Maria, once a member of Canada’s singing and recording group The Peaches (Radio Shack’s Realistic Label and Periwinkle Records), has sung across Canada from coast to coast. Along with entertaining the Canadian troops at different armed forces bases, Maria has appeared as a guest on many television shows such as Country Roads, The Catherine McKinnon Show, Juliette and Friends, The Tommy Hunter Show, The Ronnie Prophet Show, Pig ‘n’ Whistle and was a regular on The Bobby Vinton Show. Since then, Maria has continued her songwriting and recorded her own material on her album Chasing Dreams as well as releasing her latest singles, “Bring Back the One I Love” and “Pillow Talk” in 2022. Maria currently enjoys singing with her daughter, Heidi, and being a first-time grandmother.
Thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. For readers unfamiliar with you and your background, what drew you to a career in the arts?
Thank you! I always loved singing! As a family or by myself. My dad would play guitar or organ and my siblings, and I would ask him to play different songs from the time I was a young child to an adult. Both my mom and dad played musical instruments.
Who were your early influences and how did they impact your career?
Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Elvis Presley! I loved their style of music, how they sang, and that they all played musical instruments. I bought their records as a young girl at the drugstore in the small town where I lived.
When I started singing with two of my sisters, Johanna and Betty, George Topp, from the Brampton Daily Times introduced me to both Hank Locklin and David Whitfield. Both were incredible artists. I loved Hank Locklin’s songs like “Please Help Me I’m Falling”. I ended up opening for David Whitfield with my sisters, which was an incredible experience for a young singer. He also came over to my house for coffee. My parents were absolutely thrilled to meet him and have him there. His No. 1 single, “Cara Mia” was very popular in the 50’s.
Which three traits define you?
Warm-hearted, musical, and an eternal optimist
Please tell us about your latest project
I just released two singles in 2022 that I wrote titled, “Bring Back the One I Love” and “Pillow Talk” that I recorded at the Sound Kitchen in Franklin, TN. I had the pleasure of working with a wonderful group of musicians on this project with Fred Newell as the session leader and David John Biondolillo as the sound engineer. “Bring Back the One I Love” is layered with Fred’s sweet steel guitar licks while “Pillow Talk” has you grooving along on its happy beachy vibes.
I am working on a new song now and getting ready to record. You can listen to the singles wherever you get your music. They are on all streaming platforms but here are a couple of direct links for Spotify:
“Bring Back the One I Love”:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5OziTxKcNFE6m9Xf68S3er?si=84af4b34858148b4
“Pillow Talk”: https://open.spotify.com/track/1JjLwcdm22bqav3DVmxrhO?si=467e7c7e6fbc4c38
and for Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/bring-back-the-one-i-love-single/1612317446
https://music.apple.com/us/album/pillow-talk-single/1645816744
The links to the lyric videos are:
“Bring Back the One I Love”:
“Pillow Talk”:
What other projects are in the pipeline?
I am always writing new music.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
ANSWER: There is a great nostalgia piece that was posted by Pulse Music Magazine about the group I was in with my sisters, The Peaches, called “Turning Back the Clock: Life’s A Peach” where you can read more about the group and our music here: https://www.pulsemusicmagazine.com/611-2/
You can always find my music on all streaming platforms and digital music stores.
My YouTube channel is where you can keep up to date with my new music or lyric videos: https://www.youtube.com/@heidimariapeach
My daughter, Heidi, posts updates, throwback photos, and music from time to time on her Facebook and Instagram pages about me or my music here:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Heidi-Maria/100057554148021/
https://www.instagram.com/heidimariapeach/?hl=en
Maria Peach Photo Credit: Dominic Luongo
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