Laurie Anderson
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Anderson invented the tape bow violin, an electronic method of creating various sampling patterns from input audio tape placed where the strings should be and playback capacities on the actual violin body.
There is an official web site at www.laurieanderson.com
Biography
Multimedia personality who combines poetry, stories, comedy, movement, songs, film, slides, and electronic effects to intriguing and entertaining effect in live shows and albums. Although her performing abilities have garnered quite a following, it is Anderson's film score contributions to such films as "Something Wild" (1986), "Swimming to Cambodia" (1987), and "Wings of Desire" (1987) that have won her recognition among mainstream audiences. Anderson's self-conceived, performed and directed "Home of the Brave" (1986) concert feature (which showcases such popular Anderson works as "Sharkey's Day," "Excellent Birds" and "Language D'Amour") makes original use of recording technology developed in part by Anderson herself.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Cinematography (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Visual Effects (Feature Film)
Special Thanks (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Cast (Special)
Writer (Special)
Music (Special)
Special Thanks (Special)
Life Events
1970
Taught art history at City College in NYC, Staten Island College and Pace University
1975
First major performance "As:if" at NYC's Artist Space
1978
Museum of Modern Art exhibited "Headphone Table: When You Were Hear"
1983
Premiered work, "United States", at Brooklyn Academy of Music; became one of the first newly named "performance artists" to receive widespread recognition
1983
Performed song, "Closed Circuit", in first feature, "System Without Shadow"
1986
Directed first feature, "Home of the Brave" (also starred, conceived, co-produced music for concert, film and soundtrack and composed words and music)
1987
Scored first film, "Swimming to Cambodia", starring Spalding Gray and directed by Jonathan Demme
1989
Contributed music, "Bad Blood", to TV special, "Bill Cosby Salutes Alvin Ailey"
1992
Wrote the score to "Monster in a Box", starring Gray and directed by Nick Broomfield
1992
Debuted "Stories From the Nerve Bible"
1996
Created the CD-ROM "Puppet Motel"
1999
Signed exclusive recording contract with Nonesuch Records
1999
Premiered "Songs and Stories from Moby Dick" in Dallas (April), toured USA and Europe
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Anderson invented the tape bow violin, an electronic method of creating various sampling patterns from input audio tape placed where the strings should be and playback capacities on the actual violin body.
There is an official web site at www.laurieanderson.com
Reportedly Anderson was once Junior Miss Illinois. According to the New York Post (January 16, 2001), Anderson told Webster Hall curator Baird Jones, "I was a manic enthusiast for entering beauty contests. That's my horrible secret and it still makes me hang my head."
