Laura Roppé Band includes Laura Roppé with stellar musicians Albert Margolis on hammond organ; Jann Hoff on bass; Jennifer Argenti on violin/fiddle; Alexis Grenier vocalist; Ricky Lewis on lead guitar; Jeff Burges drums; and Brian Rogers on lap steel guitar.
Influences
Jim Croce, Lucinda Williams, Fleetwood Mac, Carly Simon, James Taylor, AC DC, Tenacious D, Indigo Girls, Joni Mitchell, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Duran Duran, the Cure (I swear, listen closely!), Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Lenny Kravitz, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Sheryl Crow, Blondie, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Led Zeppelin, Karen Carpenter, Koko Taylor, Etta James, Lauren Coleman, Love You Moon, and I love Rx Bandits, too but I can't say I'm cool enough to have any reflection of that in my music!
Singer/songwriter Laura Roppé was raised in San Diego, California, avidly listening as a child to Carly Simon, Journey, Fleetwood Mac, Jim Croce, and James Taylor. Laura sang her way through high school musical productions, and eventually obtained a degree in Theatre Arts from UCLA.
For years, Laura did not pursue singing, but instead pursued a legal career, marriage and motherhood. However, after running her first marathon in 2006, Laura was so overcome by her sense of accomplishment, she vowed to follow her heart and resume singing. In 2006, Laura became the lead singer of a popular Southern California cover band CoolBandLuke and began belting out cover tunes from artists as varied as Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Blondie, Lucinda Williams, and Kelly Clarkson. In 2007, after running a second marathon, Laura made another life changing vow: to release an album of her original songs within a year. In early 2008, Laura made a demo with her cousin Matthew Embree of Rx Bandits, and the brought it to Grammy-nominated producer Steve Wetherbee of Golden Tracks Studio in Escondido, California who absolutely loved Laura's songs and strongly encouraged her to make a full length album. In May 2008, even before her album was completed, Laura was selected as the Runner Up in the Kenny Chesney's Next Big Star Contest (San Diego) based on the strength of "Mama Needs A Girls Night Out." A little while later, Laura's full-length debut album was self-released in the US in August 2008 -- all songs written by Laura.
In August 2008, a chance encounter with the producer of San Diego's top rated radio morning show -- "the Jeff & Jer Showgram" -- resulted in airplay for "Float Away," and gained Laura legions of local fans.
Support from fans, family and friends became a Godsend for Laura when, a few weeks later, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and underwent seven months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Laura finished her cancer treatments in May 2009, just in time for the release of Laura's album "Girl Like This" and single "Float Away" in the UK by her European record label, Right Recordings, Ltd! (Laura remains unsigned in North America.) Laura is feeling great and ready to conquer the world once again!
Laura's album "Girl Like This" features Laura's AMAZING AND TALENTED AND BRILLIANT cousin Matthew Embree on electric and acoustic guitar on the tracks "Free" and "Sing a Love Song," as well as other incredible musicians, including Marc "Twang" Intravaia, Dennis Caplinger, Bob Sale, Sharon Whyte, and Jennifer Argenti.
Purchase Laura's album at lauraroppe.com and on iTunes. You can check out the music videos for "Mama Needs A Girls Night Out" and Little Daughter and other live performances on YouTube. Stay tuned for the fancy schmancy music video for Float Away, to be filmed in London in August 2009!
Amazing show the other night, you have such an awesome voice and are full of so much energy, you really are an inspiration. Thanks for doing what you do, you are amazing!
Thanks for the friendship! Just wanted to let you know my new album "Raw" is being released TODAY! :) You can order it on CDBABY.com, or at a show. (It'll be on i-tunes in a month or two) Thanks so much! Take care! -j
Hola!! Laura I got inspired when I read about the hiking in Cowles Mountain with your family, I went twice with Rob very romantic and I will go with my kids, too. With warm thoughts always, your friend Lyvi@
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