Lorie grew up in Reno, Nevada and was born with "perfect pitch." She has been playing the piano since age 5 and as a child prodigy, she won many annual Statewide piano competitions. Classically trained, she graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a BA in Music, Piano Performance. In 1986, she married Tim Line, moved to Minneapolis and landed the perfect job, serenading shoppers at the piano for Dayton's department stores. It was from here that Midwestern fans took notice of her musical talent and style and her career took off.