Laurie Beebe Lewis (born Laurie Seaman on November 5, 1954, in
Ludington, Michigan
Ludington ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Mason County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,076.
Ludington is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River ...
, United States) is an American singer-songwriter. At age 14 she was the female lead singer of the
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...
cult-underground band
Pitche Blende, a featured band on ''The Michigan Mixture Volume 1'' album.
She is most associated with her affiliation as the keyboard player and vocalist with Chicago's reformed group
The Buckinghams
The Buckinghams are an American sunshine pop band from Chicago. They formed in 1966 and went on to become one of the top-selling acts of 1967, charting their only five top 40 hits in the U.S. that year. The band dissolved in 1970, but re-formed ...
from 1982 to 1985; and as lead singer in the reformed group
The Mamas & The Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a folk rock vocal group formed in Los Angeles, California, which recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968. The group was a defining force in the music scene of the counterculture of the 1960s. The group consisted of Am ...
from 1986 to 1993 with original members
John Phillips and
Denny Doherty
Dennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty (November 29, 1940 – January 19, 2007) was a Canadian singer. He was a founding member of the 1960s musical group the Mamas and the Papas for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
...
, along with
Spanky McFarlane
Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane (born June 19, 1942) is an American singer best known for fronting the vocal group Spanky and Our Gang in the late 1960s. She was nicknamed "The Queen of Sunshine Pop".
Early years
In 1959, McFarlane arrived in Chicago f ...
.
Lewis was the only female artist on the 1985 Happy Together Tour with
The Buckinghams
The Buckinghams are an American sunshine pop band from Chicago. They formed in 1966 and went on to become one of the top-selling acts of 1967, charting their only five top 40 hits in the U.S. that year. The band dissolved in 1970, but re-formed ...
,
the Turtles
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
,
Gary Lewis & the Playboys, and
the Grass Roots
The Grass Roots are an American rock band that charted frequently between 1965 and 1975. The band was originally the creation of Lou Adler and songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri. In their career, they achieved two gold albums, two go ...
. That same year the Buckinghams recorded their 1985 come-back album entitled ''A Matter Of Time'' to which Lewis contributed lead and back-up vocals as well as co-writing the song "Made To Love You". Meanwhile, in 1997 she recorded with singer
Gary Puckett
Gary may refer to:
*Gary (given name), a common masculine given name, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name
*Gary, Indiana, the largest city named Gary
Places
;Iran
* Gary, Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan Province
;Uni ...
on his album ''Is This Love''. The album was released in Canada and Europe with tracks later released on compilation albums ''Timepiece'' and ''This is Love'', both of which feature a power duet of Puckett and Lewis covering the
Heart (band) ballad "
Alone".
In 2013 Lewis was part of the all-star musical project
Dick Wagner
Richard Allen Wagner (December 14, 1942 – July 30, 2014) was an American rock guitarist, songwriter and author best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, and Kiss. He also fronted his own Michigan-based bands, the Frost and the Bo ...
& the Rockers for St. Jude in which she shared lead vocals with Wagner,
Mark Farner
Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for the hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a contemporary Christian musician.
Earl ...
(
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad (often shortened to Grand Funk) is an American rock band formed in 1968 in Flint, Michigan, by Mark Farner (vocals, guitar), Don Brewer (drums, vocals), and Mel Schacher (bass). The band achieved peak popularity and succ ...
),
Jean Beauvoir
Jean Beauvoir is an American singer, bassist, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and entertainment executive. He came to prominence in the early 1980s with the punk group the Plasmatics and went on to work with Little Steven ...
,
Merrilee Rush
Merrilee Rush ( Gunst; January 26, 1944) is an American singer, best known for her recording of the song "Angel of the Morning", a top-10 hit which earned her a Grammy nomination for female vocalist of the year in 1968.
Early life and caree ...
, and
Trini Lopez
Trinidad López III (May 15, 1937 – August 11, 2020) was an American singer, guitarist, and actor. His first album included a cover version of Pete Seeger's " If I Had a Hammer", which earned a Golden Disc for him. His other hits include ...
, in a band that included drummer
Danny Seraphine
Daniel Peter Seraphine (born August 28, 1948) is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer and film producer. He is best known as the original drummer and a founding member of the rock band Chicago, a tenure which lasted fr ...
(
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
), guitarists
Jennifer Batten
Jennifer Batten (born November 29, 1957) is an American guitarist who has worked as a session musician and solo artist. From 1987 to 1997 she played on all three of Michael Jackson's world tours, and from 1999 to 2001 she toured and recorded wit ...
(
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
) and
Elliot Easton
Elliot Easton (born Elliot Steinberg, December 18, 1953) is an American guitarist. He played lead guitar and sang backing vocals for The Cars, and his guitar solos are an integral part of the band's music. Easton has also recorded music as a so ...
