About the Singer
Laka, pronounced “Lay-ka” has performed professionally since 2016. Her musical influences include Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, James Brown, Etta James, Otis Redding, and Bill Withers. Although drawn to soul, blues, and jazz genres, Laka loves to get a crowd moving to pop and hip-hop tunes as well. The energetic soul singer performs at a variety of St. Louis venues with an acoustic duo or full band. Commonly referred to as dynamite, many are surprised by the power that her voice projects.
BroadwayWorld St. Louis
Her versatility allows her to span a century of music performing gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, and rock-and-roll. When she rips into the Music of Tina Turner, Fontella Bass and Ann Peebles at the beginning of the second act, her vocals blow the roof off the theater.
Bob Wilcox, HEC, Two on the Aisle
Joe Hanrahan’s script challenged LAKA with each and all of these St. Louis women. She met the challenges with style and grace, and with an admiration and respect for each of them that she shared with each of us, to our great pleasure in a richly satisfying evening.
Lynn Venhaus, PoplifeSTL
Straightforward and sincere, “St. Louis Woman” raises the voices of some remarkable women, leading lights once rolling on the river. It’s a remembrance to savor, a pride to share and world-class names forever linked to our city’s tapestry.
