Originally from Ralston, Nebraska (just outside of Omaha), Kathy grew up in a large musical family, and was influenced by a variety of music as a young girl. Especially important was listening to her father's "boogie-woogie" piano renditions of Count Basie and Pine Top Smith, and exploring his extensive collection of 78's. She started singing with her four sisters, harmonizing on traditional Czechoslovakian and American folk songs, Rogers & Hammerstein musical numbers, and spirituals.

After moving to the Washington, D.C. area in the late 70's, Kathy met Tom Lyon, her future husband, and they started performing as a duo in area nightclubs. "Two's Company" and later the "Kat Lyon Band" toured extensively during the early 1980's. They performed at ski resorts and small clubs around the U.S., traveling in their red VW bus. They also were invited to perform in seven overseas tours for the U.S. Dept. of Defense, traveling to Europe, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, the Caribbean and Panama, Israel and Egypt, where they entertained U.S. military and diplomatic personnel. During those years, Kathy and Tom also were involved in several recording projects of their original compositions.

In 1986, the couple discovered they were about to become a trio, and their daughter Michelle was born, followed by their son Gregory in 1988. Taking a few years off from professional performance, Kathy and Tom produced several showcase performances in the Northern Virginia area, including a sold-out concert at the Barns of Wolf Trap. In the early 1990's, Kathy joined the six-piece ensemble "Overjoy" as lead vocalist, working with bassist Harold Becton, drummer Miles Overton, guitarist Dan Swanson, pianist Dennis Monke and saxophonist Howard Riley for over 10 years.

In the mid-90's, Kathy studied Jazz Vocal Performance with the Elliston Music Studios, and became involved with the Fish Middleton Jazz Scholarship Fund and FMJS's East Coast Jazz Festival. Has performed at the Festival for the past nine years, in her own showcase concerts, as well as featured vocalist on the Main Stage, with the Ricky Loza Latin Jazz Orchestra. Toured with the Ricky Loza Jazz Festival to El Salvador and Guatemala in July 2002, as well as the post-humus tribute tour in July 2003 after Ricky Loza's untimely passing.

In December 2002, Kathy released her debut CD, "Kathy Lyon Live at the TomKat Nite Club". She continued to appear at numerous local venues including Blues Alley, the Islander, Teatro Goldini, Opus 88, Bangkok Blues, Cada Vez and more. The impressive roster of musicians she has shared the stage with include: Harold Becton, Wes Biles, Joe Brotherton, Eric Byrd, Aaron Clay, Ron Compton, Glen Douglas, Ron Elliston, Fred Foss, Rudy Gonzales, Joe Harris, DeAndre Howard, Dan LaMaestra, Ricky Loza, David Marsh, Ivan Navas, Jeff Neal, Myles Overton, Ronnie Shaw, Eli Staples, Vincent Smith, Patricia Zarate, and many others.

In May, 2005, Kathy and her family relocated to Navarre, Florida, where she continues to work with her husband Tom in a marketing/ graphics firm. After settling into their new home near Pensacola, Kathy joined the Jazz Society of Pensacola. She was a featured guest at JSOP's monthly Jazz Gumbo in August 2005, appearing with Jim Andrews (saxophone), Sam Scott (piano), Bobby Taylor (drums) and Ray Coley (trumpet/flugelhorn). Has performed in several area venues with Pensacola-Ft. Walton Beach musicians such as Bobby Van Deusen, Joe Occhipinti, Bill Barrow, Ray Brown, Blane Butler, Dr. Bob Andrews, Bill Kent and others, while continuing to travel back to DC for area appearances. She continues to remain involved in FMJS' East Coast Jazz Festival in February every year, and will be appearing on the Festival's newest ticketed venue, "Fish's Jazz Night Club" at the 2006 festival.