Adult Contemporary “New Artist of the Year” Winner Laurence Elder was hooked on music from an early age.  He grew up listening to his guitarist/singer mom belting out Bob Dylan tunes, and his classical pianist dad playing Mozart and Chopin as he would drift off to sleep at night. He took lessons on and off, but relied largely on his ears as he picked up songs of various styles, playing in school productions, jam sessions, and family gatherings. After joining a band in his late teens and getting his first real taste of live performance, music had established itself as a true calling and he never looked back. 

Fast-forward to Laurence becoming a critically acclaimed songwriter, vocalist, and pianist, whose fresh, inspired cross-genre blend of jazz, pop, blues and rock helped to define the original sound that won him international acclaim with his debut album, “Surrounded.”  He has toured extensively, and recorded with Grammy winners Peter Erskine and Paquito D’Rivera, who both appear as guests on that first release. His music has received accolades from JAZZIZ Magazine, Modern Drummer Magazine, The Miami Herald, Inside MusiCast, and countless music industry luminaries. 

Laurence has headlined with his band at New York City’s Blue Note Jazz Club, Washington DC’s Blues Alley, JAZZIZ Nightlife, and the Philippine International Jazz Festival, to name a few, and has opened for a wide variety of artists such as Al DiMeola, Livingston Taylor, Jesse Harris, Kenny Werner, and Betty Buckley.  His original song, “Now,” was nominated for a POSI Award by Empower Music and Arts, a national organization which recognizes music with a positive message. 

Bringing light and upliftment through music is a theme that has culminated in Laurence’s new album, “Walk Another Mile,” which features some of the original personnel from "Surrounded," as well as colorful additions such as guitarist Mike Stern and trumpet legend Randy Brecker, also co-author of the liner notes. Already receiving positive reviews, “Walk Another Mile,” is a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, or in the words of Rick Such from Inside MusiCast, “Good things come to those who wait.”