User:Stevelauri/sandbox

STEVE LAURI   Singer -  Guitarist - Songwriter

Steve Lauri was born in London on the 26th of April 1954. He is currently a member of the legendary British band, The Hollies. He joined the band in 2004 as a singer and guitarist, and is major contributor to the infamous soaring harmonies that The Hollies are known for. He recorded with The Hollies on their last two studio albums, Staying Power and Then, Now and Always, as well as their most recent release, a live CD titled The Hollies, We Got the Tunes. The Hollies have toured for fifty-one consecutive years, and Steve has been part of the band for the past eleven years. On tour he is the featured singer on several of their hits, including King Midas With a Curse and Here I Go Again. Steve began his musical career in the summer of the early seventies, when he bought a book of guitar chords and started to teach himself how to play on a guitar he borrowed from his dad's cousin. He worked briefly on U.S. Army and Air Force bases in Germany, and then moved on to the London club circuit. It was there in 1977 that he joined pop disco group 5000 Volts. They scored two top ten hits, I'm on Fire, which got to number one in several countries around the world and Dr. Kiss Kiss. 5000 Volts toured the UK, Europe, Scandinavia and South Africa and had continued success with two further top ten hits. They also supported the Stylistics on their British tour, one of the dates being at the Royal Albert Hall. In 1978 the Bonnie Tyler Band required a singing guitarist and Steve joined them, touring Europe & America when It's a Heartache, Bonnie's second hit single, was a chart topper. This led to an appearance on Top of the Pops. Steve then joined Sprinkler, Dennis Waterman's backing band, in the early eighties, replacing Alan Coates for the first time. The band continued until the mid-eighties, when they were called upon as session/backing players to the hit group Bucks Fizz. He did many UK and European tours with them. Steve was injured in the infamous Bucks Fizz coach crash. Touring with Bucks Fizz led to an audition with the newly formed Cliff Richard Band in 1987. He toured with Cliff for three years, including visits to New Zealand, Australia and Europe. Steve was part of the concert called The Event at the now demolished Wembley Stadium. In the early nineties he toured with Elaine Paige, again as guitarist/vocalist. He later worked with glam rockers the Glitter Band, both touring and in the recording studio.

From 1996 to 1999 Steve worked in various theatres, playing guitar for comedian Billy Pearce, singer David Essex, and as part of comedy duo Hale n' Pace's backing band. Also in the nineties he did many recording sessions at Pelican Studios, which was part owned by Ray Stiles, bass guitarist with The Hollies. Steve performs as a solo artist when not on tour with the band. He has written and recorded many original songs over the past thirty years, and released his first solo CD in 2012, titled At Last. In 2014 he released his second CD, titled Curfew. He has toured the USA in support of these CD’s and is currently recording his third solo effort.

References: www.hollies.co.uk             www.stevelaurimusic.com www.allmusic.com/artist/the-hollies-mn0000087985/biography www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-lauri-mn0001740860 www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-laurie-mn0001545257