Maria Muldaur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Muldaur
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato |
| Also known as | Maria D'Amato |
| Born | September 12, 1942 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Labels | Reprise |
| Associated acts | Even Dozen Jug Band, Jerry Garcia Band |
Maria Muldaur (born Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato; September 12, 1942) is an American singer. She is known for her folk and blues music. Maria was an important part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s.
She had a big hit song in 1973 called "Midnight at the Oasis". Maria has recorded many albums. Her music includes folk, blues, early jazz, gospel, country, and R&B styles. She was married to musician Geoff Muldaur. Their daughter, Jenni Muldaur, is also a singer-songwriter.
Maria's Musical Journey
Early Life and Influences
Maria Muldaur was born on September 12, 1942. She grew up in Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York. As a young person, she loved many kinds of music.
She was inspired by country singers like Kitty Wells and Hank Williams. She also loved early rhythm and blues artists such as Little Richard and Ruth Brown. Doo-wop groups like The Platters were also a big influence on her.
Starting Her Career
Maria began her music career in the early 1960s. At first, she was known as Maria D'Amato. She joined a group called the Even Dozen Jug Band. In this band, she performed with musicians like John Sebastian.
Later, she became a singer for Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band. She sometimes played the fiddle too. During this time, she was part of the lively music scene in Greenwich Village. Famous musicians like Bob Dylan were also part of this scene.
Solo Success
Maria married Geoff Muldaur, who was also in the Jug Band. They made two albums together. After their marriage ended in 1972, Maria started her solo career. She decided to keep her married name, Muldaur.
Her first solo album, Maria Muldaur, came out in 1973. This album featured her famous song "Midnight at the Oasis". The song became a huge hit in 1974. It reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1974, she released her second album, Waitress in a Donut Shop. This album included her version of "I'm a Woman". This song was first made popular by Peggy Lee. Maria's version reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Later Career and Collaborations
Around the mid-1970s, Maria started working with the Grateful Dead. She opened for some of their concerts. She later became a backing singer for the Jerry Garcia Band. She also worked with bluegrass musician Peter Rowan.
Around 1980, Maria became a Christian. She released gospel music albums like Gospel Nights. In 1983, she returned to making secular music. Her album Sweet and Slow featured vintage jazz and blues. Maria has continued to perform, tour, and record music ever since.
Her 2005 album Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul was nominated for a Blues Music Award. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Traditional Blues. In 2013, she was nominated for the Koko Taylor Award. This award recognizes traditional blues female artists.
In 2019, Maria received the Trailblazer award. This award was given at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. In 2021, she released an album called Let's Get Happy Together. She made this album with the band Tuba Skinny.
Maria's Music Albums
Even Dozen Jug Band
- The Even Dozen Jug Band (1964)
Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band
- Jug Band Music (1965)
- See Reverse Side for Title (1966)
- Garden of Joy (1967)
Geoff & Maria Muldaur
- Pottery Pie (1969)
- Sweet Potatoes (1972)
Solo Albums
| Year | Album title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Maria Muldaur | Reprise Records |
| 1974 | Waitress in a Donut Shop | Reprise |
| 1976 | Sweet Harmony | Reprise |
| 1978 | Southern Winds | Warner Bros. |
| 1979 | Open Your Eyes | Warner Bros. |
| 1980 | Gospel Nights | Takoma Records |
| 1982 | There Is a Love | Myrrh Records |
| 1983 | Sweet and Slow | Spindrift Records/Making Waves |
| 1985 | Live in London | Stony Plain Records/Making Waves |
| 1986 | Transblucency | Uptown Records |
| 1990 | On the Sunny Side | Music for Little People/Warner Bros. |
| 1992 | Louisiana Love Call | Black Top Records |
| 1993 | Jazzabelle | Stony Plain |
| 1994 | Meet Me at Midnite | Black Top |
| 1996 | Fanning the Flames | Telarc |
| 1998 | Southland of the Heart | Telarc |
| 1998 | Swingin' in the Rain (Classic Swing Tunes for Kids of All Ages) | Music for Little People/Rhino Records |
| 1999 | Meet Me Where They Play the Blues | Telarc |
| 2000 | Maria Muldaur's Music for Lovers | Telarc |
| 2001 | Richland Woman Blues | Stony Plain |
| 2002 | Animal Crackers in My Soup (& Other Songs Made Popular by Shirley Temple) | Music for Little People/Rhino |
| 2003 | A Woman Alone with the Blues (...Remembering Peggy Lee) | Telarc |
| 2003 | Classic Live! | Burnside/DIG Music |
| 2004 | I'm a Woman: 30 Years of Maria Muldaur | Shout! Factory |
| 2004 | Sisters & Brothers | Telarc |
| 2004 | Love Wants to Dance | Telarc |
| 2005 | Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul (Old Highway 61 Revisited) | Stony Plain |
| 2006 | Heart of Mine: Maria Muldaur Sings Love Songs of Bob Dylan | Telarc |
| 2006 | Songs for the Young at Heart | Music for Little People/Earth Beat!/Rhino |
| 2007 | ... & Blue | Stony Plain |
| 2008 | Live in Concert | Global Recording Artists |
| 2008 | Yes We Can! | Telarc |
| 2009 | Maria Muldaur & Her Garden of Joy: Good Time Music for Hard Times | Stony Plain |
| 2010 | Maria Muldaur's Barnyard Dance: Jug Band Music For Kids | Music for Little People/Rhino |
| 2010 | Christmas at the Oasis (Live at the Rrazz Room) | Global Recording Artists |
| 2011 | Steady Love | Stony Plain |
| 2012 | ...First Came Memphis Minnie... A Loving Tribute | Stony Plain |
| 2018 | Don't You Feel My Leg: The ... Blues of Blue Lu Barker | The Last Music Company |
| 2021 | Let's Get Happy Together | Stony Plain |
Jerry Garcia Band
- Cats Under the Stars (1978)
- Pure Jerry: Warner Theatre, March 18, 1978 (2005)
- Pure Jerry: Bay Area 1978 (2009)
- Garcia Live Volume Four (2014)
Paul Butterfield's Better Days
- Better Days (1973)
- It All Comes Back (1973)
Other Music Contributions
- Festival:The Newport Folk Festival 1965 (Vanguard Records)
- Wendy Waldman, Love Has Got Me (1973)
- Linda Ronstadt, Heart Like a Wheel (1974)
- Wendy Waldman, Gypsy Symphony (1974)
- Linda Ronstadt, Prisoner In Disguise (1975)
- The Doobie Brothers, Stampede (1975)
- Elvin Bishop, Hog Heaven (1978)
- Terry Robb, Stop This World (1996)
- Johnny's Blues: A Tribute to Johnny Cash (2003)
- Bill Kirchen, Word to the Wise (2010)
Images for kids
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Muldaur (second from left) with her band on stage at the 1983 Cambridge Folk Festival, England
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Muldaur at the 1983 Cambridge Folk Festival (detail from above image)
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Muldaur at the Riverwalk Blues Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, September 1996
See also
In Spanish: Maria Muldaur para niños
