Mary Selvidge
In The News!
I was featured in the October 6th issue of Country Weekly Magazine, "Listen Up".
This is a lifelong dream come true. I have to thank my family and friends for all their support and most of all the good Lord.
I hope I made you proud mom!
CD REVIEW FROM ROUGHSTOCK.COM
Mary Selvidge - Livin' To Be Free
By: Matt Bjorke
Last Updated: March 30, 2009 12:00 AM
After placing 2nd in the southeast region of the Colgate Country Showdown, North Carolina’s Mary Selvidge has moved into the spotlight with a classic-sounding album of ten original tunes which feature some of Nashville’s best sudio musicians in Mark Casstevens, Glen Duncan, Steve Hinson, Jeff King and Chris Leuzinger, many of whom have played on all of Garth Brooks’ records. It’s a great band that helps breathe life into Selvidge’s lyrics, which are stronger than one might expect from an ‘amateur songwriter.’ The record starts off with a Mary Chapin Carpenter-like “Would It Matter,” a song that finds Selvidge pondering the ‘grass is greener’ theory while in a love-less marriage. It’s a song that plenty of people who are in a ‘friendless marriage.’
“Broken” is an interesting song in that it discusses what happens to a girl when she is raped by a boy she went on her first date with. It’s the kind of story song that would fit Jo Dee Messina like a glove and Mary colors the hurtful lyric with the emotion of a more seasoned singer. The fiddle drenched “Livin’ To Be Free” finds Mary Selvidge singing a self-penned song about how one justifies singing her secular music to a community preacher who says her songs are gonna send her to hell. It’s a long-held thought by many hardliners in churches and synagogues and temples across the world that one can only do God’s work or live through God and Selvidge simply says to her pastor that “I’m my life according to John, I’m living my life to be free, I’m living my life to know that heaven’s waiting for me.”
“Just Me Bein’ Me” and “Heart of a Mother” showcase Selvidge singing about the power a woman has in the world, whether she’s a housewife, dressing to impress people, working a farm or learning what her purpose of life was: to be a mother. They’re passionate songs from a strong woman and both songs should appeal to women of any age. The it of it for Mary Selvidge’s album “Livin’ To Be Free” is that she’s a remarkably talented singer, and perhaps an even better songwriter. The vocals recall everyone from Mary Chapin Carpenter to Reba and even Joey Martin of Joey + Rory while the songs really could find their way onto big label artist releases with the right promotion.
You can purchase this album on Mary’s website (click here) or at amazon.com (digital) and iTunes.Singer Advances in Colgate
October 1, 2007
A Bailey woman, competing in the Colgate Country Showdown, has won the North Carolina/South Carolina contest.
Mary Selvidge, who continues to wow crowds with her songs, walked away with the top prize Saturday night in Williamston after beating eight other contestants from both states.
She will now go to the Lee Auditorium in Thomaston, Ga., Nov. 17 to compete in the regional event. If she wins there, she will perform for the national title at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Selvidge, who had never entered a talent contest before the Colgate Country Showdown, won twice in Wilson to be eligible for the North Carolina/South Carolina contest.
Selvidge was still overwhelmed this morning.
"It feels strange," she said. "I really didn't think I would win. There were some other young ladies there who were very talented."
After winning, Selvidge said she couldn't speak.
"I was just at a loss for words," she said. "But the crowds were wonderful."
Selvidge, who won $1,000, sang "When You Say Nothing" by Alison Krauss and one of her original songs "Living To Be Free".
"Everybody was so ecstatic, so happy," Selvidge said. "My son was there screaming. He said 'Momma, I've never had to scream at you before, but I had to scream at you now.'"
In an earlier interview, Selvidge said she entered the contests just to see if she had the nerve to get up on stage and sing in front of people.
"I just got up there and had fun and tried," she said.
The Bailey woman had to beat five contestants from South Carolina and three from North Carolina to win.
When Selvidge isn't writing lyrics and playing music on her guitar, she works as an administrative assistant at the Department of the State Treasurer in Raleigh.
