Laura Lind
Singer: soloist, lead singer and harmony vocalist; rhythm and lead picker of some delicate and fearless Autoharp. Arrrr.

Laura has a powerful unique voice and an extensive repertoire of traditional historic songs and fiddle tunes; and is a prolific and published song writer. She rocks and sings the blues. In 2007 she won 1st place lead picking on Autoharp at the Fiddle & Bango (sic) Contest, Columbia, California, in the in the miscellaneous category. She was voted first place three-years-in-a-row in a vocal duet as "People's Choice for Outstanding Performance on the Open Stage" at the Mt. Laurel Autoharp Gathering in Pennsylvania (1998-2000). Her duet album, "Wild Birds" received airplay in 17 countries. (Hear Laura Lind at Amazon.com or on autoharpradio.com)

A fourth generation San Franciscan, born to her Scandanavian Dance Troop leader parents after a rousing Hambo at a New Year's Eve party, where they were dressed as clowns (no she's not making this up!); and third generation family resident of rural Sebastopol in Sonoma County. She began dancing and singing on stage at the age of 5, when Mel Torme (The Velvet Voice) asked her to sing "My Favorite Things"with him on a San Francisco based televised holiday special.

Musical Partnerships

  • The West County Professional Tea Sippers Old-time String Band (www.TheTeaSippers.com)

    Proudly opened for Dr. Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mt. Boys at SeaBiscuit's Barn, 2008.

    Featured singer, songwriter & lead Autoharp instrumentalist, 4 players. Laura sings lead and harmony. The repertoire includes 1920's-1930's, Appalachian fiddle tunes, old-time country blues, old-time Gospel, Californiarter Family selections and originals by Laura Lind & Searle Whitney. Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival 2008, Mission Pub, Ardenwood Farm

  • Featured artist of Sonoma Counties' KRCB Radio program "Walks of Life." 2004

  • Performed with Bryan Bowers and Larry Hanks at Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, California; and "Lost Weekend", Don Burnham's "Bob Will's Swing-style" band; "life-style coordinator" on-road assistant for celebrated blues singer Maria Muldaur (Midnight at the Oasis) on several musical tours; assisted with biography on folk musician, Sam Hinton; and assisted Laurie Lewis' female vocal class at the 2004 California Bluegrass Associations' Music Camp, Grass Valley, California., and featured at schools, libraries and private events.

  • Laura Lind & Adam Miller

    2001 CD, "Wildbirds" received airplay in 17 countries. Lead and harmony vocalist in duo. Featured performers on folk and traditional stages in California, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Performed "Singing Through History Program" throughout California: Libraries, benefits, hospitals, school assemblies and classrooms for children from kindergarten to high school and for their parents; in SED and migrant education programs and helped in the roots of the California Autoharp Gathering in Mendota, California.

  • "Skippin' & Flyin'" Old-time & Gospel Duet with Searle Whitney, 2006

    Fiddle, A'harp harmony singing duet, songwriting, Anderson Marsh OT&BG Fest 2006

  • "52 Pick-Up" Autoharp & Swedish Nyckelharpa, Scandanavian and Celtic, 2004

    World music duet, (52 strings altogether) with Enid Bennion, Nyckelharpa.

  • "Julater" Swing vocal trio, 1930's-1940's , Novelty, Andrews Sisters, Boswell Sisters, scat

    Sang accapella for the Mayor of Taipei in Taiwan, 1982 and after in Taiwanese language for a couple of special banquet's honoring Buddist spiritual leader, Dr. Lin Yun, Burlingame, CA.


The Autoharp: An American Instrument

The Autoharp is a truly American instrument patented by a German immigrant around the turn-of-the-century and once more popular than the guitar. It's basically a zither with felted chord bars to damp out particular strings.

Laura plays diatonic Autoharps equipped with fine-tuners on 36 strings. She performs on a Carter-gold Orthey D/G (A) Autoharp custom-made for her by Dr. George Orthey of Pennsylvania, including Mulberry wood from the Carter Family Ranch in Virginia.; an Oscar-Schmidt Wildwood Flower Bb/F (C) Autoharp refurbished by Todd Crowley (with sound hole graphic detail by chromatic Autoharpist Ivan Stiles), and a one-key E Black 1963 Oscar-Schmidt Autoharp with fine tuners created by Pete D'Aigle.


Laura's Performances include:

  • The Traditional Folk Societies' Summer Solstice Festival, Calibasas, California

  • The Adam's Avenue Roots Festival, San Diego, California

  • The Santa Barbara Old-Time Fiddler's Convention

  • The Mt. Laurel Autoharp Gathering, Newport, Pennsylvania
    Workshop: Duet Performance Techniques

  • The Willamette Valley Oregon Autoharp Gathering

  • The California Autoharp Gathering, Mendota, California
    Helped create first festival

  • Point Richmond's First Fiddle Festival

  • Freight & Salvage (Bryan Bowers show)

  • The Claremont Folk Festival, So. California

  • CBA Music Camp, Grass Valley, California
    Volunteer Assistant, Vocal Workshop: American Roots Gospel Singing

  • The Anderson Marsh Old-time & Bluegrass Festival, Lower Lake, California
    Workshop: Carter Family w/ Searle Whitney

  • The New College of San Francisco
    Workshop: Using Folk Music in the Classroom

  • Spring-Fling Autoharp Gatheringm Modesto, California
    Workshop: One Voice, One Autoharp

  • The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival
    Workshop: Carter Family Singing

  • Brookdale Bluegrass Festival, Brookdale, California

  • Stanford University Museum, Palo Alto

  • Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival, California

  • The San Francisco Free Folk Festival

  • Harmony Holiday Festival, Santa Rosa, California

  • City of Palo Alto, 9-11 Memorial & Peace Vigil

  • The Goddess Festival, Sebastopol, California

  • The Silverado Country Club, Napa, California

  • The Ace-in-the-Hole Brew Pub, Graton, California

  • The Black Rose Pub, Santa Rosa, California
    Old-time jam leader, sub for Don Coffin

  • The Mission Pizza & Pub, Fremont, California

  • California schools & libraries from Petrolia to Southern California, including migrant farm programs, for ages K-12 and adults

  • Radio, Live: KUUP, KPIG, KAZU, KRCB

  • Private Events: business, birthdays, weddings, memorials and graveside

Awards

  • 1998, 1999, 2000: 3 time winner of the "People's Choice Award" for Outstanding Musical Performance Open Stage
    Mt. Laurel Pennsylvania Autoharp Gathering & International Championship, Vocal duet

  • 2007: 1st Place Winner: Misc., Autoharp, Fiddle & Bango (sic) Contest, Columbia, California

Copyright © 2009 by the West County Professional Tea Sippers' Oldtime String Band