Detroit's own Joan Crawford. Born and raised in Detroit , after she
 graduated from Mackenzie High School she attended WSU, and Art Center Music
 School, aspiring to become a classical vocalist and a teacher of music.
 While attending Sarah Vaughn's performance at the Montreuz-Detroit
 International Jazz Festival. Joan heard the Jimmy Wilkins 17 piece
 Orchestra That performace sparked her interest in Jazz. She later had the
 oppurtunity to audition for the Orchestra and was asked to join the band,
 starting her career as a Jazz Vocalist. Joan Remained the featured vocalist
 with the band until Jimmy Wilkins left Detroit in 1994. The following year,
 Joan appeared as the leader of her own group at the Montreux-Detroit
 International Jazz Festival. Since then Joan has furthered her vocal
 education by attending severaljazz studies programs, including those at the
 University of Massachusetts (Jazz in July) and at Westmier University in
 Lamar, Iowa.
 Joan also debuted as a vocalist in her first movie, " Detroit Comedy Jam,
 the Movie,"filmed at the Fisher Theater, Detroit. The film won Best Comedy
 of the year on HBO that Summer. The musical director was Joe LaDuca. Ms.
 Crawford's acting debut was in three plays performed at Greenfield Village
 in Dearborn, Michigan, "The Door", "Gullah Tales" and "Mrs. Grace Mattox".