A Washington DC native, Karen Henderson hails from a US Air Force family. Daughter of a fighter pilot, Karen and her family traveled around the world and were stationed on military bases in several foreign countries and the United States. Starting at an young age, and guided by her mother Patricia, a gnostic in her own right, Karen studied different cultures, religions and philosophies. Through the teachings of ancient wisdom from various sects of Christanity, Buddhism, Hinduism, the Jain and Native American traditions among others, Karen was taught deep respect for all thinking processes. It is through that early work with her mother that Karen still expands and applies her spiritual understanding today. And the marriage of her modern savvy with ancient wisdom provides inspiration for Karen's speeches and books.
Karen suffered a serious childhood illness that robbed her of her ability to walk without the aid of crutches, and for months she missed school and her friends. Eventually, Karen was able to heal from the challenge and return to a normal life, but this was to become the first of many health challenges for Karen.
After returning to the United States, Karen's family was dealt a serious blow when her mother became suddenly paralyzed, and was no longer able to care for herself. While her mind and spirit remained sharp, Patricia was to remain quadraplegic for the remainder of her life. Karen was barely 14 years old, her sister Patrice was 11, and along with their father Landis, they became primary caregivers to Patricia for the next 35 years until she passed away. This experience forever altered the way Karen saw life, and she continues to learn many valuable lessons from the painful and meaningful experience.
As young girls, Karen and her sister Patrice were fortunate that the family had them schooled in ballet, tap dancing, music, and the arts. But shortly before one recital in which both girls were to perform, Karen's old illness resurfaced, leaving her unable to dance with the others. Her dance instructor came up with a novel idea, and since Karen had always wanted to be a singer, she was placed onstage in the middle of the dance troupe, to perform a song while the troupe danced around her. Karen's singing career had begun.
Classically trained in opera, but an avid afficionado of American jazz standards, Karen's professional career onstage in the entertainment industry started early as she began performing dance music and singing shows nightly to audiences. Her first gig was at Mr. Henry's in Washington D.C.'s prestigious Georgetown. That was at the same time Roberta Flack was singing at Mr. Henry's other location on Capitol Hill. Roberta went on to Hollywood, and Karen stayed in D.C., where her home and family were. Karen performed many shows at the USO Club on Pennsylvania Ave. during the days of the Vietnam War. When Karen performed for Danny Thomas at the Phoenecia Restaurant (owned by Ed Petros), Danny told Karen to "Be a big fish in a little pond." She took that advice to heart.
As Karen became more well-known and drew larger and larger crowds, she performed only at the most prestigious hotels and nightclubs in the D.C. Metropolitan Region including the Washington Hilton, Sheraton Washington, Mayflower Hotel, Sheraton National, Marriott Hotels and the Omni Shoreham Hotel. She also appeared at a brief stint at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.
Karen's popularity continued to grow, and she began to perform every year on the air during WMAL AM 630's 24 Hour Leukemia Radiothon, hosted by the legendary broadcast pioneer Bill Mayhugh. Because of those appearances, ABC Vice-President Andy Ockershausen offered Karen her own radio show on WMAL AM 630. At the time, the radio station was the number one voice in Washington, DC., and home to many notable and famed broadcasters (Harden & Weaver, Tom Gauger, Felix Grant, John Lyon, Trumbull & Core, Bill Mayhugh, Ken Beatrice, Sonny Jurgenson and Sam Huff, and traffic pilot Capt. Dan Rosenson) along with being the official broadcaster for the Washington Redskins. Karen became weekend relief for Bill Mayhugh, eventually to become vacation relief for all dayparts. She worked at the ABC radio giant for over 12 years, and was the only female air personality for the broadcasting station. During that time, she interviewed and partnered with some of the greats from the world of business and entertainment including Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Art Linkletter, George Shearing, Sarah Vaughn, Lou Rawls and Mel Torme.
