Laurie Larson

Laurie Larson (born Laurie Ann Larson in Kalispell, Montana on May 4, 1967) is an American rock-pop-new age singer who, since 1985, has shared the stage and the studio with Love's Johnny Echols, Jefferson Airplane, the Strawberry Alarm Clock, George Thorogood, Country Joe & the Fish, Scott McKenzie, Barry McGuire, Michelle Phillips, John York of the Byrds, Albert Lee and members of the Grass Roots. Critics have compared her style to Sarah McLachlan and Enya.
==History==
Laurie Larson was born in Kalispell on May 4, 1967, and lived on the Flathead and Nez Perce reservations until age 12 until the family moved to the Black Hills. At age 13, having only played violin previously, Jan and Herb Conn who discovered Jewel Cave became her mentors. They taught her how to play bass, piano, guitar and even how to make instruments. Inspired by KKLS radio in Rapid City, South Dakota she started writing songs in the style of her favorite bands Kansas, Poco, the Eagles and Spirit. She started singing with a band called Tandem Felix after moving to Albuquerque. 
Marshall Blonstein had encouraged Laurie Larson to record an album, and "Artist's Mirage" was the result. She also began her career in radio as a volunteer DJ in 1983 at KUNM in Albuquerque. Her first commercial job was at KZRR 94 Rock, hired by Frank Jaxon in 1985. She became the Music Director for Progressive Broadcasting under the leadership of John Sebastian pioneering the Classic Rock format in 1991. She worked in groundbreaking radio station research for Critical Mass Media under Steve Casey in 1996, doing music tests and compiling playlists for hundreds of stations coast to coast. Her first programming job was at Classic Rock KKHG in Tucson Arizona. Larson programmed KSLX, KKNT, KPXQ, KXXT in Phoenix, Arizona; KTKZ AM & FM, KKFS, KFIA in Sacramento, California and KDOW and KFAX in San Francisco, California. Larson also worked as a news reporter for Clear Channel's national network from 2003 to 2011.
Larson ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in 2000 and 2002 and was the assistant to the chairman of the Democratic Party from 1999 to 2003. She was behind the first binding Internet Presidential election in 2000. She was hired by her Republican opponent Tom Horne to be a program Manager at the Arizona Commission for Post Secondary Education and the Arizona Department of Education from 2001 - 2005. Larson also worked for the Maricopa County Elections Department from 2005 to 2020.
Laurie has worked for Kitt Peak National Observatory from 1993 - 1996. She also founded the Progressive Rock Hall of Fame in 2008 and ran it until 2013.
Larson's art and photography has been showcased on television and in several publications and galleries. Her concert photography was included in the Miracles Out of Nowhere documentary about the band Kansas , is on the cover of Georgiana Steele-Waller's autobiography, Vintage Guitar Player Magazine and included in Rock manager David Spero's recent biography. She has authored three books and to date has recorded five albums. Larson continues to write songs, record, tour and create art.
==Discography==
===Albums===
Year	Album name 	Artist 	Notes 	
1995	Artist's Mirage 	Laurie Larson	Featuring Daniel Paul 	
1996	Crossroads Cafe CD Sampler 	Various 	Featuring Architect of Dreams from the upcoming album Aquila 	
2000	Aquila 	Laurie Larson	Featuring Ralph Gilmore 	
2006	A Striking Resemblance 	Laurie Larson	Featuring Ralph Gilmore 	
2007	Best New Bands Volume 3 	Various 	Featuring On this Day from the album Aquila 	
2008	Global Rhythm Magazine CD Sampler January 2008	Various 	Featuring A Call to Action from the album A Striking Resemblance	
2008	Acoustic Rainbow Roots Volume 33 	Various 	Featuring 1 Realm from the album A Striking Resemblance 	
2008	Global Rhythm Magazine CD Sampler March 2008 	Various 	Featuring Utopia from the album Aquila 	
2008	GOA Chillout Zone 	Various 	Featuring Architect of Dreams from the album Aquila 	
2008	Global Rhythm Magazine CD Sampler June 2008 	Various 	Featuring 1 Realm from the album A Striking Resemblance 	
2008	Relix Magazine CD Sampler November 2008 	Various 	Featuring the title track to A Striking Resemblance 	
2016	Action Moves People United 	Various 	Reached #8 on Billboard's Compilation Album Chart 	
2022	Story Road 	Laurie Larson	Featuring Johnny Echols, Jock Bartley, Lon Rozelle 	
2023	Petals from July 	Laurie Larson	Featuring Johnny Echols, Leland Sklar, Lon Rozelle 	
===Books===
Year	Book name 	Author 	Notes
1994	A Colorful Journey into Southwest Astronomy	Laurie Larson	
2018	When They Call Out Your Name - Steve Walsh 	Laurie Larson	Foreward, cover and interior photography by Neal Preston, other photography by Armando Gallo, Glen Wexler and Laurie Larson
2022	Light Leaks 	Laurie Larson	
Category:1967 births
Category:People from Kalispell, Montana
Category:American people
Category:Songwriters
Category:Singer
Category:Photographers