Maura McKinney Mastro

Maura McKinney Mastro displays considerable maturity and pep in front of classy pop-country sessioners. Enthusiasm for this product is deserved because this is a quality collection parading a girl who has paid her dues. This is an engagingly classic Irish-American pop-country enterprise if ever I heard one! New Jersey's MMM says that she is thrilled when people leave her performances uplifted and inspired. Cheerful, optimistic and compassionate, she says that her music is ministry - writing from the heart, songs of hope-and-faith. Superbly rich in sentimental zeal, this efficient suite of 15 tracks is a reminder of MMM’s skill and controlled passion on secular and religious repertoire. Let’s hope that she gains a solid foothold in Europe as well as in the New World. She pursues a spirited Irish gal' style that could give some of her Irish cousins a good run for their money. - Paul Davis

Maura McKinney Mastro shows that the heart is where hope lives and opens the floodgate in her latest CD release, “ Shamrocks to Stripes.” A catchy collection of her own compositions plus old standards – “Danny Boy” and “Star Spangled Banner” – with captivating vocal accent on familiar lyrics not heard until now.
They are songs of faith and family, patriotism and passion.
This fourth CD release by Clady Records (produced by Doug Deforest) since the phenomenal debut of “Irish Roots” in 2000, is a montage of music that plays to the strength and charm of Maura’s lilting and far-ranging vocal talent and her intimate knowledge of what makes a heart tick.
There is a country flavor in “Everything Changed,” “My Letters Home,” “Nashville,” and “Flowers OnYour Grave,” but it is a “country” probe into the melancholy depths of sadness that doesn’t leave you laying there in a pool of self-pity. Maura brings you out on the bright other side.
Before recording this collection, many of these songs were debuted before audiences in Nashville and Europe. Songs from her last CD, “So Good,” played high on the European charts and earned her two Radio Mike Awards as well as a plaque for an Indie music nomination in Nashville. That CD prompted Paul Davis of Country Music Round Up Magazine to write in the magazine’s European edition; “This innovation is for me; catchy tracks that feature a quality self-penned repertoire from the art of a rising star…”
Maura says her songs in this CD are “dedicated to the lover, dreamer,
prayer bearer and hero in each one of us.”
In “Still Gonna Get There,” Maura sings the line, “I’ve been there too.”
With these songs you will be there too.
- Jim Nicholson

…Maura McKinney Mastro is known for her graceful voice, energetic performances and inspiring original songs…It’s been a whirlwind of a career for Maura. From taking the main stage during North Wildwood’s Annual Irish Festival to singing in front of thousands at sporting events, Maura loves everything about singing, dancing and entertaining.

Maura and her husband Frank entertain audiences all over the country including cruise lines, casinos, nightclubs and resorts with their energetic celebrity impressions show…

When not performing with her husband, she can be seen locally on stage belting out melodies from her four CDs as well as cover tunes at various venues in NJ and Pa.

Maura is proud of her 2 newest CDs, "So Good" &"Shamrocks To Stripes" which are an encompassing statement of her life’s journey. She uses them to shine , love aspire, dream and remember…Music critics are also picking up on Maura’s works... So much recognition has been given to Maura’s latest treasures, they have even been getting a lot of airplay in Europe and the southern states...

Maura also sings the National Anthem for Philadelphia teams... she sang the anthem for the Phillies in the beautiful new Citizens Bank Park…

The beach, the ocean, the shore’s atmosphere are inspiring for any artist. For Maura, she says, including her career, “It is all a gift from God”



- Heather Holtzapfel

Europe reviews Maura's latest CD, "So Good"

This country-rockish enterprise finds Maura in a driving tone well-suited for the varied repertoire paraded in front of edgy country-rock sessioners. Well-titled, bold, upfront and in-your-face, this is country music a la ‘Las-Vegas-style’ (edging on rockabilly-pop) rather than Nashville. This innovation is for me; catchy tracks that feature quality self-penned repertoire from the art of a rising star. Not dutifully produced, and in most cases not telling some sort of cheating, heart-tugging ‘love-lost’ tale but positive uplifting lyrics with bounce-and-beat or a pleasing crooning sentimentality. As a subspecies, this album is relatively atypical and therefore should be sought out by the country devotee. Of ‘Irish- origin’, this was interestingly recorded in the northern environs of New Jersey and the southern environs of Arkansas. Fascinatingly recorded well, the guys and the gal exhibit enterprising skill and originality for those who enjoy the free-highway rather than a rocking-chair porch. - Paul Davis

…The McKinney’s daughter, Maura, inherited her mom’s beauty and talent, and is herself a recording artist. On the night before Jack McKinney was laid to rest, his memorial service was held at historic, St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia. …Jack’s son, Brendan presided. Jack’s daughter, Maura sang…friends including Larry Merchant and Stan and Gloria Hochman, spoke. It was a beautiful ending for a fascinating life… - Bob Lydon

Maura puts her entire heart and soul into her act…she has an electric drive and personality that will propel her into stellar heights"

- Alfred Campbell

“Maura McKinney is an absolutely super singer and songwriter who’s been wowing them at local clubs and concerts…watch for an inevitable recording contract to come soon”. - Maury Levy

As a singer, (Maura) can put more energy and feeling into a song than anyone I’ve heard in a long, long time. There’s a special quality there, kind of an honest simplicity that reaches the audience – and me – on a direct emotional level. That may be the key…
so if things work out, Maura, don't let the big time change you...

- Emmett Robinson

…Neither Cooper or Wilson made much of an impression on the approximately 600 Friday night fight fans. There was a long delay before their appearance which was partially filled with singing by Irish singer, Maura McKinney Mastro, daughter of deceased Daily News fight writer, Jack McKinney…(Maura) grabbed the fans’ attention with her heart wrenching tribute to her father…

- Robert Sadler

Headed for the Big Time is Maura McKinney, the singer-songwriter who is currently wowing them in New Jersey…she comes by her talents naturally – she’s the daughter of singer, Doris Kavanaugh who is now headlining in Wildwood. Her father and the man who bought her her first guitar, is Daily News writer, Jack McKinney. With parents like that, you know Maura’s gotta’ be terrific…” - Larry Fields