Laurie Berkner

Acclaimed children's music singer, guitarist, and songwriter Laurie Berkner was born on March 10, 1969 to American parents in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. Berkner has been involved in music since she was a kid: She sang in choirs, played in bands, and performed in musical theater during her formative childhood and teenage years. While in both high school and college Laurie toured Europe with several choirs and orchestras as a soloist and guitarist. Following graduation from Rutgers University, Berkner worked as a summer camp music counselor and spent several years as a children's music specialist for daycare centers and preschools. She began performing as a rock musician in 1992; she was a member of the all-female cover band Lois Lane and fronted her own group called Red Onion. Laurie released her first children's music album "Whaddaya Think of That?" in 1997. In 2004 Berkner and her group the Laurie Berkner Band made their network television debut with six music videos for their cute'n'catchy songs on the Nick Jr. channel. This lead to the band making regular guest appearances on the half-hour TV series "Jack's Big Music Show." The group released their first DVD "We Are ... The Laurie Berkner Band" in February, 2006; the DVD entered Billboard's Top Music Video chart at #1 and stayed at the top spot for six weeks. Laurie has released twelve best selling, award winning albums: Whaddaya Think Of That (1997); Buzz Buzz (1998); Victor Vito (1999); Under A Shady Tree (2002) (a N.A.A.P.A. Gold Award and a Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award); Rocketship Run (2008); The Best Of The Laurie Berkner Band (2010); A Laurie Berkner Christmas (2012); Laurie Berkner Lullabies (2014); The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection (2014); Laurie Berkner's Favorite Classic Kids' Songs (2015); Superhero (2016); and Laurie Berkner: The Dance Remixes (2017). Her Two Tomatoes Records has also co-released (with Razor & Tie Entertainment) two DVDs: We are . . . The Laurie Berkner Band (2006) and Party Day! (2011). Laurie has authored four books based on her songs, including two Barnes & Noble NOOK Kids(TM) e-books. Her most recent book release is We Are The Dinosaurs (2017) based on her classic song "We Are The Dinosaurs" from the album Whaddaya Think Of That. Berkner has also written seven children's books and the music for three off-Broadway musicals for children. Laurie and her group regularly perform in concert all over America.