PROVO — Lora Harmon Thompson was known as the Carbon County Nightingale, a bundle of talent who could sing a crystal clear F above high C and her feet could put choreographers to shame.
She loved to sing and dance, but a train accident left her legs unable to do what her heart wanted. Determined to do shows and teach dance steps, she called on her little girl Janie to help. The mother would play a tune on the piano, then spin on her piano stool and move her feet to show the dance steps to the child.
"I was Mom's legs. Mom could think up steps, but couldn't do them," said Janie Thompson. "So I would be her legs and show the kids how to dance."
Thus began Thompson's life of dance, music, programs, floor shows, travel and working with youth. Those who know her today may not believe it, but stage fright in the early years nearly stopped her.
"I was so scared of performing I wouldn't perform by myself when I was a kid," she said.
Yet by age 5, Thompson had taught herself to play the piano and to compose music.
"I did my first floor show with all those cowpokes in Malta (Idaho) at age 14," she said. "I had them thinking they were Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers."
Thompson was born Aug. 20, 1921, the oldest of seven children — all musically gifted.
"My siblings sang better than me," Thompson said. "I was the black sheep of the family. I stuck with pop music." That choice made all the difference.
"I was a senior at BYU in 1943, the war was on big. BYU was practically a girls' school," Thompson said. "The Army sent 250 cadets to BYU for engineering training. The cadets had a marching band. A bunch played in jazz bands.
"They would come to my apartment, some with their girlfriends. In order to keep the noise down, I'd start playing the piano. I'd start singing, my back to everyone — I'd pretend I was alone. When I would sing, they would listen.
"The cadet band got an invitation to play and asked me to sing," she said. "I was scared and turned them down. Then they asked the most popular girl on campus. She was everything I wasn't, she had courage. That really hurt me. That's when my jealously got bigger then my (being) scared. I went to the band and said, "If you still want me to sing, well, I will.' "
Her first dance was the next week. "I almost didn't go through with it. My first song was 'The Man I Love.' The best-looking guy on campus came up after and said I sounded like Ella Fitzgerald. From then on you couldn't shut me up."
That new-found courage took Thompson to San Francisco and in a short time she read about an audition for the Civilian Actress Technician Service. Although Thompson wanted to audition, she put the ad in a drawer.
"My life was built on fear," she said. "I pulled the ad out and was told I have to audition. I often wonder why the Lord picked me to do this."
One of the GIs who watched her audition with a big slam bang finish told her afterward, "You got it, baby!"
The "baby" went on to tour with the CATS in Europe, sing with a young soldier named Tony Bennett and sing with big bands, including Ike Carpenter.
She served an LDS mission to Wales and returned home unsure of what to do, so she decided to go back to Los Angeles and see what happened.
On the way she saw the bright lights on the new Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. Ike Carpenter was the headliner. She pulled in and in no time had a job but headed on to LA. Just as she entered the home of her roommates the phone rang. It was BYU President Ernest L. Wilkinson asking her to come to Provo to help build the program bureau.
"I have no question that it's the Lord's work and you better do it." Thompson said. "I cried all the way to Provo."
It was 1952 and the rest, as they say, is history. Thompson and the program bureau brought together talented students and entertainers, produced shows and firesides and put them out in the world as examples of LDS youth. They were not only missionaries but recruiters for BYU.
In the mid-70s the school's focus shifted more to academics, and the all-volunteer program bureau was closed. Thompson then became a member of the BYU music faculty. Two of Thompson's shows were kept — the Young Ambassadors and Lamanite Generation (now Living Legends). Both groups still travel throughout the world.
The vibrant, energetic Thompson has a plethora of awards, honors and recognitions. She served on the LDS church's YWMIA General Board for 16 years.
Thompson never married but has hundreds of youths and entertainers who call her mother. Even today when she walks into her office students clamor.
"Hello, Janie!" are the magic words.
E-mail: pugmire@desnews.com