Fildza Md Zin | 20 Sep 2000

Laura Fygi was born on 27th August 1955 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Her father was a technical director of Philips, an electronics multinational and her mother was a stunning belly dancer from Egypt.

Right after her birth, her family moved to Uruguay where her father was stationed. Laura grew up listening to 'lazy music with lots of heart pouring out of the speakers'. They moved back to Holland when her father died in the early sixties. The luxury that they once had was now gone. Everything was so sudden. Her mother could not handle bringing up her little girl sans the nannies on her own. Because of that, the headmaster of Laura's school took care of her like his on daughter.

When Laura showed some interest in singing and performing, her mother encouraged her in doing so. In school, she organised plays and musicals, sang in bands, sang backing vocals and finally became the soloist that she was destined for.

Laura was invited by Dutch producers Peter van Asten and Richard Dubois to be part of an all-racial group, Terra. She was only in her twenties. The band disbanded after two unsuccessful singles but she stayed on with the producers for projects to come.

She was teamed up with two other sexy singers to make up Centerfold. All their concerts in Holland, Europe and Japan were sold out. Life on the road was not easy. Because of the sexy image that Centerfold projected, no one could believe that they could sing. Finally after seven years, Centerfold split.

Seven years of partying was too much for Laura. She met her husband and got married soon after. She wanted to lay low after her marriage but once a performer is always a performer. She called her ex-manager of Centerfold, Herman van der Zwan to relaunch her career as a serious singer. He reacted quickly and gathered world class musicians for the recording of her first album. Jazz-genious Toots Thielemans and Johnny Griffin have since appeared on her albums.

Laura Fygi will be in town for a one-night concert. Her first ever concert in the Lion City will be held at the Harbour Pavilion on 29th September at 8pm. The first half of the concert will consist of popular jazz numbers such as "That Old Feeling", "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", "Bewitched", "For Once In My Life" and many others. The second half would be in fiesta Latin mood when she sings songs from her Latin Touch album. Catch Laura Fygi in action when she swings by to salsa.