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Hailing from Southern California, singer, songwriter, composer and educator, LAWRENCE LEBO is an artist who is enthralled with and dedicated to American Roots Music. Ms. Lebo has worked long and hard at developing her craft. In addition to her more that 20 years experience as an accomplished vocalist, band leader and songwriter, Lawrence was driven to expand her natural talents through various educational programs. In the 1980s, she attended the vocal program at Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, California. With this educational background, a steady performance schedule and raising family, Lawrence returned to traditional academia in 2000, earning an Associate of Arts degree in music at Santa Monica College, and then transferring to UCLA to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree.
"An education at UCLA was not something I could afford,” says Lawrence. Nevertheless, she poured herself into her studies at UCLA and the hard worked paid off. Ms. Lebo received two of UCLA’s highest honors, including a Regents Scholar and a Gold Shield Alumni Scholar. Lawrence proudly notes, however, “The highlight of my experience at UCLA was getting to study Duke Ellington under Professor Kenney Burrell. It just doesn‘t get any better than that!” In the summer of 2005, Lawrence graduated from UCLA with Latin Honors. On the heels of this educational achievement, Lawrence released, Don’t Call Her Larry, volume 2. Currently LEBO teaches a Blues singing techniques workshop at world famous McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica.
Ms. Lebo’s journey as a recording artist began with her critically acclaimed debut EP titled Lawrence Lebo and Her Little Big Band: Don’t Call Her Larry. Lawrence interprets eclectic 30’s and 40’s Big Band Blues surprisingly through an eight piece “Little Big Band” comprised of traditional bluegrass instrumentation, creating a hybrid of Americana Blues/Jazz/Roots music with vocals extraordinaire! Ace banjoist Pat Cloud’s Charlie Parker influenced banjo work is not to be missed. Additionally, this EP was recorded live to 2 tracks and originally mastered to vinyl at 45rpm. It was later re-released on CD as Don’t Call Her Larry, Vol. 1. The work garnered rave international reviews. The EP's success got the attention of National Public Radio who featured Ms. Lebo on the Weekend Edition show, hosted by Liane Hansen.
In her second recording released in 2004, Don’t Caller Her Larry, Vol. 2, Lawrence reinterprets her songbook for an acoustic quartet of vocal, backed by guitar, bass and violin. Recorded live, this CD also includes new tunes that showcase Lawrence’s songwriting and arranging talents. Lawrence’s spectacular vocals are showcased as she swings, scats and moans her way through both originally penned compositions, and originally arranged classics that run the gamut from rocking electric blues, acoustic swing, to contemporary jazz.
Lawrence’s 3rd CD, Don’t Call Her Larry, Vol. 3: American Roots, she continues to explore the depths of American Roots music, reinterpreting her songbook through bass and vocal duo, in collaboration with bassist Denny Croy. In an age where singers are manipulated with technology and slick production, this CD is again recorded live in a garage studio, allowing Lawrence to further explore the depth of her impressive bar-room-raw vocal stylings. She bares it all with new original songs that are hybrids of acoustic blues, western swing, and a heart wrenching folk tribute to the sudden loss of her dearly loved yellow Labrador Retriever, titled Rose, Rose. Notables contributing on the CD are Phil Parlapiano on accordion, and Mike Acosta on saxes. Don’t Call Her Larry, Vol. 3: American Roots is certain to thrill loyal Lawrence Lebo fans, as well as to attract new followers.
For more information and music samples, please visit the following websites:
June 2010 - Lawrence Lebo: Don't Call Her Larry, Volume 3: American Roots, On The Air Records, CD
2004 - Lawrence Lebo: Don't Call Her Larry, volume 2, On The Air Records, CD
2004 - Lawrence Lebo and Her Little Big Band: Don't Call Her Larry, Volume 1, On The Air Records, reissue EP CD
1989 - Lawrence Lebo and Her Little Big Band: Don't Call Her Larry, On The Air Records, EP Vinyl (Out of print)
"She sounds like what a daughter spawned by Ella Fitzgerald and Bob Wills might have.”
- Dirty Linen Magazine
"Lebo swings, has a good sense of voice color and a fine grasp of the mechanics of selling a classic pop tune." - William J. Schafer, The Mississippi Rag
“She‘s hard to catagorize, and that‘s good!”
- L.A. Jazz Scene
“…a truly talented singer, a fresh voice on the scene.” - Jacques Emond, host “Swing is in the Air”, CKCU-FM 93.1 - Programming Director Ottawa International Jazz Festival
"... it's tuneful, assured singing." - Allen Scott, JazzTimes Magazine
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