Mary Fletcher

Right in the traditional, mainstream Nashville pocket, Fletcher is a big voiced young singer pushing at the limits of redneck lite. With way more sass and soul than you can get from practicing into your hairbrush, Fletcher is a solid comer that you can only hope keeps her focus on the music rather than the sideshow antics that keep you in the news. She's got all the chops she needs to stay in the news. Check it out." - Midwest Record

She’s a “Cactus Kid” with Plainview roots, and now Mary Fletcher, who got her start on the stage of Lubbock’s Cactus Theater, is taking her first steps to country stardom. The 20-year-old with the honied voice will be releasing her new studio album “Give My Love to You”, on July 13.

“It’s just so exciting,” said Fletcher, hours after promoting her new album on KKYN’s Morning Show on Tuesday.

A 2011 graduate of Lubbock Monterey, Fletcher is the daughter of Nanette McDonald, a 1980 grad of Plainview, and the granddaughter of Glenn and Beverly McDonald, who have lived in Plainview for the past 35 years.

“We are just really so proud of what she’s done so far,” Glenn McDonald said. “We’ve been to almost all of her performances when she was at the Cactus Theater.”

McDonald says Fletcher comes from a very musical background, explaining that his wife’s family boasted very talented singers who grew up singing a capella hymns in Church of Christ services.

Wanting to refine her daughter’s singing, Nanette McDonald signed up 6-year-old Fletcher for singing lessons with Terri Caldwell, the wife of Don Caldwell, who re-opened the Cactus Theater in 1993 in an effort to showcase West Texas performers.

Fletcher’s young voice caught the attention of the Caldwells, and she was immediately offered a spot in the group, Cactus Kids.
Through the singing group, Fletcher said she was exposed to a wide spectrum of musical genres.

“We sang all types of music,” said Fletcher, adding they frequently performed everything from early rock ’n’ roll numbers to Broadway pieces.

“But my roots was always in country,” said Fletcher, who quickly attached herself to classics like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. “Terri said it really fit my voice.”

Fletcher preformed her first solo number around age 9. “It was something I always wanted to do,” Fletcher said. “I was really nervous at first, but once I got on that stage, I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”

Fletcher preformed at the Cactus Theater throughout high school and recorded a few albums with the Cactus Kids. At 16, Fletcher recorded her first album filled with covers from artists like Stevie Nicks and Karen Carpenter and followed that up with a Christmas album.

After graduation, Fletcher made the big leap and moved to Nashville to attend Trevecca Nazarene University and work with producer Gary Morris and songwriter A.J. Masters. Fletcher had met Masters in previous trips to Nashville.

Fletcher said she worked for hours with Masters, writing her first original album, “Give My Love to You,” in the college music room.
“Writing my own music helped me to evolve as an artist. I am able to tell my story,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher picked 10 songs to record on her new album, which Masters produced. “Recording is very tedious sometimes, but it’s fun seeing your work come alive,” Fletcher said.

Now with the album pressed, Fletcher is ready to hit the road and promote the new album, which she says pulls deeply from her musical influences like Carpenter and Cline.

Fletcher returned to West Texas for the start of the promotion, which will feature a release party at the Lone Star State Bank July 13.
From there, Fletcher will hit the road for her first tour. - My Planview

Mary Fletcher is no newcomer on the country scene. She’s had music out before and she has a brand new song out that has a little bit of a bite to it.

There has always been this bit of rebellion from a few women in country music and I think that’s what you get from Mary on this song. She’s one of those people that isn’t going to take the business from anyone.

This song has a fun groove to it. You can kind of move along with the beat and it makes you smile. What’s most appealing, though, is the fight in the lyrics and in Mary’s voice. She’s not ready to take anything from any man. If he wants her he has to play by the rules. That’s not too much to ask. They’re simple rules like no cheating and no messing around.

I’m sure a lot of women out there can relate. Sometimes us men ask for a little too much and give nothing in return. It’s not like the women out there are asking for a lot.

Great song here from an artist that’s just under the radar on the mainstream country scene. - Country Music Life

Mary Fletcher is no newcomer on the country scene. She’s had music out before and she has a brand new song out that has a little bit of a bite to it.

There has always been this bit of rebellion from a few women in country music and I think that’s what you get from Mary on this song. She’s one of those people that isn’t going to take the business from anyone.

This song has a fun groove to it. You can kind of move along with the beat and it makes you smile. What’s most appealing, though, is the fight in the lyrics and in Mary’s voice. She’s not ready to take anything from any man. If he wants her he has to play by the rules. That’s not too much to ask. They’re simple rules like no cheating and no messing around.

I’m sure a lot of women out there can relate. Sometimes us men ask for a little too much and give nothing in return. It’s not like the women out there are asking for a lot.

Great song here from an artist that’s just under the radar on the mainstream country scene. - Country Music Life

In continuing my spotlight on artists from West Teas, last week it was the Prairie Scholars, this week Mary Fletcher. Mary just released her third CD entitled “Give My Love To You”, I will feature several songs off the CD and have parts of an interview I did with her, this Sunday on Front Range Radio.

Mary currently lives in Nashville, she grew up in Lubbock TX graduating from Monterey High School in 2011. She grew up performing on the Cactus Theater stage in Lubbock as a member of the Cactus Kids. She can play both the piano and the guitar and studied commercial music at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville. Mary recorded the new CD at Michael McDonald’s studio in Tennessee, and worked with AJ Masters who has written songs for Faith Hill and Jennifer Hansen. One of the songs off the new CD is a remake of the Cyndi Lauper hit from the 80's “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, although Mary puts a little twist on the song, creating a more country version.

You can download the CD “Give My Love To You” from iTunes as well as Mary’s two previous CDs “Somewhere” and “Christmas is Here”. Learn more about Mary and up coming shows she will be having including her CD release party on July 13th in Lubbock TX by going to Mary’s website http://www.maryfletchermusic.com Be sure to tune in Sunday night at 9pm Eastern to Front Range Radio on http://www.party934.com to hear songs off the new CD including the “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” remake. - Front Range Scribbles

In continuing my spotlight on artists from West Teas, last week it was the Prairie Scholars, this week Mary Fletcher. Mary just released her third CD entitled “Give My Love To You”, I will feature several songs off the CD and have parts of an interview I did with her, this Sunday on Front Range Radio.

Mary currently lives in Nashville, she grew up in Lubbock TX graduating from Monterey High School in 2011. She grew up performing on the Cactus Theater stage in Lubbock as a member of the Cactus Kids. She can play both the piano and the guitar and studied commercial music at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville. Mary recorded the new CD at Michael McDonald’s studio in Tennessee, and worked with AJ Masters who has written songs for Faith Hill and Jennifer Hansen. One of the songs off the new CD is a remake of the Cyndi Lauper hit from the 80's “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, although Mary puts a little twist on the song, creating a more country version.

You can download the CD “Give My Love To You” from iTunes as well as Mary’s two previous CDs “Somewhere” and “Christmas is Here”. Learn more about Mary and up coming shows she will be having including her CD release party on July 13th in Lubbock TX by going to Mary’s website http://www.maryfletchermusic.com Be sure to tune in Sunday night at 9pm Eastern to Front Range Radio on http://www.party934.com to hear songs off the new CD including the “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” remake. - Front Range Scribbles