Cathryn "Kay" Elizabeth Wiser Herndon

Cathryn “Kay” Elizabeth Wiser Herndon; Kay’s mother introduced her to the arts at an early age, so she took singing and tap dancing lessons from the age of four. She began singing in church a few years later and continued to sing in school, church and community choirs for the rest of her life. Music was a great part of her life.

She was born Oct. 20, 1935 in Alton, Ill. Her family soon moved to Los Angeles, Calif. During the war, her mother supported Kay and her brother by working as “Rosie Riveter” making planes for the military. Kay went to Culter Academy and Manual Arts high schools in LA....