According to USA Today, House star and reformed British person Hugh Laurie plans to record an album of “New Orleans blues” for Warner Bros. as part of his ongoing American assimilation. Laurie—who plays piano and guitar, among other things—has long incorporated his musical talents into his onscreen work, occasionally sits in with the all-star charity cover group Band From TV, and even guested on the most recent Meat Loaf record, which is something we just discovered, but this will be his first attempt at making a proper album on his own.
Naturally, he’s being exceedingly British and self-deprecating about it, saying, “I know the history of actors making music is a checkered one, but I promise no one will get hurt." Hopefully helping him to succeed where all the Peter Gallaghers and Cybill Shepherds have failed is Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry, who’s previously worked with Elvis Costello and Loudon Wainwright III. And for anyone who doubts he has the skills, here’s a bit of Laurie singing from A Bit Of Fry And Laurie.