http://youtu.be/SCrrwnlITGc
Maria Muldaur has sung a wide variety of musical styles, but American Roots music and Blues are her loves. Her 1974 mega hit "Midnight at the Oasis" notwithstanding, it is Blues that I think future generations will think of when they hear her name.
Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato was born in New York City's Greenwich Village. The Village scene had a strong influence on her as it gave birth to the Beats and the folk revival of the 1950s. Early in her career she performed under the name Maria D'Amato as part of the Even Dozen Jug Band along with John Sebastian, David Grisman, and Stefan Grossman. She first recorded with the group in 1963.
http://youtu.be/jXkzAsJBGak
Along with the Even Dozen, she's worked with Jim Kweskin & His Jug Band, Peter Rowan, Brian Auger and others. Maria Muldaur recorded and toured with Kweskin through much of the 1960s. She later opened for The Grateful Dead a number of times which led to a couple of years and four albums spent singing with Jerry Garcia Band.
http://youtu.be/r_8qMXYXtLY
She met her husband Geof Muldaur when both were in Kweskin's group, recording two albums together. Keeping his last name after they divorced, she started her solo career in 1971. Her first eponymous album featured her major pop hit "Midnight at the Oasis." It was the first of about forty albums over her five decade career.
http://youtu.be/U1h0Rse-8rU
In recent years Muldaur's pop stardom has taken a back seat to her long time love of Blues, especially traditional Blues.
In 2005 she recorded Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul which garnered nominations for a Blues Music Award (formerly a W.C. Handy Award) and a Grammy Award in the Traditional Blues Category. She has also been nominated the Koko Taylor Award given for traditional female Blues artists.
