I remember it rather clearly. I leapt onto the stage and interrupted a performance of “Country Roads” with a song I learned in Sunday School- “The Garden Song”. The band was in the middle of playing as I stood in the center of the wire-covered stage and grabbed the microphone that lay behind the guitarist. Inch by inch… row by row… gonna make this garden grow… This would have probably been a bigger deal if the guitarist wasn’t my very own memaw (not to mention I was only three years old). Growing up, our house was constantly filled with music. My mother has an infinite passion for Rock. Anything heavy-metal is deemed flawless in our house. Metallica, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, you name it- were all accustomed to the echoes of our living room. My Great grandmother grew up in New Orleans which is known for being an especially Jazzy city. She loved to dance and taught my memaw, after her, the guitar. My memaw, my ultimate inspiration, has taught me everything I know and love when it comes to music. She and my Grandad have their own band, “The Other Side”, referring to the fact that everyone in the band is on the other side of 50 years old- until I decided to throw myself in the mix. Looking back, I’m sure they didn’t expect me to pursue such a contrasting music style: Opera. It’s interesting to see how each generation has their own, very different taste in music. My family has carried their love for making music throughout generations and I am quite certain that I will not be the last. 

– Olivia Lawrence

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more