Laurie Berkner Biography

Laurie Berkner has been a professional musician since 1992, but she was taken aback by her success as a children's recording artist. Laurie recalls, "It was so surprising." “I'd been in rock bands and was having trouble writing creative songs. It has not been difficult for me to compose music for children. The more I worked on children's literature, the more I discovered it unleashed a creative side of myself that I had never known existed.” Laurie's important contribution to starting what is now known as the progressive "kindie rock" trend – that is, less sugary, more rocking music that is not dumbed down for children – is widely acknowledged by reviewers these days. But it wasn't only Laurie's immense skill that helped to birth a whole genre and propelled her to her present status as "the queen of children's music" (People Magazine). It was also a capacity to pique the interest of parents in the tunes. “When I'm creating a song, I'm thinking about whether the kids will appreciate it and whether I'll be able to connect with them through it,” Laurie says. I'm also debating whether or not I want to sing it again and again, so I guess that's the bit that appeals to grownups. Old MacDonald Had A Farm is a fantastic children's song, but I couldn't sing it 100 times!” Laurie was constantly active in music as a child in Princeton, New Jersey, whether singing in choirs, playing in bands, or acting in musical theatre. She traveled Europe as a soloist and guitarist with various choirs and orchestras during high school and college (at Rutgers University). Laurie worked as a children's music expert in preschools and daycare facilities in the New York region for several years after graduation. Laurie found that working with children was the ideal creative outlet for her to showcase her skills and produce something that "has turned out to be extremely fulfilling." Laurie was the first recording artist to participate in a Nick Jr. music video and was a regular on the network's show Jack's Big Music Show. Sing It, Laurie!, a short-form animated musical preschool series that aired in the spring of 2013 on 24-hour preschool television channel Sprout, is her most recent television effort. Laurie's voice is used in Sing It, Laurie!, which also contains her original music composed for the series. Whaddaya Think Of That (1997), Buzz Buzz (1998), Victor Vito (1999), Under A Shady Tree (2002), Rocketship Run (2008), The Best Of The Laurie Berkner Band (2010), A Laurie Berkner Christmas (2012), Laurie Berkner Lullabies (2014), and The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection (2015) are among Laurie's nine best-selling and award-winning albums (2014). Her Two Tomatoes Records has produced two DVDs, We Are... The Laurie Berkner Band (2006) and Party Day! (2007), in collaboration with Razor & Tie Entertainment (2011). Laurie has written four books based on her songs, including two NOOK KidsTM e-books from Barnes & Noble. Laurie debuted in the theatre in 2013, writing the music and lyrics for Wanda's Monster, an Off-Broadway children's musical presented by Making Books Sing. The Amazing Adventures of Harvey and the Princess, which premiered in November 2014 at Theater 3 in NYC, will be her second children's musical theatre collaboration with Making Books Sing. Laurie Berkner's The Music in Me, a "Me and My Grown-Up" style program of preschool music sessions developed by Laurie Berkner, with teachers specially trained by Laurie, debuted in New York City in 2014. Laurie's audience continues to motivate her. “I want to write songs that are meaningful to kids,” she adds. “Once, while singing, I noticed a four-year-old child close her eyes and begin swaying to the music. "That's why I went into music," I reasoned. It piques my interest in doing more.” Laurie likes visiting the farmer's market for organic vegetables, knitting, motorcycling, and spending time with her husband, Brian, and their daughter, Lucy, when she is not producing music. They are residents of New York City.

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