Thomas Lauderdale
This poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "Thomas Lauderdale" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2009) |
Thomas Lauderdale | |
---|---|
Heinz Records | |
Website | Pink Martini website |
Thomas Mack Lauderdale (born July 14, 1970) is an American musician and pianist, largely known for his work with his Portland-based band Pink Martini.
Early life
Thomas Mack Lauderdale was born in 1970 in Oakland, California, and adopted by Kerby Roy and Linda Sue, née Mikesell. In 1972, the family moved to Indiana, where his father was pastor at Eel River Church of the Brethren. After church services, Lauderdale usually went to the piano, and tried to replicate the hymns he heard. His parents bought for him an upright piano at an auction and so he began his formal musical studies at age six with Patricia Garrison of North Manchester, Indiana and later, Joyanne Jones at Indiana University/Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
In 1976, his father resigned from the ministry and the Lauderdale family opened a plant nursery near North Manchester. The family moved to
Education
In Portland, Oregon Lauderdale began his studies with Sylvia Killman in 1982. Killman and Lauderdale remain close friends. Lauderdale won the "Oregon Symphony's annual Corbett Competition" in 1985, marking the beginning of a long association with conductor Norman Leyden. He graduated from Portland's Ulysses S. Grant High School in 1988, where he was student body president and editor of The Grantonian. Lauderdale studied at Harvard University, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in History and Literature.[1]
Pink Martini band
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (June 2016) |
After seeing the
Pink Martini's first concerts were often politically motivated, with performances at events for progressive causes such as the environment, affordable housing, civil rights, libraries, and public broadcasting.[2] The band remains committed to its progressive and political roots. FundFest is a biennial four-day concert series produced by the band to raise money and visibility for four different organizations. Past recipients include Reach Community Development, Oregon Public Broadcasting, the ALS Association of Oregon and SW Washington, Children's Cancer Association, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Friends of Trees, and KBOO Community Radio.
Pink Martini has grown from four musicians to its current twelve. Singer
The band has collaborated and performed with numerous artists, such as Jimmy Scott, Carol Channing, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Jane Powell, Henri Salvador, Chavela Vargas, New York performer Joey Arias, puppeteer Basil Twist, Georges Moustaki, Michael Feinstein, filmmaker Gus Van Sant, Courtney Taylor, Taylor of The Dandy Warhols, clarinetist and conductor Norman Leyden, Japanese legend Hiroshi Wada, Italian actress and songwriter Alba Clemente, DJ Johnny Dynell and Chi Chi Valenti, NPR White House Correspondent Ari Shapiro, the original cast of Sesame Street, March Fourth Marching Band, The von Trapps, the Bonita Vista High School Marching Band from Chula Vista, California, and the Pacific Youth Choir of Portland, Oregon.
Albums
Pink Martini has released seven studio albums and one live concert DVD on the band's own record label, Heinz Records and partnered with other labels worldwide, including Naïve Records in France, Wrasse Records in the United Kingdom and South America, Audiogram in Canada, Urtext in Mexico, Random Records in Argentina and Chile, Inertia Recordings in Australia and New Zealand, Ales in Korea, and Top 2 in Southeast Asia. The band's debut album Sympathique was released in 1997, and received nominations for "Song of the Year" and "Best New Artist" in France's Victoires de la Musique awards. Sympathique (1997), Hang on Little Tomato (2004), and Hey Eugene! (2007), Splendor In The Grass (2009) and Joy To The World (2010) have all gone gold in France, Turkey, Greece, and Canada selling over 2.5 million copies worldwide.
In Fall 2011 the band released two albums –
Individual appearances
In addition to his work with Pink Martini, Lauderdale has collaborated with cabaret performer and singer
He has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the Oregon Symphony, the Seattle Symphony, the Portland Youth Philharmonic, Chamber Music Northwest, the Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland and Oregon Ballet Theatre (where he collaborated with choreographer James Canfield and visual artists Storm Tharp and Malia Jensen on a ballet based on the original story of Bambi, written by Felix Salten in 1923).
Political activism
Beginning in high school, Lauderdale became interested in politics. He worked in Portland City Hall, first under Mayor
In June 2009, Lauderdale organized a rally of support for Portland Mayor Sam Adams, the first openly gay mayor of a major American city. Adams had been caught up in an alleged sex scandal with intern Beau Breedlove, the times reports that the "Oregonian, the local police union and JustOut, a local gay periodical" were calling for his resignation.[5] Portlanders at Lauderdale's rally compared Adams to Bill Clinton, saying he only lied about sex and should not resign.[6]
In October 2011, Lauderdale and Pink Martini organized and performed at a rally in support of the Occupy movement. The rally took place in downtown Portland in Pioneer Courthouse Square and included speeches and performances by Storm Large as well as Oregon congressmen Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio.[7]
Personal life
Lauderdale lives in the Harker Building, a 9,600 square foot building in the downtown’s commercial district in Portland, Oregon.[8]
See also
References
- ^ Pink Martini - Thomas M. Lauderdale
- ^ Pink Martini: Biography
- ^ "Saori Yuki wants a kayōkyoku wave | The Japan Times Online". www.japantimes.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2011-11-17.
- ^ Stabler, David (16 November 2008). "Thomas Lauderdale steals the show." The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon.
- ^ Sharples, Tiffany (27 January 2009). "Can Portland's Gay Mayor Survive a Scandal?". Time. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ Redden, Jim. "Public reacting to Adams' actions". Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ "Pink Martini's Populist Rally -- CULTUREPHILE: PORTLAND ARTS". Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
- ^ Keates, Nancy. "Living in a Pop-Culture Archive". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 March 2012.