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Laurie Morvan is a dynamo who brings a much needed female perspective to the male-dominated blues stage. Truly motivational, there isn’t a challenge in life that she hasn’t met head on. “I just get interested in things and I go do them,” she declares of her take-charge attitude. “I don’t feel there are ever limitations.”
Morvan grew up in small-town Illinois listening to her step-father’s country music, her mother’s soft pop/rock and her own melange of tunes. Always the over-achiever, in high school she earned 12 varsity letters as an athlete and played flute and drums. But it was her introduction to the acoustic guitar by a friend that would direct her life. “The guitar is so fascinating to me,” explains Morvan, “an unending source of inspiration and wonder, something no mere human could ever master.” Five productive years at the University of Illinois brought her a volleyball scholarship, a degree in electrical engineering and private, commercial, instrument and multi-engine pilot’s licenses.
In 1984, the tug of war between academics and music for Morvan’s heart followed her to Los Angeles where she took a job at an aerospace company and joined a rock ‘n’ roll cover band. Ultimately, strings defeated science. Morvan quit her job to tour as a lead guitarist and vocalist.
Somewhere along the road, she encountered the life-altering universe of Stevie Ray Vaughan. “Stevie was my gateway,” she recalls. “His music just sort of opened that whole door to the blues.” Not wanting to be a copy cat, Morvan spent countless hours perfecting the clean tone, the tasteful, straight ahead delivery and the intricate arpeggio guitar picking that are hers and hers alone.
Determined to record her own music on her own label (Screaming Lizard Records), Morvan returned to school, earned a Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics and taught college math classes to defray the costs. Three CDs, Out of the Woods (1997), Find My Way Home (2004) and Cures What Ails Ya (2007) set the press astir. Modern Guitarist praised the “stunning California axe slinger” for her “exhilarating electric blues guitar style,” while Blues Revue extolled Morvan’s “wiry, fiery solos and sweet, soaring voice.” Forever pushing the envelope, her newest venture, Fire It Up! was named the Best Self-Produced CD at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.
Morvan is convinced that songs are her most valuable creations. “The greatest guitar solo will only go so far,” she insists,” but people will connect with the words. I believe we musicians have a sacred calling to heal the world, but you’ve got to have the songs.”
Morvan is both thrilled and humbled by the prospect of establishing a rapport with an audience during a live performance. “Every minute I’m on the stage is precious to me” she remarks. “It’s the sharing of the music and seeing people’s reaction to it. It’s a huge wonderful thing to do in life.”
With her soulful Bonnie Raitt/Christine McVie vocals, high-wire guitar chops and convincing song crafting, Laurie Morvan has a tenacious grip on the blues spotlight. She’s not about to let go. www.lauriemorvan.com
Ken Wright
