THE MISTER LAURENCE EXPERIENCE
BANDCAMP
Music for Children Ages 2 thru 200
BRIEF BACK STORY
1998: Laurence reinvented himself as Mister Laurence, a children's entertainer. He soon begins working in the local children's preschools as "Music Guy" and begins writing songs for children. Laurence started recording and releasing these original songs on CD, and eventually performing all over S.E. Michigan. These concert were accompanied by his prerecorded backup group The Play Money Band. Original, skeletal backing tracks ripped from the recording he made.
1999: Laurence begins attending video production classes at Ann Arbor's Community Television Network. From there he learned how to shoot, edit, and produce his own shows while developing close relationships with other fellow producers and crewmates.
2000: Mister Laurence begins his once-a-month radio show on Ann Arbor's WCBN with deejay Sean Westergaard. Together they spin records from his vintage collection (40's thru 60's), as well as playing his originals 'unplugged' over the air.
2001: Laurence is now producing music videos and 'live' performances at A2CTN on a regular basis.
2003: Video productions begin receiving 1st place and finalist awards.
2009: Mister Laurence expands his solo shtick with his wife, Ms. Princess Melinda. She played synth keyboard and sang, along with her amazing animatronic mechanical brainchild; OSO the Drumming Bear! Together they begin production on their 30-minute TV Variety Show for children called Mister Laurence's Enchanted Green Tree Fort.
2010: Mister Laurence's Enchanted Green Tree Fort wins first place prize in the local government 'Variety & Entertainment' category as Mister Laurence begins writing the script and composing the music for a full-length family friendly musical-film called GROWING GRAPES FOR THE FUTURE.
2012: The Mister Laurence Experience begins shooting their musical film, Growing Grapes for the Future as they continue to perform throughout S.E. Michigan and produce more music video's to their original music. Their rock trio presentation for kids then record their last CD The Teddy Bear's Picnic that year before disbanding.
2013: Mister Laurence downsizes his presentation to a one-man-band once again, and wraps up the last of the scenes to shoot for their musical-film Growing Grapes for the Future.
2014: Growing Grapes for the Future is completed with the trailer screened in Royal Oak at The Michigan Mitten Movie Project on April Fool's day. Perfect. The Director's Cut debut screening was then held in Ann Arbor's 'Yellow Barn' next month on May 9th 2014 with a full house.
2015: Mister Laurence continues to perform in S.E. Michigan along with his Play Money Band, with more music video uploads.
2016 thru 2024: Mister Laurence takes a back seat to performance, focusing on singing for children at the local preschools.
2025: Mister Laurence and Ms. Princess Melinda move upstate Michigan where one can still witness Mister Laurence perform, from time to time, along with his Play Money Band. Stay Tuned!
2001 Sterlingfest
Below we see 'live' clips from their debut CD release Concert for 'MARMALINE' My Music Machine - fall 2009.
By 2010 they'd added a third member ~ OSO the (ANIMATRONIC) drumming bear! This little guy was first showcased in their award winning music video "I'm GLAD at You!" OSO soon joined them on stage in December of that year.
PROMO SHOT Summer 2010
Ms. Princess Melinda OSO the Drumming Bear Mister Laurence
Kiddie Rockin' it on stage at Plymouth Green Fair
2011
Pictured below we see OSO after having just played his solo
on their 2012 music video THE TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC.
Music Videos by The MLE
ROCKIN' IN A WONDERWORLD 'live'
OSO the Drumming Bear
{'documentary'}
GROWING GRAPES FOR THE FUTURE
{Extended Trailer}
[2014]
GROWING GRAPES FOR THE FUTURE
{School Kids Cut}
CTN Interview Mr. Laurence
[2015]
REVIEWS
THE MISTER LAURENCE EXPERIENCE
(October 1999) The Ann Arbor Observer / "New A2 Children's Performer" ~ Kate Conner-Ruben
"...In
his Monopoly-money shirt, nerdy horn-rims, slicked-back hair, and
left-handed guitar, Laurence Miller, Ann Arbor
rocker/composer/iconoclast extraordinaire, has found a new niche --
children's music! Never one to be pigeonholed, Miller has gone
through as many personas and musical styles as Madonna. From his teen
years in the band Sproton Layer (with brothers Ben and Roger) to the
theatrically rich, ultra-complicated music of Larynx Zillion's
Novelty Shop, Miller has kept Ann Arbor audiences guessing for a long
time. Now, as Mister Laurence, he's out to win the hearts of a new
generation!.."
(August 2003) CDBaby.com / Music Review for Flaghorn (Re-issue)
"...If Weezer put out a children's album, it'd pretty much sound like this. An ironically pleasing track, titled 'Good Manners', mixes a ridiculously silly post-punk attitude into a knee-slapping, foot stomping, sing-a-long encouraging kids to be respectful and courteous to their peers and elders!..."
