's video entitled, "Away We Go!" (http://away-we-go.net/).
He has scored numerous documentaries and was music director, music producer, and theme
song composer for "Insomniac With Dave Attell"; "Craft Corner Deathmatch"; "Code Blue";
"Strangers with Candy"; "The Gong Show with Dave Attell"; Martha Stewart's "Home for the
Holidays" and the Sundance channel's "Festival Dailies."
Bob also wrote and produced music for Michael Moore's television series "TV Nation" and
"The Awful Truth," as well as for the award winning films, "Bowling for Columbine,"
"Fahrenheit 911" and "Capitalism: A Love Story." Bob composed all the music for the
upcoming (2010) film "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks." He currently
peforms on drums for the house band on NBC's "30 Rock" and appeared as a drummer in the
movies "The 10" (2007), for which he produced the closing song, and "What Happens In
Vegas" (2008).
Bob co-authored the books "The Jerky Boys: The Book," (1995) and "Why Didn't I Think of
That?" (1997) and co-wrote AOL's first online interactive game for kids, "The Quest."
A graduate of Brown University, Bob is an accomplished potter. He loves to surf, ski and
make candles, gives a great massage and is a Leo!
Tobie Baldwin teaches Elementary Band in South Plainfield, NJ.
As a free lance Tenor/ Bass Trombonist/ Euophoniumist, he has performed
in a variety of settings throughout the Metropolitan Area of New York.
Proficient in many styles of music, Mr. Baldwin is at home
sitting in a big band, playing in a rock band, orchestra, concert band,
playing chamber music or any other musical setting you can think of.
Michael Feldstein isn't actually a musician, but he plays one on CDs.
He is, however, actually a Googlehead.
Andrew began his musical exploration with the granddaddy of all
instruments, the accordion. After getting beat up a couple of
times he branched out to guitar, trumpet, and other not quite so
geeky endeavors. Andrew has been hard at work scoring film, TV,
and multimedia www.turnaroundmusic.com
He can also be found playing gigs of various genres, including
rock, soul, funk, and most notably The Andrew Maroko Group (see
picture), which is a jazz ensemble who have just released their
debut album Conscious Effort, www.turnaroundmusic.com/amg.
Brian Mueller grew up in New York and New Jersey. He began his
life in music playing viola in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth
Orchestra. Later, he played amplified viola with experimental
rock groups and over the years started playing electric bass and
guitar with various original rock bands.
Laurie's husband, Brian appears on the band's first
four CDs as well as on the DVD. He performed live
with Laurie and Susie from 2000 until early 2006, and
is now pursuing a masters degree in psychology.
You probably already know Owusu. He can be found playing his
rimmed-with-bells conga drum on the platform of the 59th St.
subway at Columbus Circle in New York City. He and his drum are
one.
Engineer extraordinaire, piano, baritone sax, melodica, drums,
vocals and various percussive instruments in all three albums
Joe Ruddick is a pianist, saxophonist, synthesist, composer,
arranger and producer. In addition to his work with
Laurie---engineering/mixing her CD's and contributing
instrumental playing as well as some whooping and
hollering---Joe's music has been featured in live performance
all over the US and Europe; on television on MTV, Bravo, TV
Land, and Nick at Nite; on many film scores; and on CD with
projects ranging from "Dewdrops in the Garden" by the
platinum-selling pop group DEEE-LITE to jazz and avant garde
recordings with--among others--Phillip Johnston, William Parker
and Rachelle Garniez. Joe has been described as "some kind of
genius" by Options Magazine and "brilliant" by Down Beat
Magazine.
Kevin loves the crap out of kids. That's why he's a playing
fool, and looks after little humans in his spare time as a
doctorish-guy. He also loves the ska, motown, and jazz and can
be seen from Newark to NYC on the trombone. He wishes you
freedom, and encourages you to give him a call. "Let's git
together."
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