Laurie K. Lewis
Originally from Saginaw, Michigan, Laurie K. Lewis
with her sister Jinny Seaman on bass frequently
toured with Bob Seger, Alice Cooper and Ted Neugent
in the early 1970's with their retro rock band “Pitche Blende”. Laurie's move to Chicago gave her an opportunity to work in the recording industry as a vocalist and voice over work. Her experience with renowned recording artist/guitarist Harvey Mandel and special vocal guest with The Spinners brought Laurie to a new level of performance. Laurie was also featured on local television commercials in the Chicago area for “Haywires Singing Telegrams” and played the “housewife” for “Magic Cat Toilet Training System”.
Laurie’s earliest years in Chicago include live performances with Big Band leader, Les Elgart, Jim Beebe’s Chicago Jazz and the Celebration Road Show. Laurie was also the featured lead vocalist for the Chicago based group “The Buckinghams” who were featured on 'The 1985 Happy Together Tour' with The Turtles, Gary Lewis, and The Grassroots, playing to SRO audiences in 125 cities and proclaimed one of the most successful tours that year by Billboard and Performance magazines. She also recorded an album in 1997 with Gary Puckett entitled "Is This Love."
Moving to San Diego, CA. in 1986 to be with her husband, Chuck Lewis, Laurie continued to perform with various artists including The Monroes (“What Do All the People Know) on various projects and concert appearances with Greg Kihn and 10,000 Maniacs. She also co-arranged vocals while working extensively in the recording studio with Wayne Nelson, lead vocalist/bassist of “The Little River Band”.
Laurie became a lead vocalist with The Mamas and the Papas in 1986 and toured with them both nationally and internationally as a replacement for her friend actress/singer, McKenzie Philips. The folk-rock vocals of John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Spanky McFarlane and Laurie K. Lewis resounded around the world on tour throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, the Pacific Rim and extensively all over the United States and Canada. Their special guests included renowned artists like Scott McKenzie, Lou Christi, Gary US Bonds, Martha Reeves, The Bay City Rollers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Everly Brothers, Guess Who, Suzie Quatro, Herman’s Hermits, Gary Puckett, The Association, Wind Machine, Roger McGuinn, Connie Francis, Peggy Lord, Andy Williams, and Michelle Phillips, the original diva of the M’s & P’s. The New Mamas & Papas received the prestigious RSH award in 1993 in Germany during a live television performance. Soon after, Spanky McFarlane reformed “Spanky and Our Gang” which included Laurie as part of the gang along with some of the original members from the ‘60’s.
Presently, Laurie is expanding her creativity as she explores the avenue of television, film and stage. She has written and directed 12 children’s plays performed locally in San Diego and currently revising the plays for family radio. She continues to perform in concert and she and her husband Chuck are the Music Directors for Windsor Hills Community Church in La Mesa, California.
