Lauri Conger
Encyclopedia
Lauri Conger is notable primarily as the keyboardist and one of the principal co-writers of most of the songs of the Parachute Club.
, where she commenced her professional music career in the 1970s. She continued her career in Toronto, where she and Lorraine Segato
were members of Mama Quilla II
. In 1982, Conger and Segato, along with percussionist Billy Bryans
, formed the nucleus of what would become the Parachute Club. Concurrently, in the early 1980s, Conger was developing a reputation as a solo and duo performer on the Canadian folk music
circuit.
While with the Parachute Club, Conger was a co-writer, mainly with Lorraine Segato, other band members and lyricist Lynne Fernie, of most of the group's songs, including the song for which the group is best known, "Rise Up".
Conger stayed with the band through its three albums, released between 1983 and 1986, but left the group in mid-1987, to train in Santa Fe
, New Mexico to become a registered massage therapist. She rejoined the band in July, 1988 for what would turn out to be its final performances at Toronto's Ontario Place
.
Following her departure from the group and despite her significant contributions to music, Conger did not continue in a prominent role as a professional musician or songwriter. She returned to Canada and to music in 1988, when she received funding from the Canada Council
"to pursue a musical focus in First Nations
music/rhythms".
History
Lauri Conger is a native of Thunder BayThunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, where she commenced her professional music career in the 1970s. She continued her career in Toronto, where she and Lorraine Segato
Lorraine Segato
Lorraine Segato is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for and a principal songwriter of new wave and pop rock group Parachute Club, with which she continues to perform.- History :...
were members of Mama Quilla II
Mama Quilla II
The rock band Mama Quilla II first performed together in 1977 in Toronto, Ontario and dissolved in 1982.-Band members:Personnel changed over the band’s five year existence, but Mama Quilla II was usually a 7-piece all-female band...
. In 1982, Conger and Segato, along with percussionist Billy Bryans
Billy Bryans
Billy Bryans is a Canadian percussionist, songwriter, music producer and DJ, known as one of the founders of The Parachute Club, among other accomplishments in music. He has produced such artists as Dutch Mason and The Downchild Blues Band...
, formed the nucleus of what would become the Parachute Club. Concurrently, in the early 1980s, Conger was developing a reputation as a solo and duo performer on the Canadian folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
circuit.
While with the Parachute Club, Conger was a co-writer, mainly with Lorraine Segato, other band members and lyricist Lynne Fernie, of most of the group's songs, including the song for which the group is best known, "Rise Up".
Conger stayed with the band through its three albums, released between 1983 and 1986, but left the group in mid-1987, to train in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, New Mexico to become a registered massage therapist. She rejoined the band in July, 1988 for what would turn out to be its final performances at Toronto's Ontario Place
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
.
Following her departure from the group and despite her significant contributions to music, Conger did not continue in a prominent role as a professional musician or songwriter. She returned to Canada and to music in 1988, when she received funding from the Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
"to pursue a musical focus in First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
music/rhythms".
Singles (Parachute Club)
| Release date | Title | Chart peak | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... RPM |
|||
| July 1983 | "Rise Up" | 9 | The Parachute Club |
| 1983 | "Alienation" | ||
| 1984 | "Boy's Club" | ||
| October 1984 | "At The Feet Of The Moon" | 11 | At The Feet of the Moon |
| February 1985 | "Act Of An Innocent" | 61 | |
| June 1985 | "Sexual Intelligence" | ||
| October 1986 | "Love Is Fire" | 24 | Small Victories |
| February 1987 | "Love And Compassion" | 81 | |
| May 1987 | "Walk To The Rhythm" | 90 | |
With Mama Quilla II
- 1982 KKK//Mama Quilla/Angry Young Woman Tupperwaros; EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
.
With The Parachute Club
- 1983 The Parachute Club Current/RCARCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
- 1984 At The Feet of the Moon Current/RCA
- 1985 Moving Thru the Moonlight Current/RCA; remixes
- 1986 Small Victories (1986) Current/RCA
- 1992 Wild Zone: The Essential Parachute Club BMGBMGBertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
; reissued 2006 by EMI InternationalEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Other
- 1980 Rodney Brown, When The Bay Turns Blue (Independent)
- 1985 Soundtrack (with Michael BeinhornMichael BeinhornMichael Beinhorn is an American musician and record producer.Beinhorn started his professional career as a musician, playing keyboards in Bill Laswell's Material during the 1980s...
), Dark Lullabies (National Film Board of CanadaNational Film Board of CanadaThe National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
) - 1988 Soundtrack, Calling The Shots, being profile of Jeanne MoreauJeanne MoreauJeanne Moreau is a French actress, singer, screenwriter and director.She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française...
(Janis Cole and Holly DaleHolly DaleHolly Dale is a Canadian film and television director and film producer. She received a Gemini Award in 2008 for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series ....
)