Laurie
Reggae / Jazz / R&B
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"guitars, vocals, percussion, songwriting"
Roxbury, Massachusetts
United States
Profile Views:
5129
Last Login:
10/7/2008
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http://www.myspace.com/laurierootz |
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| Laurie: General Info
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| Member Since | 10/17/2006 | | Band Website | myspace.com/laurierootz | | Band Members | Guitars: Ephiphone semi-hollow "Dot", Fender Strat, Ibanez AEG1 One nylon electric, Martin D-35 acoustic, Don José cuatro; Amps: Fender Deluxe 112plus, Roland Jazz Chorus 90, Fender Sidekick 25; Effects: Boss Phase Shifter PH-3, Boss Digital Delay DD-3, Boss Distortion DS-1, Dunlop Jimi Hendrix JH-1 wah | | Influences | Ernest Ranglin, Earl Chinna Smith, Junior Marvin, Tuff Lion, George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, John Scofield, B.B.King, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Walter Becker, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Paige, Brian May.......Peter Goldsmith, Debra Sarjeant, Charleston Sarjeant, Greg Pearlman, Kera Washington, Rajdulari, Ifé Franklin | | Sounds Like | reggae, jazz, r&b, neo-soul, funk, hip hop, rock, latin, world | | Type of Label | None |
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| About Laurie |
Laurie began playing music professionally in and around the Boston area in the late 80's when as a young performing songwriter she entered the contemporary folk scene in songwriting competitions, acoustic showcases and better known folk radio shows and Boston performance venues e.g. Passims and the Somerville Theater as a finalist at the 1993 Boston Songwriting Competition. During this time she released three albums of original material, including "Laurie Goldsmith", "After the Storm" and "Live n Kickin". She formed her backup band "The Rodeo Kids", toured with them to promote her third cd and received regular airplay on local radio, interviews and feature spotlights e.g. WERS, WGBH AND WUMB. Some of her songs were featured on "Acoustic Underground" on Oasis Records and other compilations featuring local and national songwriters. She also assisted other artists in the studio as a producer and session percussionist. Through this, Laurie also worked for many years as a full time clinical social worker, working with area youth and their families, and using her songwriting as a voice to help to illuminate the kind of mass injustice and inequality we all still continue to endure as One. In the early 90's, she traded in her acoustic guitar for an electric guitar, eager to expand her skills as an instrumentalist and to work in collaboration with other musicians. Over the next ten years, she played with a number of bands within a variety of genres, including "Voices From the River" (a gospel ensemble), "Jane's Bond" (a rock trio), "Sistahs of the Yam" (a r&b cover band), Zili Roots (a world music band, currently "Zili Misik"), and The Rajdulari Jazz Duo.
In 2003, Laurie felt the call to perform more frequently and went in search of a new project in which to join. With this opportunity for change, she embraced the genre of music that vibrated most fiercely in her heart: roots reggae. Still unsure of what her musical life would bring next, she forged into musical cyberspace and with grace in tow met musician and roots reggae lover Greg Pearlman from NH. Together they co-founded the 8 piece roots reggae band "Roots Nation" and steadily toured with them throughout New England until 2006. Roots Nation boasted a three piece horn section and three part vocal harmonies, singing originals and covers from the Studio One era of roots reggae. They shared the stage with such international acts as Steel Pulse, The Itals and The Meditations. During this time Laurie contributed several original songs and performed as lead and rhythm guitarist and lead and backup vocalist. Laurie also remained connected to her other life work with children and has worked as a lead early childhood educator for over 14 years as a lead teacher which includes teaching music and spanish to young children. Laurie has also written childrens songs and has co-recorded two albums of childrens music.
Laurie played with the Dis-n-Dat band
(www.myspace.com/disndatband) from 2006-2008. They released an 18 track album entitled Black Sheep" and toured New England and part time with UK reggae legend Pato Banton and Army from St Croix. They toured this summer with Pato Banton and Zema from Jamaica, as well as backing up Everton Blender and Turbulence at this year's Caribbean Seabreeze Festival in Long Beach, California. Laurie is also featured on Charleston Sarjeant's upcoming debut album of steel pan music entitled "Big Time" and is performing with his band "Pandemic Pan Jazz Orchestra" (pandemicpanjazz.com). In addition, Laurie performs swing, blues and bossa with sax player Nancy Loedy in the JP Jazztet (www.myspace.com/jpjazztet)
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