Mary Coughlan

Mary Coughlan, an Irish torch singer, entered the world in Galway during 1956. Her teenage years proved difficult, marked by struggles with substance abuse and time spent in a psychiatric facility. At nineteen she headed to London and settled into a hippie squat. Several lean years followed, filled with waitressing and street sweeping, until she returned to Ireland in 1974. A chance meeting there with Dutch musician Erik Visser set her on a singing path. Focusing on jazz and blues, she gradually built a following on the pub circuit that brought a few television appearances. She and Visser soon progressed to sold-out concerts, leading to her first album, the 1985 release Tired and Emotional, which became a major hit in Ireland. Additional records followed, earning her strong critical regard across much of Europe. Her U.S. debut arrived with 1997’s After the Fall, which drew a loyal American audience. Three years afterward she issued Sings Billie Holiday, a vibrant tribute to Billie Holiday. Long Honeymoon came out in spring 2001.