It’s been a wild 10 years for musicians Stef and
Dan Laramie and the different incarnations of
musical groups they’ve formed including their
well-known Keremeos duet The Corner Turtles.
As many band stories start – it all started in
college.
The pair met at Rhodes college in Vancouver
about 13 years ago while taking a life skills and
counselling course.
They each knew the other played a little but it
wasn’t until awhile after they were dating, Dan
said, that he realized how talented his future
wife was.
“We were just sitting around and Stef was
tinkering away on the guitar and she started to
sing and that’s when I realized she really knew
her stuff. Man, she sounded good. And I knew
then we could put together a band, even just
the two of us and play,” he said while taking
a break from an open jam at the Noteworthy
Muse in Keremeos.
Soon after, they decided to play for a going
away party for one of their fellow students.
Dan re-wrote the lyrics to ‘You Are My Sun-
shine.’
They practiced for a month.
Stef was to sing the lead and Dan the backup
and play guitar.
“I got up on stage and I froze. I knew the
words. We’d practiced a lot but nothing would
come out,” Stef said with a laugh.
“Here I am plunking away singing like I’m
the backup thinking she is singing the song.
You can’t hear what’s going on with the lead a
lot of the times. That’s normal. It wasn’t until
after that I found out it was just me singing
the whole time,” he said also laughing while
remembering the story.
Those that watch the dynamic musical duo on
stage now wouldn’t know the pair grew from
such shy and humble roots.
Stef and Dan have played all over Keremeos,
Penticton and Osoyoos either as a duo or in
different variations of a band.
They got their start in Keremeos at the Pasta
Trading Post, now the Wrong Turn Tavern.
“We were in there and we went up to the owner
and said ‘hey, wouldn’t it be nice for your cus-
tomers to have some music over dinner every
once and awhile,’ and he hired us. We played
every Saturday for $50 and dinner,” Stef said.
They then started playing regularly at the Gold
Dust Pub near Hedley and have played other
eateries including the Branding Iron and are
regulars at the Wrong Turn Tavern even hosting
an open mic night there for a year.
The Corner Turtles with their accessible rock
and roll edge has become a local favourite on
Canada Day and other special events. Stef
estimates they’ve played at least 15 pancake
breakfasts and other events throughout the year.
“It’s been great fun. This community has been
very supportive of us,” Stef said.
Both Stef and Dan have faced some medical
challenges in the last few years.
Dan was almost paralyzed when a spur in
his vertebrae cut into his spinal chord. Most
often people do not come out of surgery fully
functioning.
With hard work and determination has
since recovered. “I thought I was
cooked,” he said. “No one told me
I couldn’t play guitar. So I always
thought I would again. The doctor
just says, ‘Well, keep it up.”
Stef faced a sinus condition that
required surgery meaning between
the two illnesses they were sidelined
from playing for more than a year.
“We had to cancel everything. We
were booked for a lot of events that
year but we just couldn’t do it. Now
we’re back and couldn’t be happier,”
she said.
The newest venture for the couple
is starting a new band called Lulu
and the Lazy Boys.
The name stems from the idea that
they’re all aging and sometimes they
need a comfortable chair to sit in
even when they’re playing.
The band’s been together for a
few months and played their first
gig at Eagles in Penticton. They’re
set to play in Osoyoos soon and are
taking bookings now.
“It’s been great. It’s really a fun
band. We’ve always wanted to play
in a band,” Stef said.
Both Stef and Dan said their goal
is to go on tour and travel while
playing music either throughout
Canada, the U.S. Or beyond.
“We really want to get out there.
I think it would be so much fun,”
she said.
But first they will play a special
performance at the Branding Iron
on Saturday, Dec. 17 starting at 6
p.m. There’s no cover charge for the
show but calling for reservations is
encouraged. The show will include
performances by The Corner Tur
-
tles, Lulu and the Lazy Boys and
special performances by Frank de
Tremaudan and wife Sara Crockett
and 11-year-old Trinity Russell who
will perform with the band for her
first time on stage.
“It’s going to be a great night. I
just want to thank Keremeos for
supporting us all these years and
enjoying the music,” Dan said.
Who:
Corner Turtles and Friends
What:
10th anniversary celebra-
tion
When:
Saturday, December 17
Where:
The Branding Iron