(
The Cars
The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek ( rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (bass guitar), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes ( keyboard ...
), as well as bassist
Lee Sklar and a huge backing choir of well known musicians. The group recorded a digital single and a music video, "If I Had The Time (I Could Change The World)" with proceeds earmarked to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Lewis was also featured on the 2nd Annual 2016 Dick Wagner Memorial Concert 'Remember The Child" at
The Fillmore Detroit
The Fillmore Detroit is a multi-use entertainment venue operated by Live Nation. Built in 1925, the Fillmore Detroit was known for most of its history as the State Theatre. It is located near the larger Fox Theatre in the Detroit Theatre Dis ...
. The show honored DJ
Russ Gibb, a former concert promoter and media personality from
Dearborn, Michigan, and commemorated the late guitarist/singer/songwriter Dick Wagner. Wagner's music was performed by many artists including Wagner's son Robert Wagner,
Jean Beauvoir
Jean Beauvoir is an American singer, bassist, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and entertainment executive. He came to prominence in the early 1980s with the punk group the Plasmatics and went on to work with Little Steven ...
, Grammy Award-winning pianist and singer from
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a folk rock band formed in Edinburgh in 1983 by Scottish musician Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Mike Scott has remained ...
Paul Brown, drummer
Sandy Gennaro
Santo Michael Gennaro (born July 3, 1951 in Manhattan, New York) is an American rock drummer, author, musician, public speaker and mentor. He has recorded and toured with many musical artists including Blackjack, The Monkees, Pat Travers, Cy ...
, guitarist
Micki Free
Micki Free (born May 20, 1955) is a guitarist and singer of Native American descent. He won a Grammy Award for his contribution to the ''Beverly Hills Cop'' (1984) movie soundtrack and has won two Native American Music Awards. He is the director ...
,
Derek St. Holmes, Joe Bass, Hal Patino, Maryann Cotton,
Jimmie "Bones" Trombly
Jimmie Bones (born James Trombly) is the organ/piano/keyboard/harmonica player in Kid Rock's Twisted Brown Trucker Band.
The two met while Kid Rock was recording " Early Mornin Stoned Pimp" at Detroit's White Room Studio in 1995. Rock asked B ...
, guitarist Kenny Olson,
Peter Keys
Peter Michaelsen Pisarczyk (born May 30, 1965), better known as Peter Keys, is an American keyboardist. He is best known for his work with George Clinton in various P-Funk lineups and as a member of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd since 2009.
E ...
, David Winans II,
Muruga Booker
Steven Bookvich known as Muruga Booker (born December 27, 1942) is an American drummer, composer, inventor, artist, recording artist, and an autonomous Eastern Orthodox priest.
Biography
Booker was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 27, ...
,
Dennis Dunaway
Dennis Dunaway (born December 9, 1946, in Cottage Grove, Oregon) is an American musician, best known as the original bass guitarist for the rock band Alice Cooper (1962–1975, 1999, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021).
He co-wrote some of the ...
,
The Frost
The Frost was an American psychedelic rock band from Alpena, Michigan in the late 1960s, led by singer-guitarist Dick Wagner, who went on to play with Ursa Major, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel in the 1970s. The rest of the band consist ...
,
Johnny "Bee" Badanjek
Johnny "Bee" Badanjek is an American musician, singer, songwriter and painter.
Music career
At 16, Badanjek (pronounced:buh-DAN-jek) was the drummer for the Detroit rock and roll band Billy Lee and The Rivieras who later changed their name to ...
and other supporting musicians. Proceeds benefited
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals) (French: Réseau Enfants-Santé (RES)) is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Donations support the health of 10 million children each ...
supporting music therapy.
On March 24, 2017, Lewis performed with
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay Quatro (born June 3, 1950) is an American singer, bass guitarist, songwriter, and actress. In the 1970s, she scored a string of hit singles that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, reaching No. 1 in th ...
as one of
The Pleasure Seekers, along the latter's sister Patti Quatro, on the third annual "Remember the Child Concert" held in
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
, Michigan at the
MotorCity Casino Hotel
MotorCity Casino Hotel is a casino and hotel in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It was opened in December 1999 and is one of three casino hotels in the city. There are four hotels in the Detroit–Windsor area, including the Ontario-owned Caes ...
in The Sound Board performance venue. She also contributed backing vocals for
Mark Farner
Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for the hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a contemporary Christian musician.
Earl ...
,
Kip Winger
Charles Frederick Kip Winger (born June 21, 1961) is an American bass guitarist and singer, active as a member of the rock band Winger and as a solo artist. He initially gained notability as a member of Alice Cooper's band, contributing bass an ...
and many returning artists from the previous year.
