i <3 u Laurie.

I have been a fan of Laurie's long before her passing. I play her CD's in my car and at home all the time, still. The world has lost the most spectacular singer of all time. We have all lost a beautiful talent that only enhanced our world. I still shed tears when I listen, and realize she is gone.

What a talent, what a voice, what a life, what love she lent to all of us. How generously she shared of her gifts.

We are all better for having heard and listened to the voice that is Laurie Beechman.

This is how things were meant to be. Someday we'll know why.

But thanks again Laurie for having simply been you.

I saw Dreamgirls in Philadelphia last night and the composer Henry Krieger was present in the audience. I told him that I am so grateful that Laurie recorded " I Am Changing" so that it can continue to inspire both women (as in the show) and men, for posterity.

I only got a chance to see Laurie in "Cats" in Boston in the mid 80's but had heard her sing on the "Joseph" cast recording and fell in love with her voice. I wish I had been old enough to see her at the jazz club in Boston where she performed her solo act each night she was here. I thank God that she left so many recordings so I can hear her beautiful voice even after she left this earth.

I saw laurie in Annie, Hair, Joseph, Cats, and Les Miserables. I have suffered from anxiety most of my life and have often listened to laurie singing some of her incredible songs. I remember the day she passed away and I still think of her so often, as i have many of her soundtracks. I met Laurie once at Fridays restaurant in NYC where both my best friend and her good friend worked. I miss what she still had to offer the world. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones and all her many, many fans.

I hired Laurie to sing with my show band in the 70's.

It was obvious that she was bound for greater things.

It was a privilege to work with her and I think of her often.

Laurie's energy may never be duplicated.

I am 39 years old and met Laurie after seeing her in Joseph. (I have never seen such charisma from an actor. She was a ball of energy, blowing mind away!) I was 14 at the time and she spent time talking to me about the show. I wanted to know about Andrea McCardle too!!!! She was very patient and warm, saying that she was probably out on a date!! I loved her and followed her career from that moment on. I still get choked when i hear her sing and feel so sad that she left this world so early.

I heard Laurie perform on the
"JOSEPH" album that won her a
Tony. Then, in 1998, I picked
up the newspaper and read of her untimely passing. As very
seldom happens, a real pang shot through me: "Oh, God! Not HER." More recently, I was motivated to buy all 4 albums recorded by Laurie from
1990-on. It is difficult to
believe that every one of them
was recorded after her cancer
diagnosis of 1989. I would never have had such courage
myself. In brief, from all I
have read on this site, Laurie
was a real mensch. I would give a good deal to have seen
her perform in person. My goal now is to listen to her
albums without having a personal undercurrent of painful sadness. Laurie's family and friends were lucky
to have her for her nearly-45
years on this planet.

I was just going through my cd's and rediscovered Laurie's cd Listen to my heart that she personally autographed for me. I had met here when I worked for Les Miz in Philly in the early 90's. She was a beautiful person with an equally beautiful voice. Listening to this cd brought back wonderful memories.

I will never forget her performances of Fontine.

Miss Beechman's voice is prehaps one of the greatest of our time. As a singer, I find endless joy in listening to the one of a kind beauty of this wonderful talent. Thank God we have the recordings she left us to enjoy her gift forever.

I was privledged to see Laurie in"Annie", "Joseph", "Les Miz" and To meet her through a mutual friend. She had one of the finest singing voices not just on Broadway, but in music. My daughter took a love of musicals and Broadway because of Laurie. She cried the day of Lauries burial because I wouldn't drive to Philadelphia so she could say goodbye to her hero. She was tremendous and always will be!!!! Bob Hoffman

I was on of those TKTS flyer guys hawking shows, I hawked her Niteclub act outside the theatre on Broadway when she was in JOSEPH...(I got to see the show every night...) What a great voice...Oh she's on the radio now,here in LA (Thursday night Shootune night on 88,5)...(turning up volume..."tonight...the Y, why not it's NYC!")
G'nite Laurie

TO YOUNG,TO TALENTED,TO SOON.
SHE WILL BE MISSED

I was lucky to work w/ Laurie while she was on the road w/ CATS in Boston. After the night's show she would dash over to The Club Cabaret across Tremont Street, where I was mixing the sound. She would then dazzle the City of Boston for the rest of the evening. She was one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Everyone in the Cabaret was acting crazy, star struck w/ good reason of course, but I had to work w/ her and find out what she liked and wanted, and she was wonderful. She was a wonderful person to work with, and I was in love w/ her half way through first sound check. The more she sang the larger she became, and the more she drew you in. I waited years to hear her again sing the song about the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Now I realize that girl singing that song in that little club in Boston is a frozen moment in time, not a bad memory.
That Girl Could Sing!

Dennis Flynn
Boston, Massachusetts

just a fan

I really loved the site
Cancer is also something that many of my close family members have both died and surved through

I remember with fondness Laurie's wonderful smile and amazing voice...hanging out with her at her 9th Avenue apartment...her making a sketch of me at a local restaurant and those endless nights at Sam's. God Bless you Laurie and thank you for making my life so filled with love and kindness....

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO MEET LAURIE BACKSTAGE AFTER A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOSEPH. I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE GOOD HAVE PLAYED THE ROLE OF THE NARRATOR HALF AS WELL. HER INCREDIBLE VOICE AND UNMATCHED ENTHUSIASM WERE THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR THAT DEMANDING ROLE. MEETING HER WAS AN EVEN BIGGER THRILL. SHE WAS SO FRIENDLY AND EASY TO TALK WITH. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT NIGHT...LAURIE BEECHMAN WILL ALWAYS BE MISSSED!

the first time i heard laurie beechman sing her magic was this year. i was amazed at her voice and wanted to know who it was that had such a beautiful voice. broadway is empty with out her voice ringing in the very stage.

It's a summer Sunday morning and I am drinking coffee and listening to "Time Between the Time". It is always difficult to lose someone close. Often times people only have pictures to remember their loved ones. How wonderful we have these great recordings to remember Laurie. I am happy I got to "know" her. She is missed.

I have unearthed a 12" vinyl Promo recording of the two songs Laurie sang for me on the soundtrack of the film "A Royal Romance".
Of interest?....

Dee Palmer

I have never met Laurie Beechman, but I've heard her singing. The first time I heard her, I loved her voice.

Wow! What a great website!
I followed the thread to find out who this lady was (I have played the same roles in ANNIE in community theatre) and found this! WOW! Thanks for sharing her beautiful life and dream!

My memories of Laurie and her family go back to 1957. That's when they moved into the house across the street from mine. I met them as they were getting out of their car and welcomed them to the neighborhood. I was 4. Laurie got the acting bug from her mom, who was on tv when we were kids. I didn't keep up with her career after HS but heard she was doing well. I was deeply sorryful when I heard of her passing. This is a great web sight, giving me a chance to catchup with her life. She is sorely missed.