Long(er) Bio: Maria began performing live while in high school on Buffalo's West Side. At 17, she began performing at the former Club Utica -- a renowned country club in its prime. When she wouldn't sleep with the band leader, she was told that "country music probably isn't for [her]," but she already knew that. She later joined various rock cover bands to polish her presence and develop her guitar skills. She performed solo in her hometown while writing and recording with 1996-born original band (later named In From the Cold) based in Buffalo and Los Angeles. The group featured world-class drummer Gary Mallaber (Steve Miller Band, Van Morrison) and ex-Red Hot Chili Pepper guitarist Jack Sherman. Though logistical issues stalled the band's live schedule, their unique Pop/Rock songs are currently being pitched for television and film (clients to date include CBS, Discovery Channel, and Hoggard Films). More on their unique sound at their myspace page. Independently, Maria has recorded four CDs since In From the Cold. Her newest disc, Yellow Envelope, is her most eclectic work to date. It recently won the Buffalo Spree Magazine Best Local Album award for 2009, and the Hudson Valley's Freeman Online says she "has a great record on her hands." Maria began writing some of the songs on the disc while still in high school. She put them off while fronting rock bands for the next 18 years because they failed to fit the format of a rock artist. She has recently gathered those songs, as well as pieces from her indie-rock era, and new songs written under the influence of today's best Americana artists, and the result is a mixed genre CD with modern rock, contemporary folk, and Americana songs including "Wings" -- a Faulkneresque tale about life in a dead town. Maria has included on her web site a link to "song gossip" where listeners can read interesting clips about the stories and inspirations behind the songs on that disc, including the title track, which came from a song her father wrote on an envelope and sent to her mother. "Yellow Envelope" is a story of how her mother waited for him through various stages of his complicated life. The rest of the disc explores stories about ghosts (Snow), women who would consider jail time a break (Happily), and themes about love, the eternal topic. In 2004, Maria earned her M.A. in English / Media Studies from the University at Buffalo. She has also hosted songwriting workshops for Niagara University and Villa Maria College. She is a mother of two, and she teaches Writing at various WNY colleges. She performs live regularly either solo, as a duo, or with her weekend band, The Visitors, and has shared shows with: The Byrds' Roger McGuinn, Richie Havens, Los Lonely Boys, 10,000 Maniacs, The Gin Blossoms, Malcolm Holcombe, Collective Soul, Sarah Harmer, Jackyl, The Tea Party, Hothouse Flowers, Jess Klein, Vance Gilbert, Honeymoon Suite, Eddie Money, Missy Higgins, Eric Hutchinson, Pal Shazar, Pilate, and dozens of others. She has recorded with Warner Brothers' Alan Kroll, Adsongs Jingles (Ken Kauffman), Terry Buchwald, The Skeptics, Bass Reeves, Jim Yoemans, and many others, and was part of the Morvels R&B Soul Revue Schoelkopf Singers. Most recently, Maria has added backing vocals and rhythm guitar to some 10,000 Maniacs shows. |