Partial discography
This is a partial discography on which Laurie Beebe Lewis contributes vocals or instrumentation:
Albums
Solo
*1997 - Laurie K. Lewis - ''Cool Waters'' - (Remnant Records 13776-0)
*2017 - Laurie Beebe Lewis - ''Baby Birds'' Produced by
Warren Huart (Play Like A Girl Records 247562)
With Bands
*1985 - The Buckinghams - ''A Matter Of Time'' - (Red Label ST-73101)
*1997 - Gary Puckett - ''Is This Love'' - (Juslor Records CL10097JT)
*1998 - Gary Puckett - ''Timepiece'' - (Polytel 740051-4)
*2011 - Queen Divas of The Universe - ''All Wrapped Up In Christmas'' (Remnant Records 91262-5) features
Roni Lee, Shaaron Schuemaker
*2020 - The Original Starfires - ''Fly Me Away'' (
Pacific Records PAC 101720)
Singles
*1968 - Pitche Blende - "My World has Stopped" b/w "Stop" (Valley 1102)
*1985 -
The Buckinghams
The Buckinghams are an American sunshine pop band from Chicago. They formed in 1966 and went on to become one of the top-selling acts of 1967, charting their only five top 40 hits in the U.S. that year. The band dissolved in 1970, but re-formed ...
- "Veronica" b/w "Veronica" - (Red Label PB-71001) promo - both sides stereo
*2013 -
Dick Wagner
Richard Allen Wagner (December 14, 1942 – July 30, 2014) was an American rock guitarist, songwriter and author best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, and Kiss. He also fronted his own Michigan-based bands, the Frost and the Bo ...
And The Rockers - "If I Had The Time (I Could Change The World)" (Desert Dream Productions) shares lead vocals with Jean Beauvoir,
Mark Farner
Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for the hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a contemporary Christian musician.
Earl ...
,
Merrilee Rush
Merrilee Rush ( Gunst; January 26, 1944) is an American singer, best known for her recording of the song "Angel of the Morning", a top-10 hit which earned her a Grammy nomination for female vocalist of the year in 1968.
Early life and caree ...
,
Trini Lopez
Trinidad López III (May 15, 1937 – August 11, 2020) was an American singer, guitarist, and actor. His first album included a cover version of Pete Seeger's " If I Had a Hammer", which earned a Golden Disc for him. His other hits include ...
. Digital release
Compilation albums
*1990 - ''Michigan Mixture Volume 1'' - (Clinging Hysteria CHR1) includes Pitche Blend "My World has Stopped"
*1999 ''Oasis Christmas 2'' God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen track 2
*2012 - ''Michigan Mixture Volume 1'' (Spiral Groove – SGLP3010) Reissue. Includes Pitche Blend's "My World has Stopped" and "Stop"
*2020 - ''Power Chords, Harmonies and Mistletoe III'' (Snap!! Records - FUNCD-065) Includes Queen Divas of the Universe's "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing"
*2021 - ''Staring at the Sun XIII'' (Blindspot Records 157) Includes The Original Starfires "Fly Me Away"
Album contributions
*1974 - The Celebration Road Show - ''Amazing Grace'' - (Celebration Records 4042)
*1975 - The Celebration Road Show - ''Songs of Freedom'' - (United Church Press, Philadelphia PA AM367)
*1976 - The Celebration Road Show - ''That's A Plenty'' - (Celebration Records CR1005)
*1977 - ''Gary Miller's Celebration Road Show LIVE ON STAGE'' (Circle Records CLP-2 PRP-45101)
*1999 - "Oasis Christmas 2" With
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (initially credited as The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett) was an American pop rock group active in the late 1960s. The group, formed by Gary Puckett, Gary "Mutha" Withem, Dwight Bement, Kerry Chater and Paul Whea ...
''All Through The Night'' The Livingstones ''Hark The Herald Angels Sing'' backing vocals with
Jeremy Camp
Jeremy Thomas Camp (born January 12, 1978) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana. He has released eleven albums, four of them RIAA-certified as Gold, and two live albums. Camp's original music ...
*2000 - ''Personal Praise & Worship'' - Adventures In God's Presence Collections Volume 6 - (Rolltop Music - 777-6-D)
*2007 - Leigh Taylor & Adventures Worship Band - ''Songs For Every Tribe'' - (Rolltop Music - 777-7D)
*2015 -
Roni Lee - ''Heroes'' (Play Like A Girl Records)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Laurie Beebe
American women singers
American folk rock musicians
Living people
Musicians from Saginaw, Michigan
1954 births
Singers from Michigan
The Mamas and the Papas members