Joined by husband Brian Mueller on bass, and Susie Lampert on keyboards, Laurie's first release in 1997, 'Whaddaya Think Of That?' (only available on cassette at the time) was inspired by the parents of her young students. "The children were really responding to the music we created together," explains Laurie. Many of the songs involve movement, and all of them invite children's participation. Songs such as "We Are The Dinosaurs" allow children to express anger and to feel powerful, while quieter songs inspire feelings of security and warmth. By the time she released her second CD in 1998, 'Buzz Buzz,' Laurie had formed her own record company, Two Tomatoes Records, LLC. Her work began to sell briskly in the New York area as word of mouth began to spread and critical acclaim began pouring in. Laurie's inventive, playful, and well-crafted songs, as well as her accomplished guitar playing and warm, engaging vocals, stood out among other, often over-produced, children's fare. By the time Laurie's third release, 'Victor Vito' came out in late 1999, Laurie, Brian and Susie had national distribution and a fanatic following among children aged 0-7. The CD received enormous critical acclaim from publications ranging from People Magazine to U.S. News & World Report, and the FX Network's "American Baby Show" invited Laurie to make her first national TV appearance. 'Victor Vito' was bestowed two Children's Music Web awards and a Parent's Guide To Children's Media Award. Us Magazine's Bruce Kluger proclaimed, "the title cut has already become a birthday party anthem."

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