Through the radio station, Karen had many wonderful experiences. Annually, Karen Henderson hosted the July 4th Show & Fireworks broadcasts from the Washington Monument's Sylvan Theatre on the Mall; the Sunset Serenade Concert Series each summer at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, and performed Christmas Eve shows at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, simulcast on WMAL AM 630 and Armed Forces Radio for over a decade.
As a performing artist, Karen Henderson has sung in concert with all the major military jazz bands including the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note, U.S. Army Blues, the Marine Band and the U.S. Navy Band. She was awarded status as a Lifetime Member of the U.S. Navy Band, an honor afforded to very few professional musicians. She has performed on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum and in private concerts at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Library of Congress. Because of her numerous National Anthem appearances for the Washington Redskins football games, the Virginia Gold Cup races and other important events, she was dubbed the "Kate Smith of Washington."
Part of American history, Karen is noted for shows presented for Bob Hope's 95th birthday (Library of Congress); for the Wright Brothers' 100th Anniversary of Flight; for the 50th Commemoration of WWII; and the 40th Anniversary of the NASA Moon Walk. She has also performed at Blues Alley, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, the Cellar Door, the Corcoran School for the Arts, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She became the most popular and highest paid nightclub performer in Washington D.C. for decades, until the live music industry was altered by advancing media technology.
And the radio business was not immune to technological changes either. Replaced by a satellite radio feed, The Rush Limbaugh Show premiered in place of Karen's all-night weekend radio show, and Karen moved on after over 12 years.
From WMAL AM 630 radio in Washington, Karen migrated to Culpeper and continued radio broadcasting at WCVA AM 1490 for another 5 years, leaving radio as technology changed again, enabling broadcasts without live announcers. She began to accomplish environmental projects with the Regional Planning District Commission. Because of her work there, she was recruited to become President and CEO of the Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce in Northern Virginia.
During the time she worked at the chamber of commerce, Karen contracted a serious and life-threatening illness that hospitalized and ultimately impaired her for months. Once again, through the power of her positive thinking and faith, Karen was able to heal from the illness and return to work.
Following a successful ten year span there, Karen was awarded the Chamber Executive of the Year Award (for organizational management), a statewide honor presented by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for 2008-2009.
Former Redskins great Sonny Jurgenson once told Karen "Quit while you're ahead." That advice had always served Karen well. Understanding that social networking and technology was rapidly changing the potential of local business associations, and feeling there was more to accomplish in her life than what she was doing at the time, Karen departed work at the chamber of commerce in December, 2010. She now devotes her time to writing, motivational seminars and workshops, spiritual counseling, the peacemaking process, and most important of all, her music and the things she loves most.
Karen continues her spiritual and metaphysical studies as a lifelong student. Aside from learning from her mother and many spiritual masters, her interests include Ancient Wisdom, Cosmology and Quantum Mechanics as relates to Consiousness, the Earth Sciences and Astrophysics. Among her study credits, she is a graduate of the University of Science and Philosophy (1995), a self-taught natural Herbalist and a Certified Reiki Master in the Usui tradition of Natural Healing, although she does not ascribe to any single teaching or master. "Truth comes in many forms," Karen says, "the messengers differ, but the true message is the same. Your own spirit knows which resonates for you at the appropriate time."
For Karen, the Ancient Wisdom teachings are her connection to everything.
Karen's recent notable stage performances include the New Year's Eve 2011 Show held at the reknowned John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Karen and Sidney's Full Swing Orchestra performed on the Millennium Stage as National Symphony Conductor Murry Sidlin joined Karen and the band onstage to count down the New Year in that long standing tradtition.
Karen will keynote at the annual conference of the National League of American Pen Women in Chevy Chase, MD on October 15, 2011.
On December 31, 2011, Karen Henderson will perform the 18th Annual New Year's Eve Show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on the Millennium Stage with Full Swing. She will officially ring in 2012 for Washington. D.C. once again with the National Symphony Orchestra's Maestro Murry Sidlin.
Currently, Karen resides in a mountainous, rural VA community with her family of various species.
