Mary Connolly wears many musical hats. With her most recent project, "The Mary Connolly Band", she fuses old-fashioned, hip-swinging soul and blues with a contemporary lyrical sense reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt and Joan Osborne. An Irish-Catholic from New York City, Mary Connolly might seem an unlikely exponent of the blues. In fact, she has spent the last several decades as a journeyman musician, performing music of every imaginable genre. A church cantor as a teenager, Connolly sang everything from folk mass to High Mass in Latin. Subsequently, she spent ten years paying her dues in wedding bands, cabaret shows, in classic rock cover bands, and on a cruise ship as a singing cocktail waitress. Longing to synthesize the various styles that inspired her, Connolly formed her own group and began playing original music. She quickly developed a loyal following and her shows and recordings have been garnering positive reviews and airplay throughout the Northeast.
Her most recent CD release is “Blue Desire”, available on iTunes, at Amazon.com or at live performances.
Raves & Reviews
Connolly has the gospel-soul thang going on…” -- Blues Access Magazine “…This New York veteran has a powerful, joyous voice…” -- Ed Ivey, Blues Revue ”…More than just a woman and her band…” -- Songwriter's Monthly “…When she's hot, she really rocks…” -- O's Place Jazz Newsletter “…Connolly wails and her band grooves…” -- Aiding & Abetting: The Online Music Source ”…Simply put, Mary Connolly is the whole package.” -- Billy Dare, The Musician's Trade Journal ”…Connolly has a searing soul-blues vocal style…” -- Nick Dedina, Listen.com “The 'Desirable' Mary Connolly Band” – Irish Voice “This is the stuff that velvet is made of... not Velveeta…” -- EYL Productions, San Francisco, CA
Professional Experience
SINGER-SONGWRITERS/BANDS: The Mary Connolly Band: Lead Singer/Songwriter; Live performance, 2 CDs, radio-play - Jim Malone & Standpipe: Backing Vocals, Recordings - Bill Foley Band: Featured/Backing Vocals, Live performance; recordings - Carlton Smith, Tru-Beat Productions: Featured/Backing Vocals, Live performance, recordings - Richard X. Heyman: Backing Vocals, Demo Recordings - Martin’s Folly: Backing Vocals, Live performance - The Thrill Cycle: Backing Vocals, Recordings - Dayna Blitz Band: Backing Vocals, Live performance - Eddie Skuller Band: Backing Vocals, Live performance - The Young’uns: Backing Vocals, Demo Recordings - Rattlesnake Cove Band: Featured/Backing Vocals, Live performance, recordings
COMMERCIAL / JINGLES: Song ”Under the Mistletoe”: Backing Vocals, CD "Pokemon Christmas Bash"
COVER / SHOW BANDS (featured and backing vocals for weddings, corporate parties, etc…):
Flash - Julian Hernandez & Fortune - Anthony Tabish Orchestra - Miracle - Fantasy (Barry Herman Entertainment) - L.A. Love Machine - Uncle Steve’s Band
RECORDINGS - Blue Desire: Mary Connolly Band (Featured & backing vox) - Remote Control Hitchhiking: Jim Malone & Standpipe (Backing vox) - Trials, Tribulations & Sordid Details: Bill Foley (Backing vox) - Zanna’s Easel: Jim Malone & Standpipe (Backing vox) - Whatever It Takes (Live from Bar): Mary Connolly Band (Featured vox) - Get Your Swerve On: The Thrill Cycle (Backing vox) - C’mon In: Bill Foley (Backing vox) - Song demos for: Carlton Smith, Richard X Heyman, The Young 'uns, Rattlesnake Cove Band, Uncle Steve Band
CABARET: Call-Back Lounge, New York City Palsson’s, New York City
OTHER: Church Cantor/Wedding Vocalist at churches throughout N. Y. Metro-area