Lorraine Leckie
Lorraine Leckie (née Turansky), is a New York City based Canadian singer and songwriter. She performs solo and with her band, "Lorraine Leckie and her Demons".
Biography
Lorraine Leckie was born and raised in Whitby, Ontario, near Toronto, with her sister Brenda Turansky and brother Paul Turansky (deceased). In her early years, she was surrounded by the music of Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, but in the seventies she converted to punk rock, married Steve Leckie of The Viletones, and started her career as a makeup artist in the fashion industry. After a decade of working in Europe, she put down roots in New York City and began working with celebrity clients such as Paul McCartney, Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni, and Heidi Klum. It wasn’t until the age of 37 that Leckie decided it was time for a change, picked up a guitar, and by 40 was performing all over the city. Leckie earned her title as the Lower East Side folk noir troubadour playing venues such as Bowery Ballroom, Webster Hall & Mercury Lounge, often joined by her Rock band, Her Demons.[1]
Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons released their first full-length album, 'Four Cold Angels,' in 2008, a deeply rooted rock album with grungy guitar and heavy-hitting drums. 'Four Cold Angels' was rated on The Village Voice's Pazz and Jop 2008 list,[2] and the song "Ontario" was on Pazz & Jop 2009.[3] Anton Newcombe of Brian Jonestown Massacre collaborated and sang with Leckie on a cover of the Pogues’ “Dirty Old Town” for the album. The song went on to become the featured title track for the acclaimed 2011 film 'Dirty Old Town' directed by Jenner Furst. The film is an ode to the Lower East Side starring Billy LeRoy, Leckie’s current husband and proprietor of the New York establishment Billy’s Antiques and Props.
A departure from her rock n' roll debut,' Leckie revealed her quiet side with a solo album, Martini Eyes, released in New York on September 29, 2010.
Leckie's most recent album, 'Rudely Interrupted' is a collaboration with Anthony Haden-Guest. Drawing inspiration from Haden-Guest's book of cartoons and verses, "In The Mean Time." Leckie brought the poetry to life, writing music for Haden-Guest's words. 'Rudely Interrupted' was released in New York on Nov 12, 2012 at the Mercury Lounge.[4]
Leckie is currently working on two new albums to be released in 2014-2015.
Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons is a Rock band based in Brooklyn, NY. The band consists of Lorraine Leckie (guitar, vocals, piano), Hugh Pool (electric guitar), Paul Triff (drums), Charles Dechants (bass), Buddy Cage (pedal steel). Lorraine Leckie often tours the United States with her Folk Noir trio consisting of Pavel Cingl (violin) and Lisa Zwier (back-up vocals). The trio also opens for Phil Shoenfelt & Southern Cross in Europe.
Discography
| Year Released | Album Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Four Cold Angels | Lorraine Leckie (words except*, vocals, acoustic guitar, piano); Hugh Pool (production except **, recording, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, percussion); George Jackson (bass guitar); Paul Triff (drums, percussion); *Ewan MacColl (words and music for "Dirty Old Town"); **Anton Newcombe (production, guitar, bass guitar, harmonica for "Dirty Old Town") |
| 2010 | Martini Eyes | Lorraine Leckie (all words, vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica); George Jackson (production, recording) |
| 2012 | Rudely Interrupted | Lorraine Leckie (words, composition, vocals except*, guitar, piano); *Anthony Haden-Guest (original verses as published in the book "In The Mean Time", vocals on "Goodbye to All This"); George Jackson (production, bass. floor tom, guitar); Hugh Pool (guitar, lap steel, harmonica); Matt Kanelos (piano); Tracy Ann Blaser (violin); Charles Dechants (recording) |
References
- ↑ "Official Website". lorraineleckie.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ↑ "New York Pazz and Jop Albums". Villagevoice.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
- ↑ "New York Pazz and Jop Singles". Villagevoice.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
- ↑ "Official Press Release". lorraineleckie.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.