New Song - 'Give Up Me'

                                                             Hi everyone,

My blog postings have decreased from almost daily for a year to once a month.  Hopefully I will get back to posting more frequently.  Last month was a busy one.  I finally have my in-home studio up and running.  Here is the first song, 'Give Up Me' I tracked (vocals & guitar).  I still plan on producing a version of this song with some strings and a few other instruments added. In the middle of April I went to Los Angeles for the ASCAP Expo conference.  It was the motivating factor in getting my studio set up.   I plan on completing my new CD with my studio in July and August.  Another new song I recently tracked,  'What Does Bob Think?', placed Honorable Mention in the Song of the Year contest.  I was happy that it placed against completed (fully produced) tracks, when the song is only a rough and raw 'first take' vocal and acoustic guitar tracks.  I will produce 'What Does Bob Think?' this summer too, as well as the rest of my new songs.  I will be running a fundraiser to finish my CD and a series of paintings with Kickstarter starting next month.  This month is crunch time for my teaching business.  I have 20 students preparing for Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory - The Achievement Program exams this month, and then I have my student recital to prepare for.
  Eight of my nine art entries were accepted and juried into the Edmonds Arts Festival 2012 Juried Galleries.
  Continue to say your prayers and send positive energy for my 17 year old bass student, Ruby Smith, who is fighting cancer.  She is always in my thoughts.
  I will write more soon!  Have a nice day. xxoo Laurie

April 1st - Anniversary of My Mother and Father's Passing

Hi Everyone,





 Eight years ago today my mother passed away.  It was due to my mother's love of creativity I was given the opportunity and support from her to develop my own creativity.  I am forever grateful to her.  Here is a link to  something I wrote for her right after she had passed away - http://www.lauriemillerband.com/poetry.htm.  My father passed away on April 4th, 1980.  I didn't really get to know my father very well, but I remember him being kind, hard working, driven, and disciplined.  He was only 49 years old when he passed away, but  he achieved an enormous amount in his lifetime.  He was inducted into the NATA - Hall of Fame.  Michael and I visited Ruby, my 17 year old bass student who is beating/fighting cancer, this week.  She still has some obstacles to get over such as a bone marrow transplant before she is okay, so all positive energy sent her way is welcome I'm sure.  Also, if you would like to make a donation you can contact her father, Theo, at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso.
   This week I'm recording my new original songs.   I'm overjoyed to get back to focusing on my originals again.  Yeah!  This summer I plan on focusing on finishing a new series of paintings too - www.lauriemillermodernart.com.
Nighty night! xxoo Laurie

Floating Bodies

Hi Everyone!  It is already the middle of March and we are still getting snow showers every other day here in the Seattle area.  I think last week was the busiest music teaching week of my entire life.  I barely had time to think.  Thinking is over rated right?  I did start writing a few new songs, and I should have an acoustic CD finished by this summer.  My studio is up and running, and I should have my first song completed by this weekend.  My abstract feather series, original Plant People, and Wine picture are still showing at The Scotch and Vine in Des Moines. If you would like to Help this artist and a great charity - 20% off all art at the show and the miniatures www.lauriemillermodernart.com. Email me at: bassnlegs@aol.com if interested in buying any art.  Art can be shipped with additional shipping and handling fees.  A portion of all sales is given to NCADV - Helping Women who have been abused by domestic violence -http://www.ncadv.org/.  
Thank you!
My son, Michael, has his beautiful photos showing at the Lynnwood Library Gallery this month:
http://www.facebook.com/michael.wittenbrink?sk=photos.

I'm still gearing up for my song, art creation, and poem a day for a year.  I need to  take a few more vitamins and eat some more Wheaties, and then I'll begin my creative journey once again.
Have a Nice Day!  xxoo Laurie

Whitney Houston - Rest in Peace

Hi Everyone!  I know I've been a little behind with my blog postings of late. I had eye surgery last month, so I'll attribute my absence to that. I had a new lens put in my left eye.  I can see again!  I guess my art might change a little?  Also, I'm back into the swing of working seven days a week.  Oh when am I going to win that darn lottery so that I can once again focus my time on my creativity rather than paying the bills. Okay, attitude of gratitude at least I'm not living on the streets.  I'm also happy that I'm not chained to playing bar gigs for now.
I don't mind the first two hours (at least when I'm playing with good musicians, and I can solo and/or I can sing a few songs), but the last two hours are so intolerably boring.  There is just so much spit I can wipe off my face from the conversations with drunks.
   I held my artist 'Meet and Greet' last month at The Scotch and Vine.  Some fabulous musicians came and played the event including; Tim Turner, Rod Cook, Ronnda Cadle, Heidi Swan, Gary, and my band mates: Carol Howe (percussion, back up singer), and Michael Wittenbrink (violin).  Thank you all for making the event a wonderful evening, and thanks to everyone who came to the event. We had a nice full house, and it was the first time I had a chance to enjoy the tantalizing food. The Big Blue Peacock drink that Drew created was also a hit.  My abstract feather series is featured till April at The Scotch and Vine.  20% off all art at the show, and I have signed art cards of any art from my site for $2.50 a card www.lauriemillermodernart.com.  A portion of all sales is donated to NCADV - Helping Women who have been abused by domestic violence - www.ncadv.org. In addition, I will be selling signed prints of my Whitney Houston picture at $10.00 plus postage fees. If anyone is interested you can email me at: bassnlegs@aol.com.  Thank you for your support!  It is much appreciated.  I have written a few new songs (music and lyrics).  I shall be sharing them soon.  In the meantime, I wrote the song Whitney R.I.P. (featured on this blog posting) on my guitar the other night.  It is a simple melody, but I wanted to write something.  I also created the art dedicated to Whitney last week. I will try my best to post more frequently.
Nighty night. xxoo Laurie

Flip Flop Boot Camp

    Happy New Year!  Okay, so I'm a little late.  Better late than never!  I met my sister, Kristie,  in Vegas for a winter vacation on December 26th.  We created our own low key boot camp - flip flop style, a lot of laying by the pool and swimming.  It was so nice to see the sun again.  When I came back to Seattle it was strange being engulfed in a sea of gray. We rang in the New Year at the Tao nightclub at the Venetian with Kim Kardashian counting in the New Year.  I had a blast dancing on the ledges while my sister sat on a bench because she wasn't use to wearing high heels.  I think I gave her a five hour foot rub when we walked all the way back to our timeshare.
    I currently have two art exhibitions on display.  My Surreal art is shown until Feb. 10th at the Lynnwood Library Gallery.  20% sale on all art at this show until Feb. 10th.  Art can be shipped with shipping and handling fees added.  Miniatures are very affordable, and  all art is collectible.  If interested, email me at: bassnlegs@aol.com .  The other show is at The Scotch and Vine in Des Moines.  This exhibit features my abstract feather art work, including the 'Light in the Woods' piece pictured on this page - www.lauriemillermodernart.com .  We are aiming for Feb. 19th to have an art opening party.  I will be playing a set of my original songs, and hopefully other local musicians will also play.  After I verify the date and time, I will post the exact details.  I'm still gearing up to complete my year long daily posting of music/art/poem.  I will start soon, I'm finishing a few details for the recording aspect.
Have a nice day!  xxoo Laurie