A life played out in song
Libby’s Early Career
Libby McLaren was born in Berkeley, California, a 4th generation Californian. She joined her first band “Night Flyte” at age 19. This band was wildly popular in the San Francisco Bay area in the early ’70’s gaining notoriety as a cutting edge Latin-Jazz-Fusion band, featuring Libby and Illana Morillo singing, Steve Gaboury on keyboards, Lincoln Goines on bass, Kim Plainfield on drums and Roger Squitero on percussion. This band moved to New York City in the fall of 1977, and immediately became a popular local band in the city, soon to be signed to GRP Records.
Libby on her 21st birthday performing with NightFlyte
Following many successful years of touring with Night Flyte, including a featured performance for the Cal Jazz Festival at the renowned Greek Theater in Berkeley, as well as touring and performing up and down the East Coast, Libby branched out to join other bands and explore different styles of music.
While living in New York, two of the most accomplished bands that Libby performed and recorded with were The Longhouse lead by vocalist and singer extraordinaire Lisa Herman. This band was known for its’ vocal tour de force featuring 6 of New York City’s finest singers: Libby, Margaret Dorn, Millie Whiteside, Lisa Lowell, Kevin DiSimone and Nikki Gregoroff. The band recorded an outstanding and classic rock album with Warner Bros. in 1984. Additionally Libby performed and toured with The Joy Askew Band, singing alongside Deborah Berg, of Eye To Eye fame.
The Early 80’s
In 1983 Libby collaborated with Cha Cha DaVinci and Matt Noble to record a major disco hit, “For The Same Man”. The band was called,The B Beat Girls with an opening act being a little known up and coming singer, “Madonna”. The song reached #2 on the acclaimed Billboard charts during the summer of 1983 and continues to be extraordinarily popular throughout Europe in their thriving disco and dance scene.
In the fall of 1983, Libby joined the acclaimed sister act The Roches. Playing keyboards and singing a 4th harmony, she toured and recorded with them for 5 years. With The Roches, she appeared on The Tonight Show, The Dick Cavett Show, The Late Show with Joan Rivers, as well as a myriad of radio shows across the US and Canada.
Libby on keyboards with Terre, Suzzy and Maggie Roche on The Johnny Carson Show.
Coming home
1986 found Libby moving back home to California where she met Robin Flower, her musical collaborator and life partner. They began a life long musical journey together that continues successfully and joyfully to this day.
Libby and Robin have a remarkable musical partnership as composers, songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, singers, recording artists, concert performers, contra dance musicians, workshop leaders, and as writers and performers of children’s shows. Their high energy performances include driving, soulful playing on fiddle, piano, accordion, guitar, mandolin. Add in their richly textured vocal blend and you have a duo of extraordinary creativity, heart, power, and joy.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Libby toured with Ronnie Gilbert, from the renowned “Weavers” folk group of the 40’s and 50’s. She played piano and sang harmonies with Ronnie’s beautiful voice. They performed as a duo for many years, crisscrossing the US and Canada, singing and playing for audiences who were thrilled to be hearing the songs and stories of Ronnie Gilbert, their “Folk Hero”
Libby has recorded back up vocals on 3 of Holly Near’s recordings: “Edge”, “Show Up” and “Peace Becomes You”.
Libby on acoustic piano with Ronnie Gilbert, Jay Unger, Matt Glazer, among others, during filming of Ken Burns' "The Music of The Civil War"