(August 2006) NYC Librarian Blog "Children's Music that Rocks" / Music Review for Recess Forever
Warren Truitt: Children's Librarian in Donnell Central Children's Room / New York Public Library
"...There’s a musical legend living in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, R. Stevie Moore, who pretty much invented the D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) ethic in the late 60s, early 70s. Since that time, he has recorded literally hundreds of cassette tapes, vinyl LPs, and CDs, all chock full of his off-kilter yet brilliantly perfect pop compositions, writing, playing, recording, and producing everything himself.
Tucked away in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is Laurence Bond Miller, aka Mister Laurence, the children’s music version of R. Stevie Moore. Since 1999 Miller has released five CDs, Flaghorn, Tugboat Tow, Bubbleland, Pure Gibberish, and Recess Forever!, with another, Marmaline, to be released soon. I can‘t recommend one CD over another, so browse Mr. L’s witty, silly website and check out the awesomeness of individual tracks like 'Bubbleland', 'Recess Forever', 'Is There an Echo in the Room?', 'Little Flower', 'Jack ‘n’ Jill’s Hill', and the Zen sentiments of 'The Sky is in the Sky!' and 'We Won’t Be Afraid' ("even if we are afraid we won’t be afraid"). The only group who comes close to his combination of inventiveness and quirkiness is They Might Be Giants, who would be well advised to team up with Mister Laurence and create the greatest Kid’s album ever. Hey, it could happen!..."
(March
2007) School Library Journal Music Review / Recess
Forever Beverly Bixler San Antonio Public Library TX.
"...Laurence
Miller, aka Mister Laurence, wrote 11 of the 12 songs and poems on
this, his fifth album, using a variety of rock styles, from a
Beach Boys sound to hard rock. Most of the compositions deal with
school topics. Vocal and instrumental performances are very
good. Mister Laurence and his Play Money Band perform on guitars,
keyboards, clarinet, recorder, bass, and drums. The play list
includes 'Recess Forever!', 'Rusty Swing', 'We Won't Be Afraid' (of
tests, mistakes, etc.), 'Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful Trees', 'I'm
a Little Teapot' (with additional words and music by Laurence),
'There's a Poem in My Head', 'Toe-Touching Torchy and the Talking
Shoes' (part spoken poem, part a cappella song), 'Choe Chee's
Reoccurring Dream', a reprise of 'Recess Forever', and more.
Libraries in Michigan may be especially interested in this offering
by the Ann Arbor native."
Fan-Mail about his song THINK TANK ~ June 2007 Anonymous Fan
"Last night I had a nightmare that Think Tank the Bear thought me right out of existence. I dreamed that I was looking for my friend, and as I was looking for him, various characters from your CD, Pure Gibberish, appeared and stopped me, getting in my way. Finally, Think Tank the Bear proceeded to actually think me right out of existence! It was a very weird dream!"
Mary Franz (2009)
Toting
his electric green sparkle guitar, decked out in
turn-of-the-century Oliver Twist appeal, Mr. Laurence is as likely to
resemble an Edwardian street singer as a children's performer.
Backed by his own original prerecorded tracks for each song, Mr.
Laurence continues to demonstrate why this experiential presentation
is fast becoming one of the most loved children's
presentation on the SE Michigan kid scene today.
(May 2011) Jungle Jimmy Children's Music Review
"...The Mister Laurence Experience is clearly a unique class act kids band. Their wide range of stylish songwriting covers a slew of genres ranging from; Punk, Pop, Blues Rock, Ambient Soundtrack and even Musicals. Lyrical points of view celebrate the natural wonder of extraordinary landscapes in both fantastical flights of fancy and heartfelt sentiments from first hand experiences, expressed from a child's perspective.
In the Words of Mister Laurence ~
Mister Laurence performed original music and clever arrangements of kiddie classic since 1998. They were the healthy alternative to purple dinosaurs and fast-food clowns in so many words. In performance, original and sophisticated backing tracks convinces the listener there are twice as many human and ursine musicians on stage than actually are. Mister Laurence & Ms. Princess Melinda produced a community cable TV kids show called ‘Mister Laurence’s Enchanted Green Tree Fort' winning 1st Place in the Entertainment Variety category at NATOA Government Programming Awards. They also landed 1st place for their children’s music videos at West Branch Children’s Film Festival and Philo T. Farnsworth Festival 2009 thru 2011. Their last two CD's (Marmaline My Music Machine
and Teddy Bear's Picnic) were 110% top notch, and in 2014 with the screening of their musical film "Growing Grapes for the Future"
they closed up shop. Long Live the MLE!