DESCRIPTION:
In a career that spans over some five decades, San Francisco native and jazz vocalist Mary Stallings has proven to the fans that you do get better with time. Mrs. Stallings just finished a week-long set of performances at Dizzy's here in New York City in support of her latest critically-acclaimed HighNote Records release "Don't Look Back," featuring the Eric Reed Trio. The latest CD features the music of such jazz luminaries like Ahmad Jamal, Benny Carter, K. Lawrence Dunham, and Mal Waldron. Her pianist and accompanist Eric Reed even penned two originals including "Mary's Blues" and "Is That?"

Early on in her life, Mary was always surrounded by music and got her start in the church. It was her Uncle Orlando Stallings that got her into jazz music as he was a successful bandleader around the Bay area. He backed the likes of major icons of the industry including Count Basie and Duke Ellington. But at the age of 5 she was singing and even recorded a popular gospel record under the name of "Little Miss. Stallings."

Throughout her teens into her early adult years, Mrs. Stallings performed with and around some of the music luminaries and greats in and around San Francisco. Musicians like the Montgomery Brothers, Cannonball Adderley, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, Ben Webster, and Louis Jordan.

In 1961 Mary recorded her debut record with legendary vibraphonist Cal Tjader titled "Cal Tjader Plays, Mary Stallings Sings" to rave and stellar reviews. But it would be another 20 years before she'd record another record and she chose to stay at home and tour with both the Count Basie Orchestra for four years and then later with legendary balladeer Billy Eckstine. Even trumpeter and bandleader Dizzy Gillespie got her to perform with him on his west coast dates even getting her to perform at the famed Monterey Jazz Festival in 1965.

After some time on the road, she decided to take a break from the business and raise her daughter, Adriana Evans, now a soul recording artist, during the 1970's into the early 1980's. Many of her fans encouraged her to return to her musical roots and she did on her terms. Since the early 1990's Mrs. Stallings has been blessed to record and tour on her own schedule, which isn't too demanding. She's recorded several well-received recordings including ""I Waited For You," "Manhattan Moods," "Live at the Village Vanguard," and "Remember Love."

Mary is currently on the road in support of her latest HighNote Records release "Don't Look Back" and she'll be performing at a club near you. For more info on Mary, please visit her online at www.marystallings.com or her record label HighNote Records to order her music at www.jazzdepot.com