Album Notes

Called the “Queen of Long Island Country” by Newsday and Christian Science Monitor, MARY LAMONT was twice voted Female Singer/Songwriter of the Year by the New Jersey Country Music Association, and was nominated Best Country Act by the Long Island Music Awards.

Born and raised in rural Ontario, Mary has just been honored as an ASCAP Audio Portrait on ASCAP.COM. She has appeared several times in ASCAP’s prestigious Playback Magazine. Mary and her husband Jim are recipients five years running for ASCAP Plus Awards, for performance of their original songs.

Mary and her band completed a groundbreaking tour of mainland China, headlining in Shenyang, Dalian, Guiyang, Xiamen, Beijing and Nanjing. For photos including the China performance tour, please visit WWW.MARYLAMONT.COM.

Mary and the band performed multiple weekly concerts at the Jones Beach Boardwalk Bandshell throughout their 2001 through 2004 summer seasons and returned for 2005. Mary was featured in Newsday’s special section celebrating Jones Beach’s 75th Anniversary.

Selections from her debut CD “You Don’t Have to Knock” and her second CD “How Lucky” (Lammar Records) have been played on many overseas stations, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Scotland and Ireland. Domestically, selections have been played on WFUV 90.7 (NYC), WUSB 90.1 (Long Island), WFDU 89.1 (New Jersey) and others.

Famed Nashville writer/historian Robert K. Oermann, who was one of the judges on USA Network's first "Nashville Star" competition, gave Mary an Honorable Mention for her song "Sweepin' the Floor" (from Mary’s debut CD “You Don’t Have To Knock”) in his review column in Music Row Magazine, Nashville's premiere music business publication. Of “Ontario” (from Mary’s second CD “How Lucky”) Oermann said “the track has a cool, almost Celtic feel that combines marshall drumming, gentle acoustic guitars, steel and minor key electric touches...she sounds quite enjoyable.”

Mary’s second CD, “How Lucky” was released in late August 2003, and features the single “Ontario”, which was released in October 2003 to 800 European radio stations. “Ontario” was voted a favorite by many independent European radio DJs â€" and remained on their charts for 8 weeks.

Westbury Music Fair (now North Fork Theatre) booked Mary as an opening act for their Long Island Country Music Festival, with headliners Delbert McClinton and The Marshall Tucker Band. The band has appeared at numerous fairs, festivals, country association dances as well as promotional events for country radio stations. Mary was opening act for country superstar Bryan White at the Pat Garrett Amphitheater in Strausstown, Pennsylvania.

Newsday also included Mary in a cover story on the best area summer concerts. Newsday’s Nightbeat section listed her as a "best bet" for live performance, and gave her CD of original material a triple A rating. And she was the featured photo in Newsday’s “Bands on the Run” section which lists the performances of “Long Island’s hottest acts.”

Mary was interviewed on News 12 Long Island as “putting Long Island on the map when it comes to the sweet sounds of country music.” Good Times calls her show “a real treat” and “a must-see for fans of contemporary country music...Lamont is comfortable on-stage and possesses the honest charm befitting a country singer. (Brendan Manley)

Quotes:

"The Queen of Long Island country" - Newsday

"Can New Yorkers play country music? Yes, especially if you're talking about Canadian-born singer-songwriter Mary Lamont and her musical partner Jim Marchese. On the self-produced "How Lucky," Mary Lamont presents a mix of songs inspired by the struggles and joys of her life. There's plenty of twang, teardrops, hope and heart to satisfy discriminating country fans." - ASCAP Audio Portraits / Behind the Beat    

"One of the very finest female vocalists in country music today accompanied by one of the most polished bands working in any genre. Always upbeat and gall danged fun these folks are! Listen to "Just Come On In" (from the CD titled You Don't Have to Knock) or "Get Twanged" a track sure to bring a smile to your face and a piece Duane Eddy himself would have been proud to have authored" - AudioCandy.com

"Mary Lamont will knock you off your barstool." - Newsday

"Standing room only, very energetic. Patrons were dancing in the aisles." - Brentwood Library

"The Mary Lamont Band really added to the excitement of our annual special event, Fleece Festival. They helped create a lively atmosphere worthy of a large venue, while developing a rapport with our community based audience in our intimate zoo setting. A real asset for organizations looking for a group that is professional, reliable, and willing to adapt to anything." - Prospect Park Zoo

International alt-country star Mary Lamont and her crack band return to take over the Jones Beach Bandshell this summer. - Long Island Press

"Sophisticated, stylish and spirited. It's easy to see why Mary Lamont has created such a buzz from her live performances." - Inside Connection

"Very, very great.  Wonderful voice" - Radio VejleFjord, Denmark