Joan Kurland--Piano/vocals From The Heart

Joan Kurland is known as "The Human Jukebox" for her ability to play and sing anything she's ever heard in any key WITHOUT SHEET MUSIC. Joan is equally at home with pop, rock, standards, Broadway, classical, and oldies, and has performed for everything from intimate family celebrations to corporate parties to a crowd of 10,000 at the Meadowlands Arena. Joan has captivated audiences nationwide with her unique blend of heartfelt musicianship (imagine Barbra Streisand meets Carol King meets Bette Midler), humor, and sharp intelligence. Joan has recorded several albums and is an award-winning songwriter. She loves writing customized songs for birthdays, anniversaries, memorial services, business meetings, etc.

Pianist-singer-songwriter Joan Kurland began her musical career at the age of five, when she begged her parents for a piano-- and knew how to play it before taking any lessons!
Joan studied classical piano at the Manhattan School of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory, but her claim to fame has always been her incredible ear. Her ability to play pretty much anything she hears in any key (she has perfect pitch) makes her the ideal choice for any special event, since she doesn't need sheet music to accommodate requests. From Beethoven to the Beatles, Joan has it all in her head, ready to pull out when needed.
After completing her collegiate musical studies, Joan sang and played keyboards in a highly successful Top-40 band on the East Coast. The culmination of the band's career was a performance in front of 10,000 people at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
In 1988, wanting a healthier and more spiritually oriented life, Joan left the band and fulfilled her longtime dream of moving to California. She began playing at Nordstrom, performing at parties and weddings, and teaching piano and voice. Her longtime association with the Optimum Health Institute in Lemon Grove, California, a healing center based around live foods, inspired her to start writing funny songs about the health food lifestyle. Her album of parodies, "Eat It Raw: Food, Love, and Other Disasters," with its hilarious takes on such topics as sugar addiction, singlehood, and wheatgrass juice, has brought laughter to thousands, and was performed at the Comedy Store in La Jolla to great acclaim.
In the 90s, a relative's bout with breast cancer prompted Joan to write the healing song, "I Believe," which she performed on NBC television during breast cancer awareness month in 2001. This sparked another facet of Joan's career—writing spiritually-oriented songs and performing them at houses of worship and healing conferences. This has been one of the most deeply satisfying things she's ever done—giving comfort to those who need it and receiving great love and appreciation in return.
After many requests from fans for more recordings, Joan recently completed and released a CD entitled, "Looking Up: Songs of Hope and Inspiration," which features several of her own compositions, as well as such popular favorites as "The Rose" and "The Wind Beneath My Wings."
In addition to performing "I Believe" on NBC, Joan has also appeared on television as a "Jeopardy" contestant, a swing dancer, and as one of the most politically incorrect people in San Diego. In her spare time, she loves to swim, walk, dance, and read.
Joan's goal is to continue to grow as an artist and a person, so that she can bring her unique blend of inspiration, healing, and laughter to more and more people throughout the world.

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Joan made every moment of a very large Christmas party incredibly special and fun. Her talent with the piano is superb, and sounded incredible in our home. She put together a great sing-a-long, and many guests complemented her on the great energy and mood she added to the party. We requested mostly Christmas music, and a mix of Broadway, etc. We would hire her again, and I'm sure we will shortly. She is also a very kind, considerate person. A definite "find" for any party or occasion you may have. -- Derek E, Palm Springs, CA, 12/22/2011
• Joan is a remarkable human being. She is a gifted musician and performer, but more than that she is upbeat and personable MAKING THE EVENT AN OCCASION TO REMEMBER. I hired Joan for my father's 90th birthday and gave her instructions to play music from the 1920's to the 1940's. Not only did she comply but before long she had every person in the room singing their hearts out for over an hour and a half. At the conclusion of the event my 24 year old neice told me " This is the most fun birthday party I have ever been too, the music was amazing!" Joan Is Fun And Makes The Party A PARTY!!! Joan plays music naturally, it flows out of her and creates the mood. THANK YOU! -- Allan M, San Diego, CA, 1/14/2012

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