Page 11 - The Wayne Dispatch

Mother and daughter share their love of music

By Carolyn Marnon says Zoom. There were about 6000-
Karen Lawrence, also known as 7000 people there. Zoom says all
Zoom, was born at Annapolis Hospi- those people believed in their talent.
tal in Wayne in 1959. She has lived “How many people believe in their
in Wayne her entire life, or has she? selves and working toward a goal?”
She says she has lived in the same Airey is now following in her
house on Wayne Rd. her entire 61 mother’s musical footsteps, pursu-
years, but the house has changed ad- ing a career in blues.
dresses, originally being in Wayne, Airey says her love of blues began
but later being changed to a Romu- when she saw the Woody Allen
lus residence. Her mother was a movie, Blue Jasmine. She was blown
teacher with the Wayne Public away by the song “A Good Man Is
Schools; her father worked at Ford Hard to Find” sung by Lizzie Miles
in Wayne. and started studying Lizzie. The
She says her parents would have movie has become one of her fa-
parties in the basement with every vorites.
kind of music. At about 3-4:00 a.m., When she was 19, Zoom says
she would hear the blues music waft- Karen Lawrence, also known as Zoom, at the America’s Got Talent auditions. they were going to a doctor’s appoint-
ing to her room, and it would have ment when “Salty Dog” came on the
her mesmerized. favorite blues singer, Koko Taylor, the World,” and “Silent Night.” Airey radio. “Mom, that’s me!” exclaimed
Zoom performed the blues for 20 for one night. This was about 1990. says she doesn’t remember any of Airey. Zoom goes on talking about a
years and travelled all over the Three weeks later, “out of nowhere” this, but she does say her first mem- competition put on by the Detroit
world. At 17, she performed with a Zoom says, she got an eight-week Eu- ory was learning “Jingle Bells” when Blues Society which will send people
pop band. Her first gig was at what ropean tour. The tour had her she was 3. to Memphis, Tennessee to compete
is now the Crystal Bar and Grill in singing in France, Germany, Italy, Airey remembers that her with other people from all over the
Westland. It was an upscale supper Austria, Switzerland, Amsterdam grandma liked jazz music and would world. Although no prizes are
club then. She would also include 1- and Spain. play cassette tapes on car rides. Her awarded to youth competitors, the
2 blues songs in her repertoire. Her Blues music is “about life. This grandma also liked going to concerts. critique participants receive is just
favorite song was Journey’s “Lovin’, coffee is hot…My back hurts…etc” Airey was in the band in middle as prestigious.
Touchin’, Squeezin’. says Zoom. She says she sang with school and high school. As a high Zoom says she called Steve So-
Playing in bars and at festivals, the Chicago Blues Festival and trav- school freshman, she performed in viak of DBS touting the talents of her
Zoom travelled around the area- elled non-stop from 1990 to about the talent show, playing piano and daughter who only sings 1920s-
Westland, Dearborn, Detroit, Ham- 1999/2000. singing “Stay” by Rihanna, and win- 1940s blues. She played Steve a
tramck. She later branched out with Her travel slowed drastically in ning first place. “It was completely recording of Airey’s “Salty Dog” and
Zoom and the Blue Diamonds, play- 1998 when her daughter Airey was unexpected!” said he told her the hairs on the
ing all over Michigan and Canada. born. She continued to perform, Airey has been to music camps in back of his neck were standing up.
She also did some appearances with however, saying “You don’t turn any- Wisconsin. She says she auditioned Airey was sent to Memphis to per-
other bands. thing down” while she worked tire- for Interlochen and AMDA College form at Silky O’Sullivan’s where she
She recalls singing the National lessly to now support her daughter. and Conservatory of the Performing received invaluable criticism, both
Anthem at the old Tiger Stadium. She became dedicated to raising Arts in Los Angeles. An only child, good and bad.
She says she was wearing a navy her daughter and bought Airey her Zoom wanted to send Airey to a per- Steve says big-time blues movers
blue and white suit and her heels first 88-key electric piano when she forming arts school. and shakers in the Detroit area have
would stick to the ground. was 2 years old. With one finger and Not long ago, Airey and Zoom taken notice of Airey. When talking
At a gig in London, Ontario, by ear, Airey taught herself to play each auditioned for “America’s Got
Zoom was scheduled to open for her “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” “Joy to Talent.” “I thought it would be fun,” See Music, page 12

The Wayne Dispatch · May 2019 · 11