Mary Flower
Encyclopedia
Mary Flower is an award-winning American
musician and music educator on the independent Yellow Dog Records
label. A blues
and ragtime
fingerstyle guitarist
and vocalist, she combines intricate syncopated Piedmont style fingerpicking with lap-slide guitar.
In 2000 and 2003, Flower placed in the top three at the National Finger Style Guitar Championship, the only female to do this twice for guitar.
She’s performed with Jorma Kaukonen
, guitarist/songwriter Pat Donohue, Hot Rize
founder Tim O’Brien
, singer Molly O’Brien, guitarist/songwriter Geoff Muldaur
, and the Campbell Brothers
. As a songwriter, arranger and educator she has several musical and instructional releases to her credit.
, an acclaimed singer/mandolinist/guitarist, Flower was inspired to deepen her pursuit of blues music, and thus began in earnest her decades long musical career.
She made connections with talented musicians early on, introducing Caroline Peyton
to the music scene in Bloomington
, Indiana. Peyton would go on to a successful career as a solo musician and a Disney vocalist for several productions.
In 1972 Flower moved her life to Denver, accompanied by friend Randy Handley. Here she teamed up with country-folk singer-songwriter Katy Moffatt
and ventured out for several successful tours with her on the National College Coffeehouse Circuit. Her skills garnered her a fellowship from the Colorado Council on Arts and Humanities.
While raising a family in Denver she developed a strong regional following, worked closely with future Prairie Home Companion regular Pat Donohue, and founded the loosely organized band Mother Folkers.
After thirty years in Denver, in 2004, she moved to Portland, OR
and was signed soon after to Yellow Dog Records
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician and music educator on the independent Yellow Dog Records
Yellow Dog Records
Yellow Dog Records is an American independent record label based in Memphis, Tennessee that features authentic American music - blues, jazz, soul and Americana...
label. A blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
fingerstyle guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and vocalist, she combines intricate syncopated Piedmont style fingerpicking with lap-slide guitar.
In 2000 and 2003, Flower placed in the top three at the National Finger Style Guitar Championship, the only female to do this twice for guitar.
She’s performed with Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
, guitarist/songwriter Pat Donohue, Hot Rize
Hot Rize
Hot Rize is a bluegrass band that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. Established in 1978, the founding members were Mike Scap , Tim O'Brien on mandolin and fiddle, Pete Wernick on banjo and Charles Sawtelle on bass....
founder Tim O’Brien
Tim O'Brien (musician)
Tim O'Brien is an American country and bluegrass musician. In addition to singing, he plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki and mandocello...
, singer Molly O’Brien, guitarist/songwriter Geoff Muldaur
Geoff Muldaur
Geoff Muldaur is an American founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band of Cambridge, Massachusetts; a member of Paul Butterfield's Better Days; and an accomplished solo guitarist, singer, and songwriter....
, and the Campbell Brothers
Campbell Brothers
Campbell Brothers is a listed Australian soap and chemical manufacturer, who also provide specialist analytical laboratory services. Formed in 1863 and listed on the ASX in 1952, Campbell Brothers is now worth around AUD 1 billion....
. As a songwriter, arranger and educator she has several musical and instructional releases to her credit.
History
Flower grew up in a musical family and first performed as a high schooler in her hometown of Lafayette, Indiana. In the early 1970s, after attending a concert by Delta transplant Yank RachellYank Rachell
James "Yank" Rachell was an American country blues musician, dubbed an "elder statesman of the blues."-Career:...
, an acclaimed singer/mandolinist/guitarist, Flower was inspired to deepen her pursuit of blues music, and thus began in earnest her decades long musical career.
She made connections with talented musicians early on, introducing Caroline Peyton
Caroline Peyton
Caroline Peyton is an American singer and songwriter. Peyton was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi on Oct. 8, 1951 and grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. Her father, Thomas Peyton, is from Virginia and her mother, the former Joan Johnson, is a native of Mississippi. Peyton grew up with three...
to the music scene in Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, Indiana. Peyton would go on to a successful career as a solo musician and a Disney vocalist for several productions.
