Lorri Hafer is the daughter of composer / arranger / Academy Award nominee, Al Ham and his wife, vocalist, Mary Mayo. The two of them met while they were both performing with the post-war Glenn Miller Orchestra, under the direction of Tex Beneke.
Lorri started her career at the age of five on the Guy Mitchell record “If You Ever Go Away,” and as lead vocalist with the Hillside Singers in 1971. Lorri, along with her mother recorded the worldwide hit of the ‘Coca Cola Song’ – “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony.”
Lorri has toured as vocalist with The Glenn Miller Orchestra throughout the US and Japan and was also the featured vocalist with Les Brown’s Band of Renown. She has also performed as special guest vocalist with Buddy Morrow and The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and with Bill Tole and the Jimmy Dorsey 8.
Lorri and her group (including her husband Mike Hafer, their son Paul Hafer, and drummer Dave Dunscombe) were featured on numerous “Music of Your Life” Big Band and Jazz cruises and events worldwide for almost a decade. In 2007, Lorri joined the “Music of Your Life” radio network as the weekend morning host.
Current residents of the Tampa Bay area, Lorri and Mike have appeared several times at Heidi’s Jazz Club in Cocoa Beach and in concert for various jazz societies and jazz festivals all throughout Florida. Lorri was part of the “Remember the Ladies” concert – a celebration of Women in Jazz at The Palladium Theater and appeared several times a year at the Palladium in Big Band concerts.
In September of 2013, Lorri and Mike made their debut at New York City’s famed Metropolitan Room. She and Mike have performed with former Duke Ellington bassist, John Lamb for three consecutive years at the Suncoast Jazz Classic on Clearwater Beach, and Lorri is scheduled for a fourth appearance this coming November 2018.
Lorri released her second CD entitled “Lucky To Be Me” in the fall of 2015. The CD was recorded “Live” at The Timucua White House in Orlando and features Mike Hafer on piano, Paul Hafer on bass, Dave Dunscombe on drums, and special guest Tom Parmerter on trumpet.
Beginning in May of 2016, Lorri was an on-air personality on WUSF’s All Night Jazz program. Lorri, Mike, and Paul did an on-air concert and interview on WUSF in October of 2016. Lorri is on the road to recovery from a stroke that she suffered in November of 2016. We look forward to seeing you all as Lorri gets back ‘into the swing of things!’
Click here for a downloadable press kit with a printable bio, and high resolution promotional pictures.