I am so moved by Ms. Beechman's recordings and am sad that I never heard her live. How wonderful that a life tragically cut down lives on forever in song! Thank you.

"Joseph..." Was my first and only Broadway play. I was in 6th grade and was there on a field trip (imagine that) Laurie's voice was important in my appreciation of music and singing. I still have the 33 LP of the original Broadway production in a box in Mom's basement. 26 years later and I still remember the lyrics to many of those songs. I had no idea she had passed. My heart feels the loss of a great human being with a beautiful voice. "Thank You for helping me find mine Laurie...God bless You eternally!"

Everyone, it was my dream to see a lasting visual of Laurie in costume singing Memory as Grizabella ever since I received my copy of her special on Donahue in 95, since they showed a clip from an 87 showing of her doing just that. Go to youtube and u will c it. I know Laurie preferred singing it in A-C, but there she is, proving she sang it every night from 84 to 88, again 91 92 and 97 in original key Bflat to Dflat, gloriously and stunningly. Look at the comments, new fans postumously, and u were afraid people would 4get u. Silly Laurie, u r a star! I hope u r reading this, Claudia, people still love Laurie and r discovering her. She is never gone.

As I sit here listening to Laurie's CD - Listen To My Heart - my own heart fills with memories and feelings. Her voice is so beautiful, so warm, so moving and so very touching. The world suffered a huge loss when she went onto the next world but oh still what a blessing she is to us to this very day. Sincerely, Sassy

When I was a Freshman, Laurie was a Senior and the play was "Guys and Dolls". She was incredible! I can remember going home and saying to my parents that this girl would be on Broadway some day. Years later I saw her in "Joseph.." and, once again, she was spectacular. What a presence and what a talent!! I'm so sorry she had to leave us.

I once heard Laurie Beechman sing in Greenwich Village when she first arrived to NYC
and I was very impressed with her voice and stage presence.
I knew she was heading for a lot of success, and was saddened to hear she of her early death.

I loved watching Laurie on stage and that began when she was appearing in a club on East 15th Street, followed by "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" which I saw several times. Then there was Cats and Les Mis. I even saw her in her rock group mode at the Palladium although I didn't think she was at her best in that. She was friends with my upstairs neighbors (Greg and Jon) which is how we became friendly, and she invited me to several birthday parties and her's and Neil's wedding reception at West Bank Cafe - a lovely celebration if ever there was one. I loved her neightclub performances too and saw many of them all over town. She was a beautiful and special woman and I still miss her.

Bonnie Greenetz and I remember learning to tap dance and do ballet steps with Laurie at the Mary Woods Ballet when we were children.

We knew Laurie all through our junior and senior high school years. Lauie was an extraordinary personality with an amazing voice. I still remember getting chills at the high school plays she used to act and sing in.

Her amazing spirit and wonderful voice were silenced far too soon. I have read her story and it is heartbreaking. I am so sorry she had to go through all that pain...

Love to her family and all who knew her. She was one in a million!

As Laurie's sister, I can't express how grateful I am that her love and music continue to touch so many lives. Love you girl and miss you so xxoo Janie

I had not known of her death until now...I was transferring her CD to my iPod when I discovered it. I feel blessed to have heard her sing. I know that only places me among millions of others, but I still feel extremely lucky.

The Incredible ESSENCE of Laurie lives on in her music and the beautiful memories she left for all of us who loved and appreciated her . I love and miss you so very much.
A forever devoted fan,
Sunny

Laurie Beechman played Grizabella the only time I saw Cats on Broadway. I will never forget her performance. Afterward I hoped & prayed that she'd conquer her illness. She was so courageous & served as an example to all who face serious illness.

To Laurie's devoted family,
I fondly think of Laurie when I remember my high school years...especially her charismatic spirit and talented voice! As a menial gal in the chorus, I loved watching her steal the show is our high school musicals. Her light will shine forever in my memories.

I was fortunate enough to see CATS on Broadway 8 different times. Laurie was absolutely my FAVORITE Grizabella. If you're not in tears after her version of MEMORY, you're just not human. Besides her beautiful voice, the gut wrenching feeling she poured into every note made her special.

