Leanne Summers, PRESIDENT/CEO

A LAWIM member since 1992, having served as President, CFO and Chair of the Advisory Board since her initial appointment to the Board of Directors in 1994, Leanne Summers is once again at the helm of LAWIM as President (2008).

An accomplished performing artist & vocal coach/producer, Leanne teaches and sings all styles of music with a pension for perfection and the emotional passion to match!

As a professional singer her experience ranges from session singing to every conceivable form of live performance! From casual work and nationwide tours, to appearances at prominent clubs with Big Bands, various lounge acts, her own Top 40 band, and as a solo artist, musical director, and backup singer/opening act for major artists (Crystal Gale, Richie Havens, Jonathan Cain, Stella Parton, Eddie Rabbit), she brings a “know-how” to her teaching and producing that is immeasurable. Her voice and/or vocal productions can be heard on the likes of The Drew Carey Show, West Wing, Nikki, Cold Case and Californication to name a few. More on Leanne, click here.

Stephen Scott, VICE PRESIDENT

Corporate and Production Executive:
Currently Vice Chairman of BAMCO International and President of BAMCO subsidiary, Centurion Productions International, Mr. Scott has overseen the business formation and corporate strategy of this multimedia entertainment company that will provide independent financing, production and distribution on a worldwide basis.

Prior Experience:
Previous associations have included: The Aladdin Theatre For Performing Arts, Las Vegas, as Head of Production, supervising the creative, production and business affairs of all television and live events.

Michelle Krell Malone, SECRETARY

Michelle is a keyboard player and songwriter living and performing in Los Angeles.

She studied jazz piano and theater in New York, and in many years living in San Francisco played keyboards and sang with numerous Rock, Motown, R&B and Alternative bands in clubs, at private parties and all kinds of events all over the Bay Area. In the all girl band Tommie, Michelle played keyboards and co-wrote much of the material performed by the band. Michelle also played keyboards with the current version of the Beau Brummels. She has also played as a solo pianist, and taught piano.

While she was still in San Francisco a number of Michelle’s songs were performed in Los Angeles by singer Impulse Dunn as part of a series of showcases, and in England, one of her songs, Something to Say, was recorded by Zak Kalmar for his album All Alone.

Michelle currently plays with longtime friend Debbie Hennessey as keyboard player and vocalist.  Michelle and her songs appear on Debbie’s current and upcoming albums, and she frequently plays around town with Debbie’s band.

As part of Harriet Schock’s songwriting group, Michelle has written a number of new songs, two of which will be included on Joan Enguita’s upcoming albums.  In addition, she has co-written a lot of new material with the rock singer Kutsal for her new album, which will be completed this year.

Apart from her music, Michelle has many years administrative experience with non-profit organizations, helping coordinate projects, writing and implementing grant programs for educational institutions and tracking budgets.  Coordinating membership services for an international trade association, she designed and maintained a large database that allowed her to effectively respond to the needs of members in over forty countries.

Terry Cano

Terry has been in the music business for more than 35 years. At the age of 12 he was performing regularly on a live TV show, “The Deep South Jamboree” broadcast in the southern Florida area. By the age of 14 he appeared on the legendary “Ted Mack Amateur Hour” with a local rock band “The Cougars” from his hometown of Key West FL. In the early ‘70s he relocated to the “Space Coast” region of Florida and started a private teaching career as well as performing. In the late ‘70s he went on to join “Jimmy Sacca and the Hilltoppers” a vocal group from the 50's who had disbanded and was reforming. After The Hilltoppers he continued with his own show band and settled in Panama City FL as a producer for “Southern Sight and Sound” writing a producing radio and TV commercials. The early ‘80s he moved to Southern California where Terry has continued to work as a professional arranger-composer, musician, writing music for cartoons, serving as musical director, and expanding his teaching to include choir and band director at Chaminade College Prep High School where he went on to be the chairperson for both the fine and performing arts for seven years. This leadership position eventually expanded into the property management field which Terry considers to be a “part time but some times full time” job which is ideal because it allows him to continue his involvement in music and private teaching. Early in the new millennium Terry teamed with veteran singer/songwriter, Shanna O’Brien, to form Bird and Bear Music Production. Terry has been a member of LA WoMen in Music for one year.

Herbie Katz

Herbie Katz is the Senior Vice President of a National Executive Search firm and has been with them for twenty-three years. He started his musical career working in the jazz field as road manager and tour manager in the late 70's. He also did all the promotion and booking for a Rock & Roll club called "Bit a New York" in the early 80's. Herbie finally came out of the closet as a musician about nine years ago and has performed as a blues and jazz harmonica player with a number of bands and appears on Harriet Schock's CD, "from Fairfax to Pasadena." His stage name is "Doctor Fun"

Judy Lamppu, Secretary

Singer/Songwriter/Screenwriter:

Judy's music-film credits include 3 features for Chako Productions - title songs: "Forever And Beyond," "The Survival Game" and "Bouncin' Back," distributor, Toho worldwide.

