Karen Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Karen Lawrence is an American singer and songwriter who has worked with The LA Jets, 1994:, Karen Lawrence and the Pinz and Blue by Nature. She sang backup vocals on "Get it up" from Draw the Line by Aerosmith
.
Karen Lawrence also sang on a Jeff Beck
album.
Karen Lawrence, Blue by Nature’s driving force, is a dynamic singer and prolific songwriter. A charismatic performer with a spirited stage presence, Lawrence has enjoyed a challenging and diverse career. A stage performer continually since the age of 9, she fronted her first band, a blues outfit, at the age of 13. As front woman for the A&M
band 1994: (produced by Jack Douglas
), Lawrence’s distinctive and emotive vocal stylings frequently put her on international critics’ "Best Female Singer" lists. Wrote Kerrang!
... "it was 1994:’s Karen Lawrence who gave the others the choice of being second best or giving up". In addition to lead vocal and writing credits on Jeff Beck’s Epic/Legacy release Beckology
, Lawrence’s most notable coup was composing "Prisoner," the theme song for the film Eyes of Laura Mars
, which was immortalized by Barbra Streisand
. Over 4 times platinum, the song has been identified in songbooks as one of the one hundred best love songs.
Blue by Nature was formed in March 1993, when Lawrence and her collaborator of 14 years, rhythm guitarist Fred Hostetler, joined up with longtime friend Rick Dufay. Dufay, a former Aerosmith axeman, delivered an explosive and provocative guitar sound to the band. Four years and three critically acclaimed CD’s later, Dufay left to pursue a solo career and the torch was passed to young Brad Ayers. Ayers crisp Buddy Guy like riffs appear on the Hard Daze release. Shortly after the CD was finished, his promising career ended when he died of natural causes.
Karen Lawrence sang the title song of the TV series Misfits of Science
.
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
.
Karen Lawrence also sang on a Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
album.
Karen Lawrence, Blue by Nature’s driving force, is a dynamic singer and prolific songwriter. A charismatic performer with a spirited stage presence, Lawrence has enjoyed a challenging and diverse career. A stage performer continually since the age of 9, she fronted her first band, a blues outfit, at the age of 13. As front woman for the A&M
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
band 1994: (produced by Jack Douglas
Jack Douglas (record producer)
Jack Douglas is an American record producer. He was born in New York City. Starting out as folk musician and performer, he worked on Robert Kennedy's senatorial campaign as a song-writer. Douglas then moved to England and joined a succession of bands before returning to New York to attend the...
), Lawrence’s distinctive and emotive vocal stylings frequently put her on international critics’ "Best Female Singer" lists. Wrote Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
... "it was 1994:’s Karen Lawrence who gave the others the choice of being second best or giving up". In addition to lead vocal and writing credits on Jeff Beck’s Epic/Legacy release Beckology
Beckology
Beckology by guitarist Jeff Beck was released in 1991 as a 3 CD career retrospective. Beckology covers the work of a guitarist widely acknowledged as one of the most influential and gifted exponents of the electric guitar, from early days with The Tridents through to his Guitar Shop album in...
, Lawrence’s most notable coup was composing "Prisoner," the theme song for the film Eyes of Laura Mars
Eyes of Laura Mars
Eyes of Laura Mars is a 1978 thriller film starring Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones and directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, adapted from a spec script titled Eyes, written by John Carpenter, was Carpenter's first major studio film...
, which was immortalized by Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
. Over 4 times platinum, the song has been identified in songbooks as one of the one hundred best love songs.
Blue by Nature was formed in March 1993, when Lawrence and her collaborator of 14 years, rhythm guitarist Fred Hostetler, joined up with longtime friend Rick Dufay. Dufay, a former Aerosmith axeman, delivered an explosive and provocative guitar sound to the band. Four years and three critically acclaimed CD’s later, Dufay left to pursue a solo career and the torch was passed to young Brad Ayers. Ayers crisp Buddy Guy like riffs appear on the Hard Daze release. Shortly after the CD was finished, his promising career ended when he died of natural causes.
Karen Lawrence sang the title song of the TV series Misfits of Science
Misfits of Science
Misfits of Science is an American superhero fantasy television series that aired on NBC from October 1985 to February 1986. It featured a cast of super-powered humans and their madcap adventures...
.
Discography
- LA Jets - LA Jets (1976) RCA 11547
- 1994: - 1994 (1978) A&M 4709
- 1994: - Please Stand By (1979) A&M 4769
- Karen Lawrence and the Pinz - Girls Night Out (1981) RCA Afl1 4006
- Karen Lawrence - Rip and Tear (1986) Revolver REVLP 75
- Blues By Nature - Blue to the Bone (1995) SRD 8, Shattered 9
- Blue By Nature - Live at the Lake (1998) Hostel 55
- Blue By Nature - Hard Daze (2000) Hostel 57