Artist Guide » Blues » Chicago Style » MARY DUKES: Introducing The Divine Ms Mary - Mary Dukes and the 32-20 Band
Mary Dukes was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She works for the city of Carson California. Mary has been singing gospel music her entire life and presently sings in two choirs. She also acts regularly in dramatic productions. Mary has been the lead singer for the 32 - 20 Band for the past year two years.Mary has been performing her entire adult life. She has sung background for Marvin Gaye, Natalie Cole, M.C. Hammer, Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls' United Negro Fund, Archie Bell and the Drells, Peggy Adams and Earth Wind and Fire, just to mention a few. Mary is also an active member of the C.ME Community Choir under the direction of Michael Pyles and she has shared the stage with great artists such as the late Rev. James Cleveland, Sandra Crouch, Tramaine Hawkins and many others.
Mary Dukes and the 32 - 20 Band released a CD, for South Side Records, called "Introducing the Divine Ms. Mary - Mary Dukes and the 32 - 20 Band." This CD is being distributed nationally and has gotten excellent reviews in Living Blues, Blues Access, Blues Revue, Big City Blues and Real Blues magazines. The CD charted for two consecutive months (October, November 2001) on the Living Blues radio chart. In January 2002,the House of Blues radio program aired an interview with Mary that was hosted by Dan Aykroyd. The CD is also being played on XM and Sirius Satellite radio as well as on NPR stations.
Mary has performed twice at the Handy Award winning Biscuit 'N Blues club in San Francisco and at the Sacramento Heritage Festival. Mary and band (featuring the legendary sax man, Hollis Gilmore) recently completed a tour of the Northeast, including a performance at the North Atlantic Blues Festival, where she received a five-minute standing ovation. Mary has a strong fan base in the greater Bay area and performs regularly at the leading blues clubs in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose and Santa Cruz.
Mary Dukes is one of those performers who immediately connect with the audience. She loves people and the audience responds to this. Wearing her sparkly sun glasses and clock stopping outfits, Mary will always "get down" with the crowd. Mary is currently being by MKH talent in Santa Cruz. Please contact Onnie Heaney at 831 - 423 - 9598 for information about booking.
" It looks like South Side has found itself another winner in Mary Dukes - this should easily rank among the year's best debut recordings." - Jim Dekoster, Living Blues
"Ever so often a new blues talent comes along as a refreshing surprise, and The Divine Ms. Mary Dukes is one unexpected pleasure. Backed by the 32-20 Band, the Los Angeles - based blueswoman serves up a solid debut disc with a vocal style rooted in the "tough" tradition." - Jon Marko, Blues Access
" The Divine Ms Mary tells you what's on her mind... This L.A. diva has sung backup for Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder and her debut is well overdue. It's a set of sturdy blues with guitarist Jerry Rosen (who also pens every track here) leading a crack lineup of West Coast pros, including Deacon Jones." Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue
"When looking to discover new blues talent, finding Ms. Mary is like striking gold; immediately and continually rewarding." - Mark A. Cole, Big City Blues
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.southsidela.com
Track List:
1. Money in My Pocket
2. Too Much to Drink
3. Nobody's Clown
4. Worried Blues
5. Mississippi Mister
6. I Tried
7. You Go Your Way
8. I Wish You Would Have
9. Justice
10. One More Kiss
11. I'll Show You
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