Greetings from The Orlando Rock Band (ORB)
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Leonard Peltier

The Dalai Lama

Orlando Sentinel
Calendar Magazine
March 4, 2005

30 seconds with Layla

A little bit of rock, a little bit of blues- as a singer-pianist Layla will tell you, the Orlando Rock Band has its own style. No surprise for a group whose Web site boasts two very different heroes: the Dalai Lama and Eric Clapton.
The band’s music has been played on stations all around the world, from Europe to South America . Before the Orlando Rock Band, Layla was the house pianist at several Central Florida hotels and restaurants and performed with other local bands.

For more information about the band, visit layla.org.

When (and how) did you get started in music?
My first memory was of me, age 3, sitting on the steps of our apartment building, singing for the world. My Uncle Jay, a gifted church musician, taught my cousin, Wanda, and me to sing harmony gospel music. I began my career at all-day sings in Miami with our gospel trio at age 4.

How would you describe your sound?
All I know is what other people say about us: We sound like the Doors, Enya, and Jefferson Airplane… mystical, psychedelic, bluesy rock.

Who has had the biggest influence on your music?
I spent years listening only to the rural blues of the ‘30s and ‘40s: Robert Johnson, Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi John Hurt- all the great bluesman. The real moment in rock came for me when I heard Big Brother and the Holding Company in San Francisco doing “Ball and Chain”. It was totally spellbinding  ... took me into another realm. Right then and there, I said “I want to be her [Janis Joplin]!”

What was the last good album you bought?
Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings.

If you could perform with any artist, who would it be?
Eric Clapton because I love him and my name is Layla [that name being the same as one of Clapton’s most famous songs]. Years ago, I was at the Omni Hotel when Eric was across the street at the O-rena [now TD Waterhouse Centre]. Tons of people piled into the Omni before the concert and heard me play, so I told all my friends, jokingly, that I was Eric Clapton’s warm-up act. I would like to be that for real!

- Rebecca Swain Vadnie
rswain@orlandosentinal.com 

Deland Music Festival Band Nominations

The Orlando Rock Band Nominated for
"Band with the Most Unique Sound"

Layla Nominated for
"Best Piano Player"


RADIO FEDRA IS VERY THANKFULL FOR THE MUSIC YOU SENT US! WE PLAY IT ALMOST EVERY DAY. IF YOU NEED ANY FAVOR FROM SERBIA & MONTENEGRO YOU CAN COUNT ON ME…

SINCERELY YOURS,
DRAGAN STAJIC

FREEDOM FOR TIBET !!!


ORB History

The Orlando Rock Band was born on the pages of the Orlando Sentinel in 1991, in Column World, fathered by Bob Morris. His idea: "We need a cool rock band for the city of Orlando." He said it, Layla did it, and the Orlando Rock Band was born.

Layla, the leader, is a rocker in soul and spirit, who finds her roots in the blues via Robert Johnson and many of the great blues artisits.

Her past acquaintances are almost a who's who in the kingdom of rock and roll - Timothy Leary, Abbie Hoffman, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Richie Havens, Country Joe and the Fish, Allen Ginsburg, The Grateful Dead, Steve Miller, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bernie Leadon of the Eagles, Chet Helms, and the Family Dog.


Layla on keys, Steve on bass at Betty's Laughing Horse, 1994

Listen to our music!

To the FBI: Love From Leonard (7.8MB)
to download song right click above and choose "Save Target As.."
Copyright Library of Congress 1997
Registered BMI, 1998
Layla Bennett Buck
Available on cassette or CD email Layla at dogstar@layla.org

ORB FAN CLUB

Join the ORB Fan Club and receive informative emails?

Click here

For information

Contact dogstar@layla.org

Orlando Rock Band
P.O. Box 312
Oak Hill, FL 32759

CDs, t-shirts, hats & stickers are also available.

FAN Stuff

It is our great pleasure to announce that Dog Star Productions is now making our CD's and band merchandise available to you at these convenient Central Florida locations:


In Orlando:
Downtown on Orange Avenue
  Cool World
  112 N. Orange Ave. [407]648-0258
  CD's and band stickers
At Thornton Park
  Urban Think Book Store
  625 East Central Blvd [407]650-8004
  CD's and stickers
In Daytona Beach
  Total Entertainment
  501 W. International Speedway (386)254-8727
  CD's and band stickers
In New Smyrna Beach
  Drums and More Music Store
  1437 South Dixie Freeway (386)427-5570
  T-shirts, CD's, and stickers
and at the
  Shambhala Wellness Center
  (386)547-3906 www.shambhalalife.com
  CD's and band stickers
  Bonnie says, "Enlighten up!"
In Oak Hill
  Kelly's Bait and Tackle Shop
  123 N. US Highway 1 (386)345-0990
  T-shirts, band hats, CD's, and stickers
Also in Orlando,
  pick up your band stickers from Ray at
  Rock and Roll Heaven
  1814 No. Orange Ave. (407)896-1952

Remember our motto at Dog Star Productions: WOOF!

Leonard Peltier

We have always been an advocate for Native American Leonard Peltier.
Here are some web sites that share his story.
Read them and weep....

Columnist Charlie Reese interviews Dennis Banks
about Leonard Peltier and Wounded Knee.

Available on cassette - email Layla at dogstar@layla.org

OUR HERO!
the Spiritual Leader of TIBET
OUR SECOND HERO!
Eric Clapton
His Holiness THE DALAI LAMA
Click here for more info

Peace and love y'all

Layla

God Bless
Free Tibet

Copyright © 2003 by LAYLA
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