Press Release
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Press Photos
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All Photos ©2010 Ryan Taylor
 Group Photo 1 |
Group Photo 2 |
 Billy McLaughlin - Acoustic Guitar |
 Jeni-Lyn Starr - celtic whistles, recorder, piano |
 Carin Vagle - vocals |
 Karen Paurus - vocals |
 Billy Oehrlein - percussion |
 Heather Garborg - vocals, violin |
 Cover of the new CD; SimpleGifts with Billy Mclaughlin A Small Town Christmas |
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 Poster that venues can use to promote SimpleGifts - solid background |
 Poster that venues can use to promote SimpleGifts - white knockout |
Musician Profiles
Billy McLaughlin: Known for his harp-like guitar playing technique he calls “finger tapping,” McLaughlin is an American original - a national performing and recording artist who has achieved Billboard’s Top-Ten Chart. Several years ago, he came to embody every musician’s greatest fear. The award-winning guitar virtuoso began struggling to play the music loved by fans across the country. Searching in vain through countless therapies for an answer to his problem, he was finally diagnosed with an incurable neuromuscular disorder called Focal Dystonia. After enduring the loss of all he ever dreamed of McLaughlin did what for many would be unthinkable — if not impossible — he taught himself to play left-handed. His remarkable story is captured in an award winning documentary film Changing Keys: Billy McLaughlin and the Mysteries of Dystonia (shown recently on PBS). His triumphant comeback concert was filmed by WWE camera-crew volunteers who captured Billy’s historic return for a DVD titled Coming Back Alive. See more at his website.
Karen Paurus: Singer/songwriter/pianist Karen Vieno Paurus has performed locally, nationally and internationally since 1986 with such local bands as Holiday Ranch and BUG!. Her first solo CD, "Passion, Prayer and Poison" is available on iTunes, CD Baby and other online stores. Paurus has also performed regularly as the featured musical guest in the Fitzgerald Theater's productions of "Stage Sessions" in 2006-07 with host Heather McElhatton and guests including Robert Bly, Bill Holm, Dan Buettner, Kevin Kling, Colleen Kruse and others. She was also the featured musical guest during the Fitzgerald Theater's "Talking Volumes" series with authors Jonathan Safran Foer and Jean Harfenist. She's appeared with Colleen Kruse at the Historic Pantages, and wrote the score for the sold-out Bryant-Lake Bowl Theatre's productions of "Thirty Days in Frogtown.” Paurus was named "Minnesota Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1999 and has performed/recorded with Billy McLaughlin, Willie Wisely, Stuart Davis, Peter Mayer, Dan Schwartz, Jeff Arundel, Peter Ostroushko and others. She has also performed live on "A Prairie Home Companion," MPR, Cities 97, KBEM, Radio K, 770 and various stations around the nation.
Carin Vagle: Carin Vagle grew up performing with her family in South Minneapolis. Her study of healing voice led her to India and Brazil. She currently practices and teaches Yogic and healing vocal techniques in Minneapolis and is working on her first solo album.
Jeni-Lyn Starr: Jeni-Lyn Starr is a recording artist, composer, instructor, and owner of J-Starr Productions. She has recorded four albums: Merry Christmas, Love Jeni in 1994; Forever in My Heart in 1997; and in 2002 an album of holiday classics, A Simple Gift, and Of Shepherds and Angels with Billy McLaughlin, vocalist Carin Vagle, and percussionist Billy O. Jeni-Lyn also has been a guest artist on more than a dozen other well-known recordings. She studied music business and performance at college and has been busy teaching music instruction for 16 years. She teaches piano and flute to 50+ students.
Billy Oehrlein: Billy sings, and plays drums and ornamental percussive instruments. He started playing drums at age six and graduated to a professional musician. He has performed regionally and nationally in the U S, and in Europe. Billy toured with WHEELS for several years sharing stages with Randy Travis, Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Marie Osmond, Juice Newton, and made regular appearances at the WE FEST country music festival. Billy has done numerous recording sessions and performed regularly with national recording artists Tina and the B-Sides, Billy McLaughlin, and most recently Jeff Arundel. He brings Simple Gifts season its dazzling holiday spirit with his percussive ornamental accents — ensures that holiday joyousness is on hand.
Heather Garborg: Born into a musical family in Bloomington, Minn., Heather has always had her sights set on a musical career. Throughout her elementary and high school years, she participated in numerous competitions in both piano and violin. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from St. Olaf College in 2000. In addition, she also enjoys singing and songwriting and has just returned from Nashville where she did some co-writing as well as back-up vocals and violin work. Heather resides in St. Paul where she is heavily involved in the music ministry at Woodland Hills Church.