Music for TV documentaries: "Last Of The American Hobos" (5 songs) for Public Broadcasting and cable syndication; "Rape of The Environment" for KTLA, L.A. and syndication; after school special, "Antonio And The Mayor" (co-wrote with Mort Stevens) for CBS-TV, the TV pilot for the "Minnie Pearl Show" (4 songs under direction of Lionel Newman) for Fox/April Blackwood Music, and Judy was Co-executive producer/music supervisor for "The Youth in Film Awards," an independent pilot.

Shanna O'Brien

Shanna migrated to LA from the Bay Area where she recorded with many of San Francisco's top rock groups of the 80's. During this period of her musical life she also had her own show at the MGM Grand in Reno and at the Mandarin Hotel in Singapore.

After taking several years off to pursue other forms of artistic expression, Shanna returned to her greatest love, songwriting and has recently released her first CD of original music entitled "Timeless," recorded at Bird and Bear Music Studio which was founded in the year 2000 with her partner and producer, Terry Cano.

Shanna performs regularly in the LA area. She is also involved with the charity group "Friends of Step Up" which is an organization that raises funds to support Step Up On Second Street, a state of the art home for adults recovering from mental illness.

When Shanna isn’t on stage or working for her charity, you can usually find her painting in her kitchen, writing music for film and TV at Bird and Bear Music Studio or working at Batjac Productions in Beverly Hills.

Tanya Rivers (Robbie LaTanya Rivers)

Tanya Rivers began her music career at the early age of seven.  Her grandparents were the proprietors of a local mom-n-pop grocery store.  Fortunately for her, they also owned the first phonograph in the neighborhood.  Tanya’s fate in music was sealed when her grandfather designated her as the official player of records, which included jazz, country and gospel genres.  Since her grandfather prohibited playing of the blues, her grandmother slipped in blues tunes for their listening pleasure.  This early exposure to diverse types of music created a passion that has only grown over the years. 

Tanya played blues, jazz, country and gospel for her grandmothers’ customers and friends while her grandfather worked.  With the going rate of five cents per play, Tanya played a variety of music in the store and in the family living room creating one of the earliest coffee house venues.  She and her grandmother were definitely ahead of their time.

A significant amount of Tanya’s musical experience came from the church, in which her grandmother oversaw the talent department.  She was responsible for brining in various singers and musicians for church services and tent meetings.  When Tanya was 15, musicians approached her grandmother asking if Tanya could travel on tour with them for the summer.  Knowing how deep Tanya’s love of music ran and since she knew and trusted the musicians well, she gave her permission. Although only a teenager, Tanya’s duties included passing out promotional flyers and marketing posters, plus performing regular checks to ensure proper setup for performances.

(More about Tanya, click here) 

Andrea Ross-Greene

Singer-songwriter Andrea Ross-Greene moved to Los Angeles from Baltimore, Maryland 3 years ago to pursue her career in music. She plays guitar and keyboard. Her song "Too Far Away" which is a memorial to a friend who died in the World Trade Center has been heard worldwide and played in many September 11 Commemorative events.

Andrea has sung with numerous musical groups, ranging in style from choral to madrigals to folk to classic rock and jazz rock. She has performed in musicals, community theatre and improv comedy groups in Baltimore, Washington DC and Los Angeles. She is currently a backup singer with Harriet Schock and does studio vocals.

Andrea is also a professional photographer, specializing in concert, sport and nature photography.

Harriet Schock

Harriet Schock is a songwriter (Grammy-nominated for "Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady"), a recording artist with six solo albums, a performer, a songwriting consultant, teacher and lecturer as well as an author.

Schock's songs have been recorded by such diverse artists as Smokey Robinson, Roberta Flack, Helen Reddy, Lee Greenwood, Johnny Mathis, Nancy Wilson, Manfred Mann, Carl Anderson, Jannel Rap, Rebecca Parris, The Supremes, Vesica Pisces, E.L.K. and the Little Mermaid. Her feature film and TV song credits include "The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking," "Delta Force II," ABC's "The Secret Garden," Motown's "The Last Dragon" and "The Real Life Adventures of Santa Claus."

Gale Stoddard

After joining the SGA in 1998, many opportunities opened up for me. I have recorded 7 piano CDS, produced 12 albums for up and coming artists and have performed my original songs in various venues. My songs are currently receiving airplay on DWBR Manila Radio and KPSC Radio in Eagle Rock. I worked for 5 years at The Grand Ballroom in the Disneyland Hotel in the 80’s as a piano bar artist. My musical partner and recording artist, Roland Valentino, and I have performed at many venues. We have performed at the Trilogy Country Club in Corona, The Hilton Hotel in Torrance, The Copacabana in Pomona and the Pomona Valley Mining Restaurant. I have also been fortunate enough to meet the legendary songwriters who wrote the songs I used to perform in clubs when I was touring in the U.S. and Europe. Successful songwriters /composers like Elmer Bernstein, Joe Harnell, Ray Evans, Neil Hefti, Art Hamilton, Jack Segal and our eminent past president George David Weiss. All of them gave me musical encouragement and continue to inspire me even though some of them have gone to an higher musical sphere.

(More on Gale, click here)