Home    About    The Cds    Dates    Sounds    Photos    Shop    A Life in Music    Contact

Back to intro page

***PRESS RELEASE***
ANNOUNCING A SPECIAL CONCERT TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS IN MUSIC
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This promises to be a night of great delight, filled with rich evocative music, wild Irish ballads, hot jazz and music that Maggie has deep memories of from over the past fifty years. All performed with passion and a great love.
Maggie began this musical journey in her father's showband, The O'Dowd Family Showband.


Many years of playing all over Australia, with her brothers and sisters, recording and television performances,
many wonderful events such as, playing in the Myer Music Bowl, The Arts Centre for The Irish Government and St. Patrick's Day in the Fitzroy Gardens all became the fabric of her life before she went solo and concentrated on jazz and writing and recording music. To date she has recorded seven cds, three that went on to become ABC Cd of the Week, one wholly her own piano and ensemble compositions and two DVDs.

 

Her solo and ensemble work has taken her to the leading hotels in Melbourne, being invited to perform at the famed Mietta's Month of Divas where she recorded The Gershwin Affair, a cd that went on to become one of her best sellers, with multiple pressings. This was recorded live which makes it very special to Maggie. Her son, Michael, a highly accomplished musician based in Canada wrote all the arrangements and played piano and double bass for the cd. Maggie concentrated on voice but still chose to accompany herself on three tracks.


Along this journey Maggie has realized the power of one, and worked tirelessly to push her music and also provide encouragement for up and coming young musicians who are passionate about their work, always including them to give them a leg up.

 

At this special 50 Years in Music concert, Maggie will be joined on stage once again by her two famous brothers, Kevin and Terry O'Dowd from The O'Dowd family Showband. They went on form The Guinness Showband, playing all over Australia. With rich voices they kept up the Irish tradition of showbands  which includes many genres, including rock and country.

 

"The family band folded when our dad got sick. He was the leader of the band and for thirty-five years that is just what he did. What a wonderful man and the biggest reason for this gig to happen."

 

Maggie wanted to honour her father who gave her this rich and deep love of music.


The dance floor is rolled out, kick back and prepare to have a night of great fun. Maggie is overjoyed to have Nick Lester, a very fine jazz sax player join her for her jazz numbers on stage. They have had quite a few gigs together and look forward to this one.