HOW
MEG-A MUSIC TORONTO UNFOLDED
My
name is Mary-Elizabeth Gilbert. I was raised in the
small town of Windsor, Quebec, but eventually moved to the big city
of Toronto, Ontario. I grew up fascinated with the entertainment
world and my biggest dream as a child, was to be a singer, actress
or dancer or all three for that matter. As a child, there
was one radio station to listen to, I could view about four channels
of black and white TV and there was no movie theatre in site.
I would lie on the grassy hill of the parsonage my family lived
in, with the fragrant scent of lilac bushes, trees and a blue sky
surrounding me, and stare up into the sky and dream for hours of
all that I would be when I grew up.
I was terribly shy, growing up in a province that was quickly changing
languages from English to French. I was English and so was
my family, who had lived there for generations. Unfortunately,
as the French speaking families started to dominate the small town
I lived in, life began to be quite unpleasant for those who could
not speak the language. I was a young girl, yet I was treated
like I did not belong by many, simply because I was unable to speak
a language I did not know. This was my earliest lesson in
life on prejudice and I vowed at the tender age of 8 that I would
always do my best to treat people as I would like to be treated
myself, despite any differences others may have. I have carried
this way of thinking with me throughout my life and will never change
it.
At the age of 15, I was going through many of the adolescent challenges
young teenagers face at that age. New homes (many), new schools,
new people to get to know, living with one parent and then the other.
I was constantly berating myself and then one day I decided to stop
hating myself. I started focusing on all of my accomplishments
each day rather than my failures. I volunteered to be the
person that would speak up in class within a group. I sang
Romeo & Juliet's theme in English class when studying Shakespeare
and received a standing ovation from the class. I even took
three extra home study courses so I could graduate on time with
my peers. I created moments of accomplishment, moments that
I could be proud of so that I could change my life.
I followed my mother’s advice, went to college for one year,
took business courses and found work in an insurance office and
also at times in the legal field. Now almost twenty years
later I still work in the insurance industry, but am finally about
to embark in a music career. Why now, many would say and my
answer would be why not.
Years ago, after 9/11, I sang publicly for the first time at a charitable
event. I sang "There You'll Be" by Faith Hill (from
the Pearl Harbour soundtrack) on behalf of the charity that I was
involved with, which was for HIV/AIDS and I sang for not only those
who had lost their lives to HIV/AIDS, but to those who had lost
their lives in 9/11 as well. I received a standing ovation.
I knew after that moment that I wanted to create a CD of songs I
had loved throughout my life, if even for myself and to give to
my family and friends. I met someone in 2005 that I quickly
admired named Joe, in the financial business for as long as I had
been in insurance. In 2005, he formed a band with his 18 year
old son and two other people and they quickly completed their debut
CD. I tried placing a comment of support on my friend's site,
The Chronicles, but wasn't allowed to, not having my own space yet.
Finally, I created a personal MySpace - www.myspace.com/marygirlnextdoor
in
February of 2006. My friend Joe began an internet radio show,
along with a friend of his Andre Skinner called IndieCan Music here
in Toronto featuring Indie bands in Toronto and across Canada, as
well as an Industry Insider each week, which I started helping out
with and then at 3:00 AM one morning I created a music promotions
site myself at MySpace – www.myspace.com/megamusictoronto
in April 2006 and it changed the direction of my life, literally.
I have since discovered a world that I never knew existed.
I have access to so many beautiful people and their sites.
I also have access to so much music that I have never heard before.
Between Joe and a young 21 year old musician at the time, Joshua
Bartholomew, both inspired me enough to start a career in the music
industry as well as to pursue my own dream of singing and to create
my own CD. I am still treading into waters unknown, but I
cannot tell you how excited I am to be part of this adventure.
I have gone from an insurance/legal professional, to a singer, songwriter
and promoter of music and I love it. I have worked with
award shows judging as well as presenting, magazines, radio shows,
and worked with television and film. So many things, too many
to list. What a ride its been!
As far as what makes me happy, its quite simple - my family,
my friends, my pets, quiet moments and doing things for other people.
I have always been a great believer in doing things for others,
a quality I probably take from my father who would have done just
about anything for anyone.
What do I think about life? Despite all of life’s trials and
tribulations like the death of parents and my spouse all at a very
young age and many other crazy things along the way that have happened,
I absolutely LOVE life. Without all of these events in my
life as well as all the beautiful moments, I would not be who I
am today. I would not have the strength and passion that exists
within me.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, each and every person
on here has impacted my life in some way to the positive.
I have many plans and ideas to bring attention to great music, in
particular independent musicians who work so hard and receive so
little, to also focus on charity work and bringing charitable
work and music together as well as a creative corner for poetry,
photos, art and so much more that everyone can participate
in. I feel all things creative and artistic bring forth great
synergy together and create a better place for all of us to be.
May every single person here live their life filled with great health,
love, happiness, peace and creativity and may we all focus on
making this world a better place to be one day at a time, one
action at a time, despite all the chaos that surrounds us.
Much Love Always,
Mary
A special “THANK YOU” I devote to the following people for inspiring me to do what I do this past year, I’m sure this list will grow longer as time goes on. Last does not in anyway mean least.
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Rayna
The Musician:
www.rayna.ca
www.myspace.com/raynamusic
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Bob Segarini
“The Iceman” – Sirius Satellite Radio:
www.myspace.com/segarinimusic
www.myspace.com/theicemanradioprogram
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Woody
Canadian Music Rocks:
www.canadianmusicrocks.com
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