Dr. House

(info and image via Yahoo!)

I'm such a big House fan; this gets me so excited!!

Viewers of Fox's medical dramedy "House" are used to seeing Dr. Gregory House relieving post-work stress on the piano or the electric guitar. But now actor/comedian Hugh Laurie is getting serious about his other talent, signing a deal with Warner Music to record a New Orleans blues album with the help of a legendary producer, and Laurie says he's "drunk with excitement" over the prospect.

Laurie, 52, has been showing off his musical talent on screen for years, playing piano on "Jeeves and Wooster," one of his collaborations with comedy partner Stephen Fry before Laurie left the UK to become famous on these shores as Dr. House. The scratchy-voiced star also played the keyboard and sang "Such a Night" by legendary New Orleans bluesman Dr. John at a Netflix live event in August of 2008. Laurie even played piano on Meat Loaf's most recent album after the two met on the set of "House."

Laurie will record the album this summer for a fall release in collaboration with producer Joe Henry, who has worked with the likes of Elvis Costello and Loudon Wainwright III, and has even written songs for Madonna. Of Henry, Laurie told the BBC "I am particularly thrilled to be working with Joe Henry, who has produced some of my favorite records of all time, and I can't wait to get started."

I hope this exciting prospect doesn't flop like some other actors-turned-musicians.

Watch him perform.