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Vocalist June Katz, the "resident den mother of the West Coast jazz scene," has been an important force in the music community as both a performer, and a nurturer for fellow artists. A fixture at the Alma Street Café from 1986 to 1993, Katz became known for her uniquely passionate and honest brand of jazz stylings, displaying what singer Kate Hammett-Vaughan has termed a "depth of innocence." In addition to holding down the venue's headlining spot, Katz turned the café into an informal training ground for musicians, inviting both veteran and up-and-coming artists to play and collaborate nightly. One of these up-and-comers was local musician Ross Taggart, who notes, "Playing at the Alma Street Café was like going to college for me, playing sax and piano with the best musicians in town." For Katz, " the young musicians who perfected their craft while playing in or with her band" became her "extended family."

"I never dreamed of being a jazz singer myself. I never took any lessons."
- June Katz

Although she was a frequent performer on the parlor room "stage" of her parents' house in Brooklyn, New York, June Katz chose to pursue a dual-career in teaching and interior design. Disillusioned by the Vietnam War and the political assassinations that occurred in the United States during that era, Katz moved to Vancouver in 1973, where music unexpectedly shifted to the forefront of her life. Here, an impromptu performance as an emergency stand-in at the Canvas Company led to a one-year gig at the restaurant, which in turn blossomed into a long and fulfilling career. Katz continues to share her music with Vancouver audiences today.

"Singing...is like feeling naked. I love reaching out and touching people."
- June Katz