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PLAIN FOLK

Laura Loveby Les Pearson
Stumbling into Summer with Memories of Love--Laura Love, That Is!

Before this summer's festivals bloom, reminisce with me about last season's finest folk flowers. My American blossoms include Ruthie Foster, Ani DiFranco, Mary Gauthier and the perennial favourite, Linda Tillery.

The American folk divas are exotic. But Laura Love is gaudier. She is a bird of paradise in fields of posies.

Laura was a colourful addition to Canmore's 2003 corsage. I caught up to her after a rollicking, rhythmic, workshop. Like many other American performers last summer, Laura used her performance platform to beat the drums against Bush and the Iraq war.

Her stage show featured Love's vitriolic protest song, "I Want You Gone." Guess whom she meant. You can check out this song and all her albums by signing into www.LauraLove.net

Our interview began with my ignorance. I asked how a White girl from Nebraska had mastered Black gospel, soul, and blues. (Eric Bibb had even called her "sister.") Laura laughed. She then talked briefly about "passing."

I had reasons for my racial faux pas. Laura Love's repertoire features English and Appalachian folk songs. Songs like Five Hundred Miles and I Am a Poor Wayfarin' Stranger couple with her original ballads. In fact, Laura variously describes her music as "hip-Alachian," "Afro-Celtic," and "folk funk." But the main reason for my stumble? It was her yodeling!

Love's yodeling talent must have startled folk brothers and sisters at first. I doubt if the Alps has so fine a yodeller. But, then, you might expect this from a Mid-West belle. (Or someone with a fine sense of irony.)

With Laura Love, expect the unexpected. She defies the odds--and prejudices.

Laura is the daughter of Wini, a jazz singer, and band leader, Preston Love. Preston played for Count Bassie and other jazz greats before launching his own band in the Midwest. And although he fathered two girls with Wini, Preston could not marry her. You see, he was already married. Laura grew up thinking daddy was dead and watching mom move in and out of mental wards.

The full story of harsh childhood poverty, and Laura's rise from it, is recorded in her memoir, You Ain't Got No Easter Clothes. It was published last summer.

You might think that personal experience would quash Laura's maternal urge. Unexpectantly, Laura adopted an abused child and lives in the wilds of the Northwest. Most of her shows this summer will be close to home. She quipped, "I'm a mother now. A toddler does my hair."

Did anyone notice? Her audience was lost in Love's rhythms, spectacular vocal range, and rich harmonies. I was dazzled by her laughter.

Apologies to Jane Siberry! In last week's column I misspelled her name. Jane was gracious when advised. She also noted that "...my songs have been performed by k. d. (lang) but not by Sarah (McLachlan) and Alanis (Morissette)." Thank you, Jane, for gracious forgiveness. Life can be one awkward stumble after another. Does falling forward count as progress?