Sara Lazarus was born in Wilmington, Delaware, which is also the hometown of Clifford Brown. She began her career in musical theatre, and learned jazz standards early on in life. At 8 years old, she began to take piano lessons. She then learned tenor saxophone and played in an orchestra in her elementary school. At 16 years old, she became a member of the American Youth Jazz Band as a tenor saxophonist and singer. It was with this group that she completed her first European tour which ended at the Montreux Jazz Festival.She began her college studies in English literature at Harvard and played in the university's orchestra. Illinois Jacquet, who she met while a student, encouraged her to further develop her voice by performing as a singer. Down Beat, one of the principal American magazines regarding jazz, called her, "the best jazz soloist at the University level."