Music
Press
With guitar, harp and her own tremulous, butterfly flight of sopranno, Mary Shannon's music creates a haunting atmosphere in which grief transforms into lightness.
The album shows off Shannon's songwriting skills and musicality. In her strongest melodies, she achieves the catchy, easy refrain whose power grows on you over time.
Her instrumentation includes violin, harp, guitar, tenor recorder, bass, keybaord and several forms of percussion. Plucky fitful and then lyrical; she plays successfully with rythym and her voice tends to soar over the unrest. - Naples Record, written by Alicia Frost
“It’s All OK Now” is a wonderful, peaceful folk/pop CD from talented artist, Mary Shannon. The CD features Mary’s talents on many different instruments and her tranquil voice. The depth of her songwriting and musical talents is likely the result of her family’s musical generations. The lyrics are reflective, emotional, and inspirational, which makes the CD especially effective to get through trying times of life. “Believe In Magic” is a typical track of the CD, which highlights Mary’s soft and beautiful voice, backed by rich and unpredictable instrumentation. “Always with Me” and the title track are particularly beautiful and emotional tracks that relate to dealing with the loss of a loved one. If you enjoy modern female pop/rock/folk artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, and Enya you will enjoy this CD. Pick up a copy today!
- - Review by RadioIndy staff
Mary Shannon was featured on the cover of the Rochester Insider Magazine on June 29th 2007, with a full page article and picture inside.
"5 instruments and has one strong voice" - Shaena Henry - Insider Magazine written by Shaena Henry
Discography
"Wasted Time" on 98.9 the buzz
"Free" on 88.5 WRUR
On 3/6/07 "Brand New Day" topped the charts at #1 on RadioIndy.com
On 3/12/07 "Along the Way" topped the charts at #2 on RadioIndy.com
On 3/24/07 "Believe in Magic" topped the charts at #2 on RadioIndy.com
On 3/16/07 "Free" topped the charts at #4 on RadioIndy.com
On 3/21/07 "Constance" topped the charts at #1 on RadioIndy.com
On 3/19/07 "Chaos" topped the charts at #5 on RadioIndy.com
Photos
Bio
With her contemporary harp playing, rhythmic guitar, and lilting vocals, Mary Shannon can entertain an audience for hours with over a 200 song repertoire of her original music and arrangements of music from Medieval to Contemporary. Her love and enjoyment of music is carried through to her enchanting performances. Shannon’s original music is a fusion of jazz, folk, rock, and pop, with Celtic influences, and has toped the charts. It is hard to compare her to any other musician because she is one of a kind, but she has been compared to Tori Amos, Sarah Brightman, Enya, Allison Krauss, and Sarah McLachlan.
Growing up in a family of musicians, including her regionally, well-known parents, Dennis and Mary Ellen Monroe, music became Shannon's life passion. At the young age of 14 she made her debut performing and co-writing music with her family group, "The Monroes", for the radio series "Come out into the Garden". It aired on WXXI.
Shannon, has been featured in "The Democrat and Chronicle," The " Messenger Post," "Naples Record," "Freetime," and "The City Newpaper" many times. Most recently she was featured on the cover of "The Rochester Insider" Magazine, on June 29th 2007. She has appeared on television, and radio shows numerous times.
Shannon was only 15 when she composed her first song, and many more have followed. She has recorded three albums of her original music, and one Christmas album with her arrangements of traditional Christmas music, which have sold out every holiday season since the release in 2005. Her new album "It's All Okay Now", that is selling Nationwide, is a collection of Mary Shannon's original music from 1996 - 2006. She performed, wrote, arranged, and produced all the tracks except one vocal, and one bass track. The instruments she played on the album are violin, harp, guitar, tenor recorder, bass, keyboard, percussion, and the lead and backup vocals. The gift to pick up and play almost any instrument resembles her late father Dennis Monroe's abilities.
Several songs were written for Monroe after he passed away on February 4, 2006. Shannon started writing the title song "It's All Okay Now" for her friend Lori Brizee that passed away in 2005. A few months before her father passed away he had a chance to listen to the first verse and chorus of "It's All Okay Now", and told her how he loved the song, and that she wrote beautiful music. In February 2006, after her fathers passing, she finished writing the song for him. The album is also dedicated to him.
Shannon's music is played on the air at WXXI 91.5, Saturday Morning, on the Salmagundi show, WBER 90.5, WRUR 88.5, and 98.9 "The Buzz". She was featured on 98.9 "The Breakfast Buzz" with a live interview on Thursday February 15, 2007.
Currently Shannon has been performing with some very talented musicians that add to her already pleasing sound, Vocalist Dawn-Hoff Cowdery, Violinist Lisa Toth, and Percussionist Jonny Logic.
"I'm so thankful God gave me the gift of music, it has gotten me through many hard times. It is a blessing to be able to wake up every day looking forward to my work. I hope everyone uses their talents they are given to their full ability. That is the only way we will be truly happy. It's never to late to start, today is a Brand New Day." - Mary Shannon
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