"Songwriting that is as personal as can be and yet universal at the same time, in how she finds the common thread that runs through all our lives."
Christine Lavin

"Annie sparkles on stage...she charms you and touches you with her music."
Gene Shay, WXPN-FM, Philadelphia

"When you first hear it, you just pull your car over to the side and listen."
Charlie Zahm

Christine Lavin, "Fairy Godmother of Folk," isn't the only one who's discovered the fresh, original songwriting and performing of Philadelphia-born Annie Bauerlein...audiences across the Northeastern folk circuit have too! Christine says:

"Back in June I got to see and hear Annie Bauerlein and her husband Chip Mergott when we performed outdoors on a Sunday night in King-of-Prussia, Pennsylvania (Concerts Under the Stars). We traded CDs and I wanted to let you know about them. Annie comes from a large devout Catholic family--she is the youngest of 11 children...There is a deep faith reflected in this music, and some sweet touches--on the title track, Isabel Bauerlein, Annie's niece, plays trumpet; in the middle of "Phillies Fan Blues" Annie reels off the history of the '93 season in all of 20 seconds; in "The Aunts are Here" (a song dedicated to all the Bauerlein nephews who obviously have suffered one to many cheek-pinchings) she sings from their point of view:

"They  try to kiss me
They try to hug me
They say 'you're so cute'
And they really bug me

On the stunning final track "Rich in Love," which was written for her parents' 50th wedding anniversary, Annie and Chip have recorded vocal harmonies worthy of CSN&Y at their best. If anyone is looking for the perfect anniversary song for a silver-haired couple, this is it.

Annie has a lovely voice, plays guitar beautifully (as does Chip), and his arrangements are subtle and perfect for these songs. This album celebrates ordinary life in a quiet, thoughtful way--it is the antithesis of the kind of music you hear these days on pops radio...This might inspire you to write songs about your family."
(check www.christine lavin.com/070201annieb.html for the original text.)

One of 11 children, Annie writes songs that are both humorous and heartwarming reflections on life in a big family. Her latest CD, "Cartwheels in the Yard," (Notebook Records, 2001) contains songs written for some of Annie's 26 nieces and nephews. On the album's single, "Butterfly Girl," Annie sings about her niece Amy, who is transformed from a 3-year-old child dancing colorfully in the living room to a beautiful young lady. The title track (sung by Annie's husband and "Cartwheels" producer, Chip Mergott) evokes images of Annie's niece, Isabel, who is fond of oldies and "doo-wop" songs, horses, and who plays trumpet in her school marching band. (Isabel's own trumpet playing is featured on the CD.) Another niece, Madeleine, created the artwork for the CD.

With two previous recordings to her credit, "Mugsy is Fine" and "Little Miss Dysfunctional," Annie has received considerable airplay on radio stations across the country. Locally, she can be heard on WXPN-FM in Philadelphia and she is a frequent guest on XPN's Kid's Corner and Folk Music with Gene Shay shows. Her song "Ninety-Nine Months," a chronicle of the number of months her mother was pregnant, was featured as Philly Local Pick of the Day on WXPN. Annie can also be heard on WDVR-FM in New Jersey and WDIY-FM in Pennsylvania.

Annie is often accompanied by her husband, Chip, and together they sing their own original tunes and duets as well as gospel songs. Their music can be described as "fun family folk."

For booking, call 1-800-499-2713, write P.O. Box 495, Stockton, NJ  08559, or e-mail chipannie@rcn.com

Annie's website is www.notebookrecords.com