Page 22 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine

JUNIOR AND MICKIE VASQUEZ

Musicians, Ministers, Parents

by Mikaela Forkner, Micah Vasquez and Tori Vasquez
as told to Jane Bromley

ame a restaurant, a winery,
even a church in Lubbock.
NChances are, Junior and
Mickie Vasquez have played
there. The couple is “everywhere”,
according to their friend and
colleague, Kenny Maines. “They are her; her mom teaching piano and
two of the hardest-working artists I voice lessons as long as she can
know, and their catalog of thousands remember. Junior and Mickie had
of songs in so many genres has almost begun a spiritual journey together
universal appeal.” before Mikaela was born, so much
of their time was consumed with
Their children enthusiastically shared performances at churches. The couple
insight about their celebrity parents. served on worship teams at Alliance
Baptist, Oakwood Baptist, and First
Mikaela, the oldest, provided a little United Methodist Churches, among
family history: “Both Mom and others. “I was always along for the
Dad grew up in Lubbock. Calistro ride and was ‘always proud’.” Junior
Vasquez, Jr. (Junior) is one of the did lots of Christian songwriting,
11 children of Calistro and Josefina and the duo recorded an album.
Vasquez. Dad grew up in a family of “I remember being inspired and
migrant workers – a big, loud, happy wanting to be like them.”
family who still love to sing and
dance and carry-on. Mom and her “I respect my parents so much as
two sisters are the daughters of Bob musicians. They’ve been together so
and Betty Stufflebeme. Bob was a steel long. They’re so talented, and their all felt normal to me.” But Micah was
guitar player in the 50s who even sound is so unique.” But Mikaela quick to explain that his parents never
handmade steel guitars. Mom learned respects Junior and Mickie even “forced” anything on him. “I always
to play piano in grade school and has more as parents and her children’s felt free to explore my own music.”
never stopped.” grandparents. They are “our guiding
light, our center. We can go to them All three children acknowledge that,
“They met in high school, fell in with anything.” Junior and Mickie even though Mickie is more reserved
love, started a band, and have been have four grandchildren: Sterlynn, than their dad, she is equally talented.
inseparable ever since.” Junior and Case, Koen, and Kiera. “My dad is 100% self-taught, but my
Mickie married in 1976. Their three mom is not only gifted but well-
children were born in 1983, ’86, and Micah Vasquez, himself a musician, trained. She is still highly respected
’91. shared his earliest memories. “We by staff and former students in the
were always at church – for services, Commercial Music Department
Mikaela reminisced about some of for rehearsals, for RAs. Mom and at South Plains College where she
her earliest memories – drifting off Dad spent lots of time practicing. It taught voice and piano for over ten
to sleep while her daddy sang to

22 Lubbock Senior Link