Selvidge has been playing the guitar and singing since she was 16. She is self-taught and has never been in a band.
If Selvidge wins in Georgia, she will be one of five regional winners. They will receive an all-expense-paid-trip to the national final to compete for $100,000 and the title of Best New Act in Country Music.
The finals will be nationally televised, hosted by Grammy Award country singer LeAnn Rimes.
The Colgate Country Showdown is a yearlong national program with more than 55,000 participants in more than 600 local, state, regional and national shows, according to the Colgate Country Showdown Web site.
More than 450 country radio stations sponsor hometown contests to jump-start the yearlong talent search.
Bailey woman wins talent competition
September 11, 2007
A Bailey woman who had never before entered a talent contest walked away with the top prize during Saturday's 26th annual Colgate Country Showdown at the Boykin Center.
Mary Selvidge, won over the audience with two original songs she wrote, "It's Your Love" and "Living To Be Free."
When Selvidge isn't writing lyrics and music on her guitar, she works as an administrative assistant at the Department of the State Treasurer in Raleigh. She said she was in shock when she learned she won the contest.
"I told my mom, 'These people think I can sing,'" she said and laughed.
Selvidge said she entered the contest just to see if she had the nerve to get up on stage and sing in front of people.
"I wanted to test myself," she said. "I really wasn't there to win -- winning is good -- but I just wanted to get up there and see how far I could go."
Selvidge has been playing the guitar and singing since she was 16. She is self-taught and has never been in a band. Her first guitar cost $30, and she picked it out of a Brindle's catalog, she said.
Country music, she says, has always been a big part of her life.
"I live out in the sticks, so I have to love county," she said. "If I didn't, people would probably shoo me away."
Selvidge said her mother, Janice Lewis, was "completely floored" when she won.
"She said, 'I knew you could do this. It's about time you got up the gumption to go out there and do something on your own,'" Selvidge said.
Her son Nathaniel was also excited.
"He said, 'Mom you were a little too loud on stage, could you calm it down some,'" Selvidge said and laughed. "He was joking. I hope he was joking."
Woman wins 2nd place in Colgate Country contest
November 20, 2007
Mary Selvidge of Bailey didn't make the final cut in the Colgate Country Showdown contest Saturday, but she touched a lot of people along the way.
Selvidge won two contests on the local and state level to earn her chance to compete in the regionals Saturday night. She came in second place out of nine contestants from Mississippi to Virginia who played at the Lee Auditorium in Thomaston, Ga.
Selvidge, who had never entered a talent contest before the Colgate Country Showdown began, won twice in Wilson to be eligible for the North Carolina/South Carolina contest. She won the state contest in Williamston in September.
Selvidge had to beat five contestants from South Carolina and three from North Carolina to win the state contest and 19 contestants during two local contests in Wilson.
Selvidge said she was glad she came in second place because now she is a "free agent," and plans to continue playing guitar and singing.
"I had actually already won before I even got there because I accomplished what I wanted to do," Selvidge said. "That was to get up on stage and perform for people."
Selvidge said she could not hardly believe the support she received from family and friends and strangers throughout the contest.
When she got home after the Georgia contest, her yard and deck were cover in yellow ribbons and a sign said "You are a winner to all of us", she said.
After performing, Selvidge said one of the judges told her she was a female Randy Travis with a great stage presence.
Selvidge also got to meet last year's national winner, Megan Peeler, who talked with her and encouraged her to continue with her music, she said.
"She told me I was very talented and had something -- to keep going and not give up," Selvidge said. "I'm definitely going to keep playing and singing. Maybe in the future I will go into the studio and do a little work outside of my regular job."
When Selvidge isn't writing lyrics and playing music on her guitar, she works as an administrative assistant at the Department of the State Treasurer in Raleigh.
Selvidge has been playing the guitar and singing since she was 16. She is self-taught and has never been in a band.
More Information
Mary Selvidge
PO Box 308
Bailey, North Carolina 27807
E-mail:
Other sites: www.myspace.com/maryselvidgemusic
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