Debra Dean Lawler And Patrick Lawler

 

By Ralph De Palma

 

Debra Dean Lawler and Patrick Lawler are part of the Key West/Virginia cabal.  Debra and Patrick are both from the Richmond area. She made her singing debut in the 4th grade.   She met Patrick 24 years ago on a riverboat sailing down the James River.

 

 

Patrick is equally adept at guitar and piano and was featured at the San Remo Italy Jazz Festival. He has worked with Ravi Coltrane, Maceo Parker, Steve Wilson, and has shared the stage with legends like BB King and Oscar Peterson.  

 

 

Debra & Patrick have received great reviews from Lola’s in Martha’s Vineyard, Zanzibar’s in New York, and the Tobacco Company in Richmond.  In Key West, they can be found at La Te Da, and, sometimes, the Casa Marina and Little Palm Island. They have played all over the world together, Abu Dhabi, the Black Sea, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Austria, France, but in Deb’s opinion there is no place like Key West.”It’s a melting pot of people from all over the world, all different cultures and backgrounds with a bohemian vibe on this tiny two-by-four island.”

 

 

Deb and Patrick first came to Key West  in 1995 to work with friend Melvin Watson and they have never left. Key West is a relaxing environment that “makes the music flow easier.“ To Debra, it’s a matter of not being weighed down with “extra outside stuff.”  

 

 

Debra and Patrick’s favorite performance was a concert in 2006 at the Tropic Cinema with Richard Crooks, Lonnie Jacobson, Ken Fradley, Patrick on piano and guitar, and Debra on vocals. They performed a Billy Holiday 1930’s tribute taking the audience “Back in Time.” Both feel that there is not as much jazz in Key West as there once was. They enjoyed playing with Kenny Drew, Johnny O’Neal, Lonnie Jacobson, and other jazz musicians.

 

 

They have played in almost every venue for live music in Key West. They have a steady gig at La Te Da and the Green Parrot Sunday Jazz Jam during the Winter season then travel during the Summer months.

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