Mary Ramsey (musician)

Mary Ramsey (born December 24, 1963) is a member of folk rock duo John & Mary and former lead singer and violinist for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Ramsey has also worked with other well-known artists such as Jackson Browne, Goo Goo Dolls, Billy Bragg, Warren Zevon, Alex Chilton and Ani DiFranco.

Mary Ramsey
Mary Ramsey
Mary Ramsey with her viola in 2005.
Background information
Birth nameMary Jeanne Ramsey
Born (1963-12-24) December 24, 1963
Washington, D.C., U.S.
OriginBuffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • violin
  • viola
  • cello
Years active1989–present
Labels
WebsiteOfficial website

Biography

Ramsey is a classically trained violinist[1] who has been playing the violin since age five.[2] She studied music at the State University of New York at Fredonia[3] and played viola with the Erie Philharmonic for four years.[1] She was a founder of the Lexington String Trio. She has also performed with the Fresno Philharmonic, the Santa Cruz Symphony and the Monterey Symphony in California and is currently a member of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra.

With John Lombardo, former member of 10,000 Maniacs, Ramsey formed the folk rock duo John & Mary in 1989.[4] The pair made two recordings under the name John & Mary, Victory Gardens in 1991 and The Weedkiller's Daughter in 1993. Both albums were released on Rykodisc[4] and are out of print. Mary Ramsey also played violin and viola for 10,000 Maniacs and sang backing vocals on the 1993 album MTV Unplugged.

Ramsey returned to the Maniacs as lead singer and songwriter in 1995 after Natalie Merchant's departure, along with Lombardo. The duo released two albums with the Maniacs, 1997's Love Among the Ruins, which contained a cover of the Roxy Music song "More Than This" that became a top 40 hit on the U.S. charts,[5] and The Earth Pressed Flat in 1999.[6] While with 10,000 Maniacs, Ramsey toured throughout the U.S. and in Brazil,[6] Puerto Rico, Panama,[7] England, Portugal,[6] Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. The band also played USO shows in Kuwait and Bahrain.[8][9][7] One of the highlights of her career was a performance at the inaugural ball for Bill Clinton's second term as president.[10][11]

In 2002, after she and Lombardo both left the Maniacs following the death of guitarist Rob Buck, John & Mary released The Pinwheel Galaxy (2003). With their current band the Valkyries, they released Peace Bridge (2007).

Ramsey was rehired by 10,000 Maniacs as a viola player and backing vocalist for the 2006 shows with Oskar Saville and returned to the lead vocalist spot after the departure of Saville in 2007. She has continued as lead vocalist ever since[8] and performed on both the band's 30th anniversary tour (2011–13) and 40th anniversary tour (2021–22), as well as the studio albums Music from the Motion Picture (2013) and Twice Told Tales (2015), which featured Lombardo's return as well, and the live album Playing Favorites (2016).

Other projects

Ramsey has performed with a group of friends under the name Mary Ramsey and the Healers. Other members include Sandra Williams Gordon on percussion, Craig Gordon on bass and acoustic guitars, Dr. Marc Rosen on electric guitar, and Ben Clarke on lead guitar and bass.[12] In another project, she was joined by fellow Buffalonians Theresa Quinn, Susan Rozler, and Alison Pipitone in a group called Girls Gone Mild.[13] Ramsey has also worked as a performer and music director for the Irish Classical Theater in Buffalo, New York.[14] She teaches private lessons in piano,[1] violin, viola[2] and voice.

Awards

Discography

With John & Mary

With John & Mary & the Valkyries

With 10,000 Maniacs

Other credits

References
  1. Haymes, Greg (16 November 2016). "A Few Minutes With: Mary Ramsey of 10,000 Maniacs". Nippertown. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. Lanham, Tom (29 August 2018). "It's not news: Mary Ramsey sings with 10,000 Maniacs". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  3. Violanti, Anthony (1 March 1993). "John & Mary, playing off their strengths". The Buffalo News. No. page C-1.
  4. "Interview - Mary Ramsey of 10,000 Maniacs". Cryptic Rock. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  5. Burch, Cathalena E. (2 October 2018). "10,000 Maniacs bring West Coast tour to Tucson". tucson.com. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  6. Mariani, Anthony (27 May 1999). "9,999 Maniacs". Houston Press. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  7. "10,000 Maniacs still loony after 35 years". Ventura County Star. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  8. McElhiney, Brian (16 June 2011). "Albany played role in success of 10,000 Maniacs". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  9. Canning, Michael (30 July 1999). "10,000 Maniacs and 6 determined bandmates". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  10. Anderson, Lisa; Kilian, Michael (21 January 1997). "Inaugural Balls". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  11. "Let the Games Begin: Clinton's Last Big Bash". News & Record. 17 January 1997. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  12. Mary Ramsey and the Healers Facebook page
  13. "Girls Gone Mild official website". Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  14. Iwasaki, Scott (8 January 2020). "Mary Ramsey celebrates 25 years as a 10,000 Maniac". Park Record. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  15. Violanti, Anthony (27 October 1993). "Folk duo tops local awards list". The Buffalo News. No. Page B-9.
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