“Thee Laura Fazio,”Meet the Singer-Part 1
Meet Laura Series
“Thee Laura Fazio,” Meet the Singer- Part 1
Written by Susan Fusco Fazio
Music was always playing in our home. Paul and l regularly listened to the vinyl albums we each collected since our high school years; mine from my hometown of Branford in Connecticut, and his when living in Hingham, Massachusetts. Selections of our favorite music were heard daily in our house; rock and roll, folk, jazz, and reggae. Albums by Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Armatrading, Tracy Chapman, Thelonious Monk, Pat Metheny and Frank Sinatra, and more, were played over and over again on our turntable. Laura was first exposed to our music when she was in my womb. When she was a baby, I would dance around the living room, holding her in my arms with Laura flapping her feet, jiggling her body, and waving her hands in the air with joy. By two years of age, Laura would be dancing and singing on her own to this same music. An early talker, Laura began to sing shortly after she was able to speak. A born singer, we would say. Laura sang everywhere; at home, in the car, while being pushed in her stroller, and always when waiting with me in line at the grocery store. Shoppers' eyes lit up as they commented on her sweet voice and free spirit. Soon we found Raffi records of singable songs for young children. These albums played daily on our turntable, becoming worn and loved. Magically, Laura had memorized the words to most of the songs, so we took Laura to a live Raffi concert in Providence, when she was just a toddler. Laura sang along at the concert, since she knew most of the songs by heart. Raffi’s, Little Toy Drums became her singing debut song, as she repeatedly performed it for friends and family during one Christmas holiday season.
Laura set up a stage area in our living room when she was four years old. She sang into her Fisher Price microphone and speaker, and began to entertain Paul and I almost nightly by dancing or singing to her favorite songs; Joni Mitchel’s, All I want, Carey , Little Green, and a family favorite, Frank Sinatra’s, Fly me to the moon, and Raffi’s, Little Toy Drums, and One Light, One Sun. Paul and I watched and listened in awe as Laura sang song after song, only pausing to clap and cheer with her audience of two at the end of each song. Laura’s concerts filled us with delight until our anxiety set in, when we saw her lips getting bluer, her breathing more labored, and fatigue set in. Laura sang through it still standing, without stopping to rest. Finally we were able to breathe sighs of relief when Laura eventually chose to sink down slowly into a sitting position on the rug to rest for a few minutes while still singing, only to rise back up after the song was complete to clap and take her bows. Paul and I learned to let it all play out and to live on “Laura time”, which meant resisting the urge to tell her when to rest. Not easy to sit back and wait, we adhered to the guiding words of Laura’s cardiologist, let Laura decide when she needs to rest. She will do it naturally.
Laura gave herself a stage name when she was around 6 years old. She began to introduce herself as “Shelly Dell” before performing for us and our house guests. Laura entertained our guests, sang for her cousins, grandparents, and our friends and families. On occasion, Laura was asked to sing in restaurants we frequented. Weekly dinners out to El Sarape, her favorite Mexican Restaurant in Braintree, had a singer who performed there on Friday nights. When Pepe sang La Bamba, he noticed Laura singing along and dancing in her seat, prompting him to ask her to come up to the microphone to sing with him. This became a regular stint for her. While visiting family in Connecticut during the holiday season, we often dined at the Chowder Pot, where singer Bob Mel spotted Laura singing and dancing with her cousins on the dance floor in front of his band, in the cocktail lounge while we waited for our table. The singer asked Laura to come up to the stage and sing into the microphone. Laura sang her rendition of the Raffi’s Little Toy Drums and Silver Bells as the band played along. My mother told us stories of when she sang on the radio and the stage when she was a child, reinforcing that Laura certainly didn't get this talent from her own parents, but from her Grandmother, Ga Ga. A few years later, when Laura was 9 years old she was asked to sing at her Nana and Nanu’s 50th anniversary party at the Barker Tavern in Scituate, Ma. Laura sang Fly me to the Moon to over 50 guests who showered her with accolades after the performance. A few years later, Laura began to call herself, “Thee Laura Fazio”, declaring that she wanted to grow up to be a famous singer.
As Laura entered 4th grade she started listening to country music, which soon became her favorite music genre. She collected the CD’s of LeAnne Rimes, Faith Hill, Jo Dee Messina, Shania Twain, and Garth Brooks. She also loved NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys, Bonnie Raitt, Four Bitchn’ Babes and the Indigo Girls. We bought her a more sophisticated microphone and a boombox. Her bedroom became her music studio, where she compiled cassette tape mixes and listened to music with her friends. Later, Laura had karaoke parties in our living room with her best friends, Allie, Carolyn, Lauren, Meghan, and Ashley.
When Laura was in the fifth grade, I decided to ask Jane, the Monatiquout school music teacher if she knew of anyone that taught private singing lessons. Jane had been very positive about Laura’s singing voice and gave her mini solo parts in the school concerts. She was impressed with Laura’s voice and her passion for music and performing. Jane thought about my question, then told me that it was unlikely that Laura could be enrolled in private lessons.
“The voice is not usually developed enough at this age. Harm could be done to her vocal chords if she is not ready for this kind of singing practice, ”Jane informed me.
