Keystone Hospice Music Therapist Laura Thomae wrote "Alleluia", a folk/gospel inspired song, while thinking of a friend who had died from AIDS, and after coming from a music therapy session with elderly folks where she was captivated by their deep and buoyant faith that shined through as they sang old church songs despite some of them living through hardships such as Jim Crow, sharecropping and daily struggle as well as currently dealing with illness.

Laura always felt drawn towards early country, blues and gospel music and music.  Laura grew up singing: her mother always said she sang before she spoke.... As a child she naturally turned to singing and songwriting, using her mother's old Stella guitar to write songs about what ever was going on around her.  Early on music was a means to express, reflect and heal and to discover new ways of seeing through the process of songwriting.

Laura's grandmother was a music teacher and choir director who would take her around to the neighbors to sing songs like Edelweiss wherever they visited. She studied classical voice in college and remains in awe of the instrument that is the human voice. While appreciating Opera and Art song, she continues to feel drawn to folk and roots music,

Laura has been a music therapist for the past 14 years. Her interest in Music therapy came directly form personal experience with music as s a healing force. She continues to be fascinated by the power of music to touch, heal and inspire even in the darkest moments

She is also a devoted fan of old country blues singers such as Fred and Annie Macdowel and Mississippi John Hurt as well as early gospel singers Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the Blind Boys of Alabama as well as country/ folk singers- Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie. All singers and songwriters with an innate talent for communicating.