Mary Katherine "Kay" Lawrence was born September 12, 1921 in Brewers, Kentucky. Kay was one of two children born to Loyd Lawrence and Mamie Chester Lawrence. She had one brother, James Elmo Lawrence whom she adored. She passed away on Friday, May, 23, 2014 at the age of 92 at the Baptist Health in Louisville, KY.
Kay learned piano at an early age from her mother, and it became her life's passion. She studied classical music at Murray State University, where she began taking piano lessons in her sophomore year of high school. She attributes her luck in attending college to her mother, who pushed her to continue in school. After graduating from college, Kay taught chorus, rhythm ensemble and marching band to students in grades 1-12 at Dixon and Poole Schools in Webster County, Kentucky. Because time and space was not available during school hours Kay spent many evenings rehearsing with the band without the use of electricity. The high school band under Kay's direction performed at the railroad depot for the young soldiers heading off to World War II.
Saving $950 from teaching, Kay followed her dream of going to New York City to continue her musical studies and left Kentucky at the end of her first year of teaching. While in New York, Kay attained her master's degree from Columbia University. Although she was brought up studying classical music, Kay was bitten by the jazz bug early on in Brewers Kentucky where she and her brother first heard jazz being played while in high school. She was soon playing jazz piano at clubs in New York. She recalled going to Union Hall on 52nd street where callers would say, "We need a pianist at so and so club this Friday". Kay started getting employment this way, but soon she was established and had regular engagements. Once when she was playing in an after-hours club, Art Tatum, (who is considered one of the greatest pianists in any style of music) came in, sat next to her on the piano bench and asked her to play for him. She played "Sweet Lorraine" which she knew he had just recorded. On another occasion she and friends stopped at a bar where Charlie Parker was playing. At the intermission Charlie came over to her table. Someone started introductions and Charlie stopped them saying, "Oh I know Kay." The music critic Leonard Feather wrote an article on the music scene there and while he described various well-known pianists as scholarly or polite he said if you want to hear "hard swing jazz" go hear Mary Kay Lawrence play. In addition to playing with the greats of her time, Kay performed at Carnegie Hall, accompanying a dancer. In the mid-1950s, Kay formed an all-girl trio, The Kay Lawrence Trio, with a drummer and bassist, and performed throughout New York City.
Kay moved to Louisville in the 1960's, and taught in the public schools. She also taught piano privately at Mel Own Music as well as Bellarmine University for about thirty years.
She was one of the few musicians who traveled in both the classical music world as well as the jazz world. Kay knew the playing of the new young lions on the national jazz scene and yet her favorite classical composer was Charles Ives, whose quirky polytonal music with quotes from various folk music, seemed to perfectly fit her personality. She would laugh out loud as she listened to his music. Kay continued entertaining people into her nineties, as she would play for happy hour at the assisted living facility where she lived until her passing.
In addition to her love and mastery of music, Kay read the bible daily, exuberantly cheered on the University of Kentucky Wildcats every basketball season and when she visited Jim in Murray, would wile away the days fishing.
Her parents, her brother Jim, of Murray, Kentucky and Dia Sharpus, the light of her life, preceded her in death. Dia was the daughter of Soni Sharpus, a dear friend for many, many years, who also preceded Kay in death.
Kay never had children but she leaves behind students of all ages, who were touched by her talent and humor and who will miss her dearly. As one of her longtime students stated…"Heaven is lucky to have her now."
THE LINEAGE:
(Mary Katherine Lawrence was the daughter of Loyd Johnson and Mamie Frances Chester Lawrence, granddaughter of James Calven and Orphee H. Thomas Chester, and great granddaughter of Starkie Duprey and Sarah Frances Pugh Thomas. Starkie Duprey was the eleventh child of Perry and Elizabeth Josephine Bridges Thomas. Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. Elizabeth Josephine was the sixth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)
