Hugh Laurie: More Than Just a Blues Musician

Hugh Laurie is best known for his roles on House and Veep, but did you know that he’s also an accomplished blues musician? In this blog post, we explore Laurie’s musical career and what he’s been up to lately.

Hugh Laurie’s Music Career

Born in Oxford, England, in 1959, Hugh Laurie began his musical journey by playing the piano at a young age. He later took up the drums and guitar, and eventually found his niche in the blues. In the early 1980s, Laurie formed the band Fry and Laurie with friend Stephen Fry, and the two released several comedy albums. Laurie’s career in music really took off in the early 2000s, when he released his first solo album, Let Them Talk.

Laurie’s early musical influences

Hugh Laurie was born in Oxford, England, in 1959. His parents were both avid music fans, and they exposed him to a wide range of musical genres from an early age. He cites blues musicians such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf as some of his earliest influences, as well as English folk singers like A.L. Lloyd and Cyril Tawney. Laurie began playing the piano when he was six years old, and he later took up the guitar and drums. He has said that music was always his first love, but he didn’t pursue it seriously until after he had established himself as an actor.

Laurie’s work with blues and jazz musicians

Hugh Laurie has had a prolific music career, working with some of the biggest names in the blues and jazz world. He has released two solo albums, Let Them Talk (2011) and Didn’t It Rain (2013), both of which were met with critical acclaim. He has also toured extensively, both as a solo artist and with his band The Copper Bottom Band. In addition to his work as a musician, Laurie is also an accomplished actor, writer, and director.

Laurie’s solo albums

Hugh Laurie has released three solo albums, all of which have been well-received by fans and critics alike. His first album, “Let Them Talk,” was a blues album that featured some of the biggest names in the genre, including Irene Silvano, Dr. John, and Bernard Fowler. The album reached #3 on the Billboard blues chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Laurie’s second album, “Didn’t It Rain,” was a more eclectic mix of styles, drawing from gospel, jazz, R&B, and even country music. The album received rave reviews and earned Laurie another Grammy nomination.

Laurie’s most recent album, “Thehere.” Though it was only released in Europe, the album has been praised by critics as one of his best works yet.

Hugh Laurie’s Acting Career

Hugh Laurie is best known for his role as Dr. House in the hit TV show House. However, before he was an actor, he was a musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist and has played the piano, guitar, drums, and harmonica. He has also sung and written songs.

Laurie’s early acting roles

While Laurie is now best-known for his role in House, his first foray into American television was actually in an episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles in 1992. He played a German Peace Conference delegate in the episode “Young Indiana Jones and the Scandal of 1920.”

Laurie’s first film role was also in 1992, when he played a Cambridge student named Foxtrot in Peter’s Friends. The all-star cast included Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Tony Slattery, Imelda Staunton, and Alphonsia Emmanuel.

Laurie continued to make appearances in films and on television throughout the early ’90s. In 1994, he had a small role as one of Prince Harry’s friends in the historical drama Blackadder: Back & Forth. The same year, he appeared as Maynard Keynes in an episode of the World War II-set sitcom Lovejoy.

Laurie’s role on House

In 2004, Laurie landed what was arguably the role of a lifetime, starring as the acerbic Dr. Gregory House on the FOX medical drama House. The show was an instant hit, and Laurie’s performance earned him universal acclaim. He went on to star in the show for eight seasons, winning two Golden Globes and a host of other awards along the way.

After House ended in 2012, Laurie took on a variety of different roles in film and television. He starred in the critically acclaimed film The Oranges (2011) and had a recurring role on Veep (2012-2015). He also returned to his musical roots, releasing his fifth album, Didn’t It Rain, in 2013.

Laurie currently stars in the AMC drama series The Night Manager (2016), for which he has received rave reviews. He is also set to star in an upcoming television adaptation of John le Carre’s novel The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (2016).

Laurie’s other acting roles

Hugh Laurie’s career as an actor began long before he was cast as the lead in House. In fact, he has been appearing in various television shows and films since the early 1980s. Some of his most notable roles include:

-The Young Ones (1982-1984): A British sitcom in which Laurie played an irresponsible student living in a dilapidated house with four other roommates.

-Blackadder (1985-1989): A historical comedy series in which Laurie played several different characters across four seasons, most notably the scheming Prince Regent in the third season.

-Jeeves and Wooster (1990-1993): A British comedy series based on the novels of P.G. Wodehouse, in which Laurie played the titular character’s employer, Bertie Wooster.

-Sense and Sensibility (1995): A film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, in which Laurie played Mr. Palmer, a man known for being rather brusque and insensitive.

-Stuart Little (1999): An American live-action/CGI film based on the children’s book, in which Laurie voiced Monty, a kitten who befriends the titular character.

Laurie has also appeared in several films outside of his comedic roles, such as Sense and Sensibility and The Man in the Iron Mask (1998). He has even ventured into writing and directing with his film The Oranges (2011).

Hugh Laurie’s Personal Life

Though he is most well-known for his starring role in the American television series House, Hugh Laurie is so much more than just an actor. Laurie has many other talents and interests, one of which is music. In fact, before he ever Acting, Laurie was a musician.

Laurie’s early life and education

Hugh Laurie was born on June 11, 1959, in Oxford, England. His parents are Patricia Laidlaw and William George Ranald Mundell “Ran” Laurie, a doctor who also won an Olympic gold medal in the coxless pairs (rowing) at the 1948 London Games. Hugh is the eldest of four children; he has two sisters and a brother. Growing up, the family moved around a lot because of his father’s job. Laurie was educated at several independent schools: first at Farringford School in Farnham Royal in Buckinghamshire, then Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Perth, Western Australia (where he did his 6th form work), and finally Eton College in Eton, Berkshire. He did not go to university but instead studied at the Cambridge Footlights club.

Laurie’s family

Hugh Laurie was born on 11 June 1959 in Oxford, England, to Patricia (Laidlaw) and William George Ranald Mundell “Ran” Laurie, a doctor, both of Scottish descent. He has an older brother and two younger sisters. The family remained in Oxford after the death of Laurie’s father, Colonel John Hughling Elliot Laurie, CMG, DSO, MC (1897-1943), in 1943. However,…

Laurie’s hobbies and interests

In addition to his music, Laurie has a number of other hobbies and interests. He is an accomplished pilot and enjoys flying his own plane. He is also a keen golfer and has appeared in a number of celebrity golf tournaments. Laurie is a fan of English football and is a supporter of the team Arsenal. He is also a keen tennis player and often plays at Wimbledon.