Laurie Beebe Lewis
Laurie Beebe Lewis | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Laurie Seaman |
Born | Ludington, Michigan | November 5, 1954
Website | www |
Laurie Beebe Lewis (born Laurie Seaman on November 5, in Ludington, Michigan) is an American singer-songwriter. At age 14 she was the female lead singer of the Saginaw, Michigan cult-underground band Pitche Blende,[1] a featured band on The Michigan Mixture Volume 1 album.[2] She is most associated with her affiliation as the keyboard player and vocalist with Chicago's reformed group the Buckinghams from 1982 to 1985; and as lead singer in the reformed group The Mamas & The Papas from 1986 to 1993 with original members John Phillips and Denny Doherty along with Spanky McFarlane.[3][4]
Lewis was the only female artist on the 1985 Happy Together Tour with The Buckinghams, the Turtles, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, and the Grass Roots.[5] That same year the Buckinghams recorded their 1985 come-back album entitled A Matter Of Time[6] 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 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".[7]
In 2013 Lewis was part of the all-star musical project Dick Wagner & the Rockers for St. Jude in which she shared lead vocals with Wagner, Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Jean Beauvoir, Merrilee Rush, and Trini Lopez, in a band that included drummer Danny Seraphine (Chicago), guitarists Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson) and Elliot Easton (The Cars), 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.[8] Lewis was also featured on the 2nd Annual 2016 Dick Wagner Memorial Concert 'Remember The Child"[9] at The Fillmore Detroit. 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, Paul Brown, drummer Sandy Gennaro, guitarist Micki Free, Derek St. Holmes, Joe Bass, Hal Patino, Maryann Cotton, Jimmie "Bones" Trombly, guitarist Kenny Olson, Peter Keys, David Winans II, Muruga Booker, Dennis Dunaway, The Frost, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek and other supporting musicians. Proceeds benefited Children's Miracle Network Hospitals supporting music therapy.
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)
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
Singles
- 1968 - Pitche Blende - "My World has Stopped" b/w "Stop" (Valley 1102)
- 1985 - The Buckinghams - "Veronica" b/w "Veronica" - (Red Label PB-71001) promo - both sides stereo
Compilation albums
- 1990 - Michigan Mixture Volume 1 - (Clinging Hysteria CHR1) includes Pitche Blend "My World has Stopped"
- 2012 - Michigan Mixture Volume 1 (Spiral Groove – SGLP3010) Reissue. Includes Pitche Blend's "My World has Stopped" and "Stop"
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)
- 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
References
- ^ "Pitche Blende Reunites". Review Magazine. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "Discogs". Various. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ Arnold, Thomas K. "When Not With the Papas this Mama Sells Cars". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ Ex-Saginawian Beebe on band's Europe Tour. Thursday, November 13, 1986, Saginaw News/Sue White
- ^ Benarde, Scott. "Tour Revives Happy Music". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ Beebe, Laurie. "A Matter of Time". Discogs. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Gary-Puckett-Is-This-Love/release/7115859
- ^ http://www.rockersforstjude.com/about.html
- ^ http://www.dickwagnerrememberthechild.org/