Maria Mango is truly an artist at life. A seasoned traveler and street performer, she carries with her little more than a guitar and a grin, singing her sweet tunes on sidewalks and in subways, in cafes and around campfires. When you listen to her sing, it becomes easy to believe a better world is possible through the simple kindness of the human heart.

Maria grew up in the rural northern town of Flin Flon, Manitoba. Inspired by the honesty and simplicity of Nirvana and early 90's grunge music, she began rocking out on her first electric guitar at age 14. When she moved to Winnipeg upon graduating, her musical tastes mellowed out, and she started covering her favorite tunes by Mary Lou Lord, Blind Melon, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Cat Stevens, learning to sing the songs that touched her heart. Although she was attending university at this time, her real education and passion was flowering as she took to busking out on the city sidewalks, and playing at the local open mics. Her interest in school began to wane. Eventually, with the encouragement of an Engligh prof who told her to pick up a copy of Jack Kerouac's book On The Road and hit the road, "because some people just need to do it that way," she decided to leave school behind and see what the wide open road had to teach her.

Next spring, Maria set out for a vision quest on the magical garden island of Kauai. It was in the enchanted valley of Kalalau that she acquired the name "Mango", connected to the Source, and began writing original tunes. When she came back from that trip, she started her own record label, Star Seed Harmony Music, and recorded her first album, Playing For Change, with help from friend and fellow musician Dan Frechette. After the CD's release Maria headed out to the west coast for another adventure. She serendipitously ended up at Burning Man, that wild and crazy celebration of creative anarchy. It was like being awake in a beautiful dream! At home and in her element, she would trip around the playa, giving out random gift mangos and serenading the various theme camps. Some burners might also remember Maria as the Unconditional Love Orca Girl, or may recall a colorful, cheerful sister with an ukulele teaching them this song:

"Love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away,
Love is something if you give it away,
You'll end up having more!

Love is like a magic penny,
Hold it close and you won't have any!
Lend it, spend it, you'll have so many,
They'll roll all over the floor! Cuz,

Love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away,
Love is something if you give it away,
You'll end up having more!"

-Magic Penny (by Malvina Reynolds)

After Burning Man, Maria Mango found her way to San Francisco, the city that gave birth to the event and a place that keeps the spirit of freedom and freakiness alive year-round. It instantly felt more like home than anywhere else she had ever been. She has since become a familiar face in the Haight-Ashbury, performing random acts of kindness, and singing regularly in the local cafes. During her time in the city, Maria befriended two of the hippie forefathers of the counterculture movement, poet and Oracle editor Allen Cohen, and the "Father of the Summer of Love", concert promoter Chet Helms before they passed on from this earth life. Maria says, "There were some psychedelic seeds of consciousness planted here in the 60's and NOW is the time for those flowers to BLOOM! There is a renaissance of love happening again here in San Francisco, and all over the world! The time is ripe for us to learn to really love ourselves, each other, and this earth, and to remember that everything is connected! We can use art and music and gatherings to raise the collective consciousness on this planet, and by changing our minds, and tuning into our hearts, one by one, we can change the world!"

Maria Mango's music has a message of peace and unconditional love that is eternal and universal. Her songs have quickly became campfire classics, with singalong choruses that make everyone feel like a part of it all. Her songs have the power to inspire community, to heal hearts, and soothe souls. If you see her playing on a street corner sometime, stick around for a tune or two and she's sure to make you smile!

"I have seen miracles when people share!
Anything is possible, when we all care!
If you ever need me, you know that I'll be there
It ain't about what color you are,
and it ain't about the clothes you wear!

And if you're cookin' for two, you can feed one more,
And if you're cookin' for three, there's enough for four!
If you've got a room, then you have got a floor,
The more you give, the more you live,
If we all share, we'll all have more!

So do not fear the recession at hand,
Divided we fall, but united we stand!
We've gotta love each other and we've gotta love this land!
It's time to work together, I hope you all understand!"

-from How To Feed Two Birds With One Crumb
(by Maria Mango)

And be sure to check out Maria Mango's new album, North Star Road, with special guest musicians Dan Frechette, Tim Butler, and Signe Knutson; including covers of tunes by Jason Webley, Steve Schellenberg, and Peter Mark Kucparic.

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