Lara Johnston is one of America’s most promising young artists poised to break into the music industry. Likened to a young Britney Spears by the man who discovered and has managed Britney for most of her career, Lara is blessed with a honeyed and powerful voice along with formidable stage presence: a combination that points to a very bright future indeed.
Although she is just 18, Lara already has a great deal of experience in the recording studio. Most recently, she recorded two songs with Makeba Riddick, one of the best songwriters and producers in the business. Makeba has written songs for Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton and Rihanna to name but a few incredibly successful female vocalists and what’s more, she possesses a real gift for developing new talent. As well as benefiting from Makeba’s stewardship and support, Lara is lucky enough to be working with a team of experienced vocal and dance coaches. It takes more than just talent to succeed in this business: discipline and dedication are required in abundance and this is a fact not lost on Lara. More will follow as Lara continues her journey, always learning and constantly honing her craft not only as a performer but as a songwriter as well.
It will be some time before the album is completed and available but it promises to be worth the wait, representing a real progression from the demos Lara has previously recorded. Not to take anything away from these — they themselves sound like real records and are proudly showcased on this site. All six demo songs were recorded at different times between June 2007 and September 2008.
Lara continues to add to her experience in live performance. This May, she and her band are scheduled to open the show for the five week run of the musical Man of La Mancha in the spectacular outdoor ampitheatre atop Mount Tamalpais, near where she grew up in Marin County. In 2008, she opened for Joan Jett at the Marin County Fair and headlined a gig at the San Rafael Street-Painting Festival. The year before she performed in a charity concert for Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation at the Fox Theater in St. Louis, Missouri. She sang two songs of her own and two duets with Michael McDonald, backed up by the St. Louis gospel choir. She received a standing ovation for her performance, another huge boost after already having won plaudits for her performances at the B.R. Cohn Fall Music Festival in California. She has now appeared there three years in a row, sharing the bill with big-name acts such as Tower of Power, Kris Kristofferson, Huey Lewis & The News and Willie Nelson.
It was her musical pedigree that led to her first B.R. Cohn charity concert gig in 2006, where at the tender age of sixteen she sang nine songs with a full band behind her.
Lara’s father is Tom Johnston, the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers. Lara had toured with her dad’s band on a number of occasions over the years so music had always been a way of life. She had even been joining the band on stage for their performance of the song Listen to the Music from the age of two! The Doobie Brothers are B.R. Cohn Music Festival regulars and Lara was such a revelation in her full debut festival performance that she was invited to perform as a special guest in their shared concert with Willie Nelson in Maui later that year.
Lara participated in the MTV show Rock the Cradle in 2008. It wasn’t her first experience in television. She was cast in and filmed a pilot TV show called The Moon Girls in 2006. Although her primary passion is for music, Lara acts and also has thirteen years of training in classical ballet. She has performed The Nutcracker to audiences of two thousand.
A natural performer eager to further her career, with a successful musician as a parent, Lara was an ideal choice for a contestant on Rock the Cradle. The format of the show lined up 9 children of well-known musicians in competition against each other for a record deal, one being voted off the show every week. Lara featured in all six episodes but fell at the final hurdle. The eventual winner was Crosby Loggins, son to Kenny. The experience was nonetheless invaluable and Lara learned a great deal from it, gaining an appreciation for the industry machine and getting direct feedback from a panel of judges which included Belinda Carlisle, Jamie King (choreographer on Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet tour and the Britney Spears Circus tour) and Larry Rudolph (mentor and manager to Britney Spears).
Lara officially moved to Los Angeles last year where she continues her development as an artist, undertaking intense tuition in singing, acting and dance while on the path to recording her first album. The big time beckons for this young lady.
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Hi Lara, what great reviews. Seems your forté is live performances. Would love to see you live, but either you or I am on the wrong side of the country. Just keep doin' it gal, it's coming to you.
I'm just stopping by to show sum luv and see whats good with you?I hope you enjoying your day. I know its been a minute since I last came by and posted some love on your wall. I can't lie alot has went on with me in the last few months. I lost my mom in the midst of recording my next cd. I'm still feeling pain inside but GOD got me in his arms so I'ma be alright.
I Don't know if you heard my song I did for my mom.But when you get a chance stop by and return the love and check out my moma song. If you diggin what you hear and feel the same way about your momma add it to your playlist and help me spread this song to the world in memory of my momma.
just thought id stop by your page and say hello. i'm watchin rock daughters right now, just wanna wish you the best. ive been a fan since rock the cradle and im shocked you're still unsigned!!! i'm sure you will be a huge star in the future, your voice is amazing. rock on!!xoxo
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Hey Lara, we saw you both nights at the Fillmore last week, and were sooo impressed, man are you incredibly good! Got a question: who wrote My Love ain't for Sale? I think you intro'ed it as an 'original song'. I was able to catch a bit of video from it, and would just like to provide accurate info, thanks!
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