Rock Music for Kids

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Ann Arbor's Original Kiddie Rock & Roll Group!

"Connecting the dots between parent & child,
thus bridging the multi-generation gap"

OSO, the Drumming Bear

"Beatin' the skins" keeping an awfully mean back-beat

Although OSO has been shooting music videos with the group, he will not begin performing until this coming October.
NOTE: The Mister Laurence Experience will still be performing "au natural" depending on the circumstance. 

THE PLAY MONEY BAND
(their prerecorded backup group!)
Additional programmed drums, bass, various instruments, and fun sound effects

JULY 2010 PRESS RELEASE

AND OSO MAKES THREE

Performing bears are not unknown in the world of kids’ entertainment, having sung, marched, and danced through all manner of musical productions, from The Muppets to The Nutcracker Suite. A legion of ursine heroes can also be found in children’s literature (Winnie the Pooh), movies (the Berenstain Bears) and on television (remember Yogi, the picnic basket craving character of 60’s cartoon fame?) Nonetheless, when a 4-foot tall animatronic plush brown bear takes to the stage, positions himself behind the drum kit, and begins to tap out a handy beat while the rock ‘n’ roll band in front blasts out happy chords, kids are bound to jump out of their seats and take notice.

Meet OSO the drumming bear, the newest addition to the sweetly zany musical collaboration known as the Mister Laurence Experience. A long-beloved children’s entertainer in the Ann Arbor community, Mister Laurence (nee Laurence Bond Miller) performed as a solo act until last year, when he was joined by sidekick and wife, the incomparable Ms. Princess Melinda. Looking to expand their musical horizons even further, the couple thought long and hard about the right addition to their “kiddie rock and roll group”.

It was Ms. Princess Melinda who hit on the notion of a mechanized drumming bear. Inspired by the dual muses of Douglas the Singing Fir and Mister Laurence’s Grandma Lucy’s pet bear, OSO was created to provide the duo with “a mean back-beat”.  This rounds out the band’s unique pop sound which now consists of Mister Laurence singing on guitar, Ms. Princess Melinda singing on keyboard, both jamming along with their prerecorded backup group (The Play Money Band) and newest member OSO, the Drumming Bear!

Designed and built with the help of two engineers, and named after Mister Laurence’s sister’s pet dog (OSO means bear in Spanish), the mechanical bear’s creation took nearly a year and was not without pitfalls. Notes Mister Laurence: “The making of OSO's authentic paws was a real trick. Black acrylic paint, fake fingernails, and a whole lot of elbow grease. We had troubles finding the right air compressor, too - one to ensure enough drive for a strong back beat, without propelling OSO thru the roof in the process.”

But as the old adage goes, persistence pays off, and in May of this year OSO made his debut in the Mister Laurence Experience’s latest music video, “I’m GLAD at You”, a 4-minute foray into the madcap, in which OSO deftly delivers the percussive goods, seemingly oblivious to the clouds of smoke and horde of dancing fans that envelop the band as they play. Plans are to begin performing live with OSO this fall, and to include him in as many future videos, “as OSO himself feels prompted”. The band will also continue to perform “au natural”.

Mister Laurence is quite optimistic about the new drummer’s potential, and confident that in time OSO will expand his repertoire and role in the band. “Right now OSO is a little shy with crowds, but clearly has the will to rock out, and we’re hoping this time next year he will be executing perfect paradiddles.” 

OSO’s debut performance may be viewed at the Mister Laurence Experience website, www.misterlaurence.com and also on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/user/Flaghorn.

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CONTACT  INFO  and  WASHTENAW  BOOKING
(Libraries, Elementary Schools, Birthday Parties, and select events)
MISTER LAURENCE
mlbmiller@gmail.com
734-883-0964

BOOKING  AGENT  &  PUBLICIST
(Festivals, Fairs, and other larger performance venues)
 MARY FRANZ
mmc54@comcast.net
617-469-5022

MUSIC VIDEOS

(Taking 1st Place music video in 2010 West Branch Children's Film Festival)

STAR FISH
(Taking 1st Place in both the 2009 West Branch Children's Film Festival and 2009 Philo T Farnsworth Film Festival)

MORE MUSIC VIDEOS ON THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL CLICK HERE!

LISTEN TO BUY THEIR CD's & MP3's HERE

Support local business in Ann Arbor by driving over to buy
all our cool CD's at NICOLA'S BOOKS out in the West Gate Shopping Mall!

Mister Laurence on MySpace
www.misterlaurence.com