"There's no time like now," and for Mary Shaver this really is her time.
- By Tiffany Newcott
On October 1, she will release her debut CD titled "No Time Like Now," singing famous R&B, Blues and Rock songs first composed by well-known artists such as Smokey Robinson, Little Walter and Tony Joe White, as well as an original song by Mary herself. The CD features 20 prominent local musicians, The Youngbucks, The Nighthawks, Big Joe Maher and Mary's Friday night debut backup, Tommy Lepson and the Lazy Boys.
It has taken ten long months to put the CD together and Mary says she could not have done it without her friends at the National Geographic. "The words, 'No Time Like Now," came to me as a song one day while walking out of a friend's office who had just told me, "There's no reason why you shouldn't do this CD." Everyone in my office has been so supportive. National Geographic is a fertile environment where colleagues continually urge me to follow my dream.
Mary, a strawberry blond with soft features, began singing twenty years ago but was not struck with the idea of cutting her own CD until January 1998. The actual studio time for making the CD in which Mary lulls her audience with personal renditions of Blues and Rhythm and Blues songs only took about two weeks, but covering legal glitches and obtaining song rights have taken nearly a year. Handling the rights and contracts for this production was familiar territory to Mary, however, thanks to her work in Law, Business and Governmental Affairs. "I came to National Geographic in 1996, and eventually began working with copyright and music publishing in Television. It was a beautiful marriage." Mary still loves the legal work she is doing at the Geographic. She hopes that other people will gain strength from her ambition and take steps to realize their dreams. Steady work has enabled her to finance the project herself and through loans. But as far as her expectations go, Mary takes the attitude, "If it sells, well, that's great, but if it doesn't, that is okay, too. I've got a cool day job."
With CD number two not far off, Mary is hopeful and excited "For an independent artist like me, who has seen what the Internet and good management has done for other musicians, the sky's the limit. There's nothing holding me back except myself, and that's what the title cut is all about." Whereas the first CD features classic Blues and Rhythm and Blues songs, Mary will write most of the songs for her second. Mary performs regularly at Clyde's in Chevy Chase and Lewie's of Bethesda where the debut release party will be held.
Everyone is welcome to hear her perform at Lewie's between 10:45 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. on Friday October 1st. The CD will be sold for the first time at Lewie's, but will also be obtainable via maryshaverband.com, as well as other live performances. If you are unable to make it to Lewie's, just tune into DC's top Jazz station, WPFW, and you may be lucky enough to hear "The Lady" sing you the blues over the radio.