“Oh no, that’s disappointing. I was really hoping Laura could have singing lessons.”
“ Why don’t you contact Fran, the Braintree’s school system’s music director. I will give you her phone number. Ask her yourself. You never know what she might say.” Jane instructed.
I made the phone call to Fran later that day to plead my case; why this particular 5th grader should be allowed to take private singing lessons. The idea was met with some resistance.
“We don’t allow elementary aged children to take voice lessons. The vocal cords need more time to develop, Fran informed me. “ Let’s revisit this in a few years, shall we?” She offered in a kind voice.
I wanted to say that we didn’t have three years to wait and that we needed to live for now, that every moment was precious. Instead I gave Fran a summary of who Laura was to see if she would reconsider.
“Laura has been singing everyday, for as long as we can remember… and she has a really good voice. She even performed in a restaurant when a singer heard her singing voice and asked her to come up to the microphone. It was Frank Sinatra’s, Fly me to the Moon!
“Is that right?” Fran responded warmly.
“Yes. She was also asked to sing at her grandparents anniversary party this year!” I told her as I continued to brag.
My tone became more serious. “ I don’t know how much you know about Laura,” I said as if asking.
Fran caught on, “No. I really don’t know anything about your daughter since I haven’t had a chance to speak to her music teacher yet.”
“Okay. I will fill you in a bit.” I went on giving Fran an “elevator pitch”, the short version of Laura’s complicated situation.
“Laura has a serious health condition. She was born with Congenital Heart Disease. She also suffered from two strokes when she was 2 years old, which impaired her gait, and her right hand, and the inability to perform two handed tasks. She had a second stroke when she was 3 years old that impaired her left field of vision. Laura has an IEP and full time paraprofessional at school. Laura has friends and likes school, but she can’t attend gym class, after school activities, summer camps, run, ride a bike or dance without getting short of breath. It’s actually kind of strange that she can sing so well and hold those long notes even when she spends so much of her day out of breath, but not when she’s singing! Doesn’t singing take a lot of breath? Laura is “cyanotic”and lives everyday with low oxygen levels in her blood. But when you hear her sing, you forget all that. It’s truly amazing, really!”
“Okay, She sounds incredible. I will go and hear Laura sing. When does she have music class?” Fran asked.
“ I think maybe it’s tomorrow, right after recess, but you can check the schedule.”
“ So this is what I will do. I will listen to Laura sing with the group during class tomorrow, and then I will take her aside, with your permission, to hear her sing alone. Is that okay with you?”
“ Oh yes, definitely.” I was thrilled.
“ I can’t promise you anything. First, I have to tell Jane that I will be coming to her class, then we can go from there. I will call you afterwards to let you know what I think,” Fran explained.
“Great! Thank you! I really appreciate it!” I said feeling so much hope.
“Ok then”, Fran said while closing up our conversation. “ Oh and by the way, I can’t wait to meet your daughter. She sounds amazing!’
Fran called me back the next day.
“Susan, I am happy to report that I went to the Monatiquot School today and had the pleasure of meeting Laura. What a delight she is! Her singing voice is so sweet, such a beautiful sound. I have decided to make an exception and allow Laura to take the private lessons…”
“Oh my God. I am so happy!” I said, interrupting her. “Oh no, go ahead, you weren’t done speaking. I am just so excited.”
“ Just so you know, the only private lessons we have are held at the high school, since this is the age we usually start voice training. Laura is much younger, but I don’t believe that these lessons will harm her voice. I already spoke to the voice instructor. Her name is Carol, and she is willing to take Laura on as a student. She can join the class next week. Be aware that she will be sitting in a classroom with high school students, mostly girls as it turns out, a nice small group actually. All of the students will come to the first class to meet each other, and to hear each other sing individually with the teacher at the piano. They will listen to each other’s voices and get to know who’s in the class. Afterwards, each student will sign up for their half hour time slot for the weekly private voice lessons. Towards the end of the semester, the class will come together again to perform their songs for one another, and to practice the song each chose for the recital.”
“A recital?” I asked
“Oh yes. It’s their culminating event, held in the evening in front of an audience on the high school stage. Do you think Laura will be comfortable with this arrangement?”
“Yes I do, but I will ask her. I haven't told Laura yet, that I called you, because I didn't want to get her hopes up. She has been asking me if she could have singing lessons, so I think she’ll be really happy.”
Fran and I agreed to be in touch to check in after the lessons started to see how it was all going. I hung up the phone feeling that life was good, that there were really good people out there who were willing to give this very talented, but seriously ill child a chance. Laura loved the weekly singing lessons and the new repertoire of songs she could learn and practice at home. Laura ended up choosing Amazing Grace for her fist solo performance in the recital on the high school stage. The high school students adored Laura, the youngest student there, taking her under their wing. When it came time to perform, we invited a few friends and relatives. Laura did not seem to suffer any stage fright and only had a few nervous butterflies. Laura belted out her passionate and beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace as we teared up with pride. Laura was on the road to becoming “Thee Laura Fazio,” a famous singer.
**Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for for“Thee Laura Fazio” Meet the Singer, Part 2, in next week's post on Substack. If you are new to Blue Sunflower, please subscribe for free and scroll down my site to read my previous posts about Laura and our experiences while in the hospital.