Carolyne Mas
Encyclopedia
Carolyne Mas is an American
singer-songwriter
, guitarist
, pianist
, and producer
. Mas broke out of the Greenwich Village
music scene boom of the late 1970s, along with other artists
such as Steve Forbert
, The Roches
, and Willie Nile
. Although she remains relatively unknown in the United States
, except for a loyal cult
of fans
, she managed to gain popularity in Europe
and Canada
, mostly due to the use of television
as a promotional tool in these markets.
Mas's energetic live shows
, especially during the late 1970s and early 1980s whilst signed to Mercury Records
, were well received. She toured the United States
, Canada, and Europe extensively with a band
of musicians including Crispin Cioe of the The Uptown Horns who later went on to play with acts such as The Rolling Stones
; bassist Ivan Elias (1950–1995) who went on to play with Scandal; drummer Bobby Chouinard (1953–1997) who later played with Billy Squier
; and keyboardist
Charlie Giordano who later played alongside Bruce Springsteen
. Her association with Springstein included her involvement with him in the 'Jersey Artists for Mankind' project in May 1986.
Mas currently lives in Florida
with her husband and son. Her mother also lives with Mas' family. Her aunt, Ana, whom she had cared for since 2002, died in April 2008. "Our Animal Haus, Inc.", Mas' non-profit sanctuary for unwanted, abused, and special needs animals and birds, continues to grow in size and she last performed in Italy
, New York, and New Jersey
in 2006. Most recently she reunited with Mark Johnson to record
a cover
of a song
, written
by the Italian
singer Graziano Romani, called "The Most Crucial Enemy". The song was recorded at Mas' home. It was released in Italy
in 2008, as part of a tribute album
for Romani's fan club in Italy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. Mas broke out of the Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
music scene boom of the late 1970s, along with other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
such as Steve Forbert
Steve Forbert
Steve Forbert is an American pop music singer-songwriter. He is best known for his song "Romeo's Tune", which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1980....
, The Roches
The Roches
The Roches are a female vocal group of three songwriting Irish-American sisters from Park Ridge, New Jersey, known for their "unusual" and "rich" harmonies, quirky lyrics, and casually comedic stage performances.The Roches have been active as performers and recording artists since the mid-1970s,...
, and Willie Nile
Willie Nile
Willie Nile is an American singer-songwriter. In 1980 Nile released his self-titled debut album which according to one critic remains “one of the most thrilling post-Byrds folk-rock albums of all time”...
. Although she remains relatively unknown in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, except for a loyal cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
of fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
, she managed to gain popularity in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, mostly due to the use of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
as a promotional tool in these markets.
Mas's energetic live shows
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, especially during the late 1970s and early 1980s whilst signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, were well received. She toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada, and Europe extensively with a band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
of musicians including Crispin Cioe of the The Uptown Horns who later went on to play with acts such as The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
; bassist Ivan Elias (1950–1995) who went on to play with Scandal; drummer Bobby Chouinard (1953–1997) who later played with Billy Squier
Billy Squier
William Haislip "Billy" Squier is an American rock musician. Squier had a string of arena rock hits in the 1980s. He is best known for the song "The Stroke" on his 1981 album release Don't Say No...
; and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Charlie Giordano who later played alongside Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
. Her association with Springstein included her involvement with him in the 'Jersey Artists for Mankind' project in May 1986.
Mas currently lives in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
with her husband and son. Her mother also lives with Mas' family. Her aunt, Ana, whom she had cared for since 2002, died in April 2008. "Our Animal Haus, Inc.", Mas' non-profit sanctuary for unwanted, abused, and special needs animals and birds, continues to grow in size and she last performed in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, New York, and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 2006. Most recently she reunited with Mark Johnson to record
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of a song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by the Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
singer Graziano Romani, called "The Most Crucial Enemy". The song was recorded at Mas' home. It was released in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 2008, as part of a tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
for Romani's fan club in Italy.
Albums
- Carolyne Mas (1979)
- Hold On (1980)
- Mas hysteriaMas hysteriaMas Hysteria is the third album by rock singer and guitarist Carolyne Mas. This album was recorded live at "My father's place" Long Island.-Track listing:#Hold on #Stay true #Thomas Dunson's revenge #Running from the high life...
(1980) - Modern Dreams (1981)
- Action Pact (1989)
- Live (1992)
- Reason Street (1993)
- Beyond Mercury (2003)
- Brand New World (2005)
Singles
- "Stillsane" (1979) (Canada #53; US #71)
- "Quote Goodbye Quote" (1979) (Canada #60; UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#71) - "Driving on the Radio" (2003)