Laurie Berkner

Laurie Berkner didn't set out to become a children's performer, and that might provide in some small way an explanation for her success. As a member of an all-woman cover band and an aspiring songwriter, Berkner had been deeply involved in music since her youth. But it wasn't until she turned her hand to writing children's music -- thanks in part to her work as a music specialist at New York-area preschools -- that she uncovered a deep vein of previously unrealized creativity. Her creations struck a chord with the pint-sized set, and since then, she has made a living releasing music that appeals to children without pandering to them. She released her debut, Whaddaya Think Of That? in 1997, joined by husband Brian Mueller on bass and Susie Lampert on keyboards. She formed her own record company, Two Tomatoes, for her 1998 sophomore effort Buzz Buzz. By the time she released her third album, the buzz had become so loud she garnered a national distribution deal. Her first album was remastered and released on CD, generating rave reviews in children's press and setting off an avalanche of awards as well as primping the Laurie Berkner Band for its weekly appearance on NOGGIN's Jack's Big Music Show.