Folk Bands and Artists
Mary Lee Family Band
Berlin
The radiant centerpiece of the group is Mary Lee Saldanha. She is headstrong and free-spirited, offering a fresh perspective on original country music. Born and raised in Brazil but having lived in Berlin for years, she draws inspiration for her songs from the legacies of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family—artists who ignited the big bang for country music in the 1920s.
Mary Lee is accompanied by her husband, Mauro Montezuma, on drums; her son, Patrick Saldanha, on double bass; Irish-born star violinist Sorcha Thompson; and the latest addition to the family, a special pirate they adopted, Daren Stieglitz, on mandolin. Together, they provide an infectious blend of authentic honky-tonk, Irish folk, and bluegrass. Mary Lee, a born entertainer, seeks only one thing: to captivate her audience, regardless of whether it´s five or five hundred people. Music is her passion, and she wants to share it with anyone who will listen.
About fifteen years ago in Brazil, she made a name for herself with her band at the time, the B-Side Brothers. With them, she not only toured her homeland but also European stages. Their collaboration resulted in “Meet Mary Lee“ in 2012, a record that earned her the nickname “Loretta Lynn of Brazil.“ Her 2016 second album, “Fighting Demons,“ serves as a personal document in which she candidly recounts her struggle with inner demons. The album was recognized as the best country album of the year in Brazil.
Due to a larger market for Mary Lee´s quirky country music in Europe than in Brazil, she and her husband decided to move to Berlin. Since then, along with their son, they have been traveling the world like a true gypsy family, performing wherever they can.
Text by HARRY DE JONG
Genre: Alt Folk,Americana,Bluegrass
