Marilyn Duncan is a veteran songwriter and performer who only recently brought her sound into the studio to release Old Friends and Lovers and Departures. She got her start on the burgeoning Austin music scene in the late 1960s, where she shared the stage with performers such as Allan Dameron, Townes Van Zandt and Carol Hadine. Her life took her and her music to Dallas, Nova Scotia, and Maryland while she continued to write and perform before releasing her debut album in 2000. Her music is personal and contemplative, touching on folk, blues, jazz, and rock influences, and at times also reaches deep into the American past through family history. After the release of Old Friends and Lovers, Marilyn made regular appearances on the Washington D.C. area music scene, including many appearances at local festivals, Barnes and Noble, and FineWine.com. She is a regular performer at the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in downtown D.C.. Attuned to her fans, Marilyn writes that “my favorite compliment as a performer is when someone sits down for a song at a festival and stays for the entire show—or comes back the next day to see me again.”

Listen to Departures in the Soona Songs store

Listen to Old Friends and Lovers in the Soona Songs store

Artist Census

Name: Marilyn Duncan

Instrument(s): vocals, guitar, and cello

Discography:

Old Friends and Lovers, Marilyn Duncan, 2000
Departures, Marilyn Duncan, 2006


Influences: Joan Baez, Emmy Lou Harris, Julie Miller, Chad Mitchell Trio

In your CD player now: Eva Cassidy

Guilty pleasure: Show Tunes

The first song you learned to play: “On Top of Old Smokey” - the sad version

Current projects: Release of Departures, Producing Soona Songs artists Radiophonic, Beth Cahill, Lisa Markley

Upcoming shows: House concert in Scottsdale, AZ Sept. 30, National Cherry Blossom Festival in April

Favorite candy: Baby Ruth

Best old movie: The Gay Divorcee

Best new movie: Finding Neverland

Current hometown: Dallas TX

Previous hometowns: Dallas TX, Austin TX, Hubbards NS, Bethesda MD, Toronto, ON, Poolesville, MD

Anything else about you?: I'm very optimistic.

Webpage: www.marilynduncan.com (opens in new window)