In 1972 Flower moved her life to Denver, accompanied by friend Randy Handley. Here she teamed up with country-folk singer-songwriter Katy Moffatt
Katy Moffatt
Katherine Louella "Katy" Moffatt is an American musician, lyricist, composer, vocalist. She is the sister of country singer-songwriter Hugh Moffatt.-Midnight Radio:...
and ventured out for several successful tours with her on the National College Coffeehouse Circuit. Her skills garnered her a fellowship from the Colorado Council on Arts and Humanities.
While raising a family in Denver she developed a strong regional following, worked closely with future Prairie Home Companion regular Pat Donohue, and founded the loosely organized band Mother Folkers.
After thirty years in Denver, in 2004, she moved to Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and was signed soon after to Yellow Dog Records
Yellow Dog Records
Yellow Dog Records is an American independent record label based in Memphis, Tennessee that features authentic American music - blues, jazz, soul and Americana...
.
Education
Teaching others has been a consistent trend in Flower’s career. She developed the core classes at the Swallow Hill School of Music and was a teacher there from 1990-2004. Nationally she’s been part of the Blues in Schools program, developed five instructional DVDs, and teaches workshops at many festivals where she also performs. In 2010 she heads up guitar week at the Augusta Heritage Center.Awards
- 2010: Independent Music AwardsThe Independent Music AwardsThe Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
Vox Pop Acoustic Song winner for "Slow Lane to Glory" - 2003: National Finger Style Guitar Championship - Mary Flower - Third Place (Finalist)
- 2000: National Finger Style Guitar Championship - Mary Flower - Third Place (Finalist)
- 1987: Best Folkie in Denver from the Best of Westord (three time winner)
Nominations
- Independent Music Awards - Acoustic Song of the Year (2009) - Slow Lane to Glory from "Bridges"
- Blues Music Award nominee for Acoustic Artist of The Year (2008)
- 2008 & 2009 Muddy Awards, Best Acoustic Guitar nominee
Notable appearances
- Festivals: MerlefestMerleFestMerleFest is an annual "traditional plus" music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina on the campus of Wilkes Community College . The festival, which is held the last weekend in April, is hosted by Grammy Award winner Doc Watson and is named in memory and honor of his son, Eddy Merle Watson,...
, Kerrville Folk FestivalKerrville Folk FestivalThe Kerrville Folk Festival is a music festival held for 18 consecutive days in the late spring/early summer at Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. The event has run on a yearly basis since 1972. In November 2008, the Kerrville Folk Festival and Kerrville Wine & Music Festival were acquired...
, Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, Calgary Folk Music FestivalCalgary Folk Music FestivalThe Calgary Folk Music Festival is held in late July each year at Prince's Island Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. While known for attracting both established and up-and-coming folk music, the festival features a wide variety of artists including hip-hop, alternative, blues, and world acts... - Radio: Prairie Home Companion, eTown, BBC RadioBBC RadioBBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
- Education: Augusta Heritage CenterAugusta Heritage CenterAugusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia, is a non-profit organization which fosters the scholarly study and practice of traditional arts in music, dance, craft, and folklore....
, European Blues Association, Centrum Country Blues, Fur Peace Ranch, Swannanoa Gathering, Swallow Hill Music Association
Discography
- Bridges (2009)
- Instrumental Breakdown (2007)
- Bywater Dance (2005)
- Ragtime Gal (2003)
- Rosewood & Steel (2003)
- Ladyfingers (2001)
- Honey from the Comb (1999)
- Blues Jubilee (1994)
Instructional
- Blues Guitar Arrangements (2007)
- Crash Course in Open Tunings (2007)
- Fingerstyle Blues in E (2006)
- Ragtime Guitar (2006)
- Arrangements in Dropped-D Tuning (2006)