Does anyone, maybe claudia if u c this, or laurie's mom, remember when laurie first sang for andrew lloyd weber? Im not sure if he was present at her first audition for joseph, maybe the producers and casting director brought her back as a potential female narrator, but someone out there must know what she sang and his reaction. Obviously he was blown away and they decided she'd make the narrator her own. Also, any accompanists or rehearsal pianists get to work with laurie out there, could u comment on laurie unmiked? I know she was pretty powerful and even in a cabaret room her voice shimmered, like a fuse lit every time she'd open her mouth. I know there's gotta be some people who have worked with her out there-share ur stories!

I was so saddened hearing of Laurie's death. It had been so long since I saw her...probably at our last reunion. I followed her career per the NY Times and have fond memories of being on stage with her at HTHS in Auntie Mame and Guys and Dolls. She was a treasure to be surely missed...

Several years ago,I traded in a couple of long-forgotten CDs for Laurie's recording of 'Cats'. I decided to listen to her recording today and wanted to find out what she'd recently recorded. Having rediscovered this recording I wanted to find out what she'd recorded recenty. As I listen to 'Cats' now, I feel a profound sense of loss. RIP, Laurie...and a toast to all who have loved her and will continue to love her music.

9/8/2007 - I heard a song today that reminded me of a song from the Laurie and the Sighs. I owned the vinyl album back in 1980 or 1981. My brother and I used to listen to it all the time. I decided to look up Laurie and the Sighs on YouTube today to see if I could find out what had happened to the band and to see if I could find the CD (if one was made). I was very upset to find out that Laurie Beechman had died from cancer many years ago. I was surprised to find out that she had also recorded many Broadway albums. She had a wonderful voice. I just wanted to let her family know that I was a great fan and her music brought me much joy in my youth. Although I don't know where my vinyl album is anymore, her memory will live on with me as long as I am alive.

I was driving today coming back from a television interview about my breast cancer. In the car I was listening to Laurie's music. I thought to myself, had the treatment been as it is today we could possibly still hear her wonderful, goosebump driven music. I charish that tape with all my heart. I remember having her come to my house when I had a wedding shower for Jane. She was bigger than life - spandex pants and all. WOW! I was spell bound.

Jane...I think of you often.
Please send me your email so we can catch up.
XOXO
Nancy Berenato

Dolly was my wonderful drama teacher for 3 years when I was growing up in Philadelphia in the 1970's, and Laurie was an inspiration to all of us aspiring young actresses. Now my 14-year-old and 8-year-old daughters have caught the acting bug, and are still being inspired by Laurie's beautiful recordings!

When Ms.Beechman opened in "Cats" in Boston back in '83, she came into the old Bonwit Teller, where I was a makeup artist, and I helped her pick out some colours. We kibitzed a bit, and, learning I was a theatre freak, she suggested that my partner and I go to see the touring production. Having already seen it in London with Elaine Paige, I was reluctant, but Peter and I went to see it and I was astonished that this petite, attractive girl whose eye-shadows I'd applied
completely eclipsed Ms. Paige, and that big voice and superb interpretive ability floored me. To me, Laurie was almost a reincarnation of Piaf, as I told her on her subsequent visits for makeup.
My partned died of cancer nearly two years ago, and listening to all of Laurie's CD's has been very comforting to me since then. A magnificent talent, and a delightful human being.

I've only heard Laurie singing on one album - the Broadway Cast recording of Joesph - and found her vocal performance incredibly powerful. When I sing I aim to sing with the same power and clarity that Laurie had. She is an inspiration to me, and I believe all stage singers should aim to perform as well as she.

I knew Laurie way back in the 1970's when she was starting out - a major talent who is missed greatly by her family, friends and fans. R.I.P., Laurie - I know you're leading the choir in the sky.

I will always remember seeing her as the Narrator in "JOSEPH" and her incredible voice.

I played her disc and was telling daughter #3 about her--dated her in high school and saw her in Jos & TCDC-- so my daughter found this site. Did not know how many lives she touched.