The Tatters: Mary Z. Wilson

Mary Z. Wilson

Mary Z. Wilson learned to sing harmonies from her mother at the age of six. Her upbringing took her from Minnesota to Hawaii where she learned to play the ukulele and to appreciate island music in second grade. Junior high years took her back to Michigan where Motown music was the all the craze. Her father's influence brought her attention to the sounds of Big Band music as well as folk artists such as Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Judy Collins. High school in Kentucky is where she first grew to appreciate the heartfelt cries of bluegrass music. Marrying into the music scene, Mary attributes many of her more recent influences to musical experiences with her husband, Dan.

Attempts at songwriting began as a child and her first published song was in ninth grade. In 1981 Mary received an honorable mention in the lyric competition of the American Songwriter's Festival. Always a poet at heart, Mary recently had several of her lyrics published in a woman's poetry book called "It's About Time".

Mary's festival stage experiences include the Strawberry Music Festival, Kate Wolf Memorial Festival, Live Oak Music Festival, Santa Maria Bluegrass Festival and the Strummin' 'n Struttin' Festival. She was in an opening act for Marty Stuart at the Ventura Theatre. She has shared the stage with The Rincon Ramblers, Jon Wilcox, Alan Thornhill, Albert Lee, Jimmy Adams & Friends, Jonathan McEuen, Teresa James, Suzanne Paris, Bud Bierhaus, Little Jonny and the Giants, David West, Rain Perry, Cyrus Clarke, J. Peter Boles, Martin Young, and others.

Mary considers her strength to be her abilities as a team player. She loves nothing more than to embellish a song with harmonies from the heart. The Tatters, a new group featuring 3 female vocalists, have provided a wonderful opportunity for Mary to stretch her musical wings.

Harmony singing has provided Mary with several recording experiences including with Jimmy Adams, Murray Bowes, Rabbit McKay, Martin Young, J. Peter Boles, and Jill Bailey.

Mary is a prolific songwriter. Her favorite time to write is on a long road trip to anywhere or nowhere. Time away from the hustle of life allows a stream of consciousness to hit the page in hopes of one more song. Mary is interested in publishing several songs and lyrics written for children and their parents (or for the child in us all). An amiable co-author of songs, Mary is always looking for new writing partners, new lyrical subjects, and new approaches to music with an Americana flare.

For booking information, call (805) 649-6866 or eMail