As a extremely dynamic performer, Dawn Maracle visually and musically captures her audiences both young and old! True to her passion as a professional entertainer, she is an accomplished Award-Winning singer and songwriter. Dawn's high-energy and wide vocal range, coupled with her original songwriting (whether un-plugged as a solo acoustic "Show" or fully-wired on her electric lead guitar with her band) make for an Award winning combination. Dawn's original music consists of intertwining classic rock/blues/country and pop into her own unique style of neo classic rock, affectionately known as: "Dawn Maracle Music". Dawn's voice has been likened to such greats as Janis Joplin, Patsy Cline and Grace Slick.
As a lead guitarist, she shows true ownership of her instrument.
Dawn's career began in Upstate New York and continued through Southern California, Alaska and Japan.
Dawn's performances include opening for The Coasters, T. Graham Brown, The Alaska State Fair and many special guest appearances on both radio and television.
Dawn currently lives in Austin,Texas and performs in Central Texas and Upstate-New York venues. Dawn will be spending the fall of 2009 performing, as well as concentrating on getting more of her three hundred original songs recorded. Currently twenty-eight of her songs have been recorded, twenty-four of which have been released. Since 2002, Dawn has released three CD's and a Christmas single to-date.
Dawn Maracle may have moved away from Auburn 23 years ago, but she took with her important lessons as she continued her career in music. Photo provided Dawn Maracle returns to Auburn Aug. 1 for a benefit performance, the start of an upstate tour. Maracle began performing in the band “75RPM” in 1975 as a bassist and vocalist. “We became very popular in the area,” Maracle said. “We played in Auburn, Baldwinsville, Skaneateles, all over the area.”
The band soon changed its name to “The Dawn Maracle Band,” but the music remained the same. “We played a variety of styles, from rock and country to blues and pop,” Maracle said.
She has also worked hard creating her own music. “My inspirations have been everything from Led Zeppelin and The Who to Janice Joplin and Jefferson Airplane.
“I'm influenced a lot by the rock bands from the '60s and
'70s.”
In her time in Auburn, from 1975 to 1986, Maracle played with with many other big names in the local music scene. “I played with the Bandit Band after Joe Whiting went solo, I played with Dick Howard, Bob Bachta, Wendell Packard, and so many others.”
Maracle took the road and continued to play all over the country, from California to Austin, Texas, where she now lives.
Despite the opportunities and success she has had, there are things about central new york that she misses. “I dearly love music, and other places are great, but I miss the people from Auburn, the comraderie,” Maracle said. “The snow and the cold I can do without, but I miss the people and also the history. Au-burn has such a rich history that you can see all over.”
Something else that Auburn has over Austin is, in Maracle's opinion, a level of dedication to music. “There may be a lot more musicians in Austin,” Maracle said, “but it is easier to find good musicians in Auburn. In Auburn, if you aren't good, you don't play. You have a dedication to your craft, your art, and you work hard to get better.
“In Austin you have a lot of hobbyists who really don't put in the effort they need to get really good.”
The environment in Auburn is also more conducive to collaborating with fellow musicians, according to Maracle.
“In other places there can be some back stabbing, and a lot of cliquishness and really cut-throat competition. In Auburn there is competition, but it's friendly. We are all making music, and that brings us to-gether.“
Maracle is currently performing a solo tour through upstate New York. She is returning to Auburn on Aug. 1, headlining a benefit for a 16-year-old cancer patient. “Its a very sad story, she went through rounds of treatment and the cancer came back, but she's tough and holding on, Maracle said.
The character of Auburn residents that leads to these benefits is one thing Maracle misses about the area. “Up in Auburn, everyone is close-knit. It isn't cliquish, its like everyone is a big extended family,” Maracle said. “It may take a little while to get to know people, but when you do, you are part of that family and you have that support. I used to perform in benefits all the time when I was in Auburn, but other places there just aren't that many.”
This show isn't the last Auburn will see of Dawn Maracle, she assures.
“I love the people up here, and so many people I played with are still around. We are working on getting together a few of the local music heroes for a couple gigs, myself, Bob Bachta, Jimmy Dagnsi and Mike Skowran. We're working on that so, keep your eyes peeled!”
Dawn Maracle injects her alternative stylings with a spark of energy and a way of bending melody that stamps her distinct signature on her tunes. Catchy without sacrificing artistic credibility and shot through with songwriting savvy that speaks of innate talent and a dedication to the perfection of one's craft, Maracle's songs are road signs along the path to musical satisfaction.
Vigor
"Music makes me feel invigorated and full of energy," says Maracle, and it's plain to see ? or hear ? from the way her music shines along a sharp edge of finely honed sounds. Her music is full of the energy with which music itself inspires her, as though it was a gift that demanded to be passed on. Her music is as absorbing for fans as it is for her as the creator. "I get deeply engrossed with passion when performing any music,? she declares, and it's a passion that qualifies as benevolent contagion without cure ? and who would want a cure?
Gift
For Maracle, though, the credit doesn't rest with her. She views herself as a messenger of sorts. Music is a present with which she was bequeathed and her duty as an artist is to shape it into pleasing sounds and share it with others. And such she does gladly. "Music is a gift from God and if you are blessed with a talent, you should be honest and respect that." Maracle hit the ground running with her talent. She's devoted to her music and writes and plays with an unquenchable enthusiasm. "Take it as far as you can and never take it for granted."
The Artist at Work
Maracle has proven her worth as a musician many times over. She's been awarded the National Female Vocalist of the Year Award two different times from the CMAA, which also declared her tune ?Hardly Working? the song of the year in 1990. She has also been declared one of the Phenomenal Women of the Web. A slew of nominations have also graced her career, including nods for guitar, keyboard, bass, songwriting, drumming, fiddle and more. She's in the Who's Who of American Women, Biltmore?s Who?s Who as well as the Who's Who Historical Society. Artists with whom she has shared the stage include T. Grahm Brown and The Coasters. Maracle is busy playing, working on children's programming voiceovers, writing and recording. The summer of 2008 will see the release of a new CD. She's working with A&R Select, the world's leading artist development firm, based out of Los Angeles, CA.
"Dawn Maracle leaves thoughts in your heart and melodies in your head." - A&R Select
Comments & Ratings
Comments to date: 1 - Average Rating:
Kevin USA
9:35am on 07/15/2010
Great artist and injoyed your show. keep up the good work. love ya.
The Many Sides of Dawn Maracle
