Conversations with Maria Jacobs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Jacobs.

Hi Maria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My musical story begins in the church. From the time I was about five years old. My father, also a drummer and singer, brought me up to the choir loft to sing with my Godmother, sister and cousins, and a whole lot of extended church family. It was an inspired musical as well as spiritual experience growing up in the choir of the Byzantine Melkite Greek Catholic Church, where My Godmother was the choir director. Everyone had such beautiful voices. As a little girl I knew it was special to be there. I so wanted to sing like all the adults around me whom I loved. The Middle Eastern melodies and harmonies are something that remain with me to this day. I still go there occasionally, but since my parents passed away, it’s just been a little harder to go without them being there anymore.

My father also used to bring me out to his gigs and even have me sit in and sing with his band at a very early age. By the time I was nine years old, I knew the key I would do my songs in and how to count them off to the other musicians. My father taught me that. He was my first teacher, raising me on the Great Americal Songbook and singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Joe Williams and Chick Webb. I was just raised on great American music and have a large musical vocabulary since childhood.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve had many challenges throughout my life. The road has been anything but smooth. I began with a charmed life, raised in a close, Lebanese American family. I was happy, well adjusted and faithful to God, being brought up Catholic. Then I went off to college at Ohio State in 1986. This is where the road became difficult.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in my early twenties. I failed all my classes in my Sophomore year, experiencing extreme depression and mania, and left school. I went home and got into therapy with a psychologist. I needed medication, but didn’t take any until a year later after going back to school and cycling again, only this time far worse.

Music was my only relief. It was therapy. I wanted so to be a singer. Much of the time I was going out into bars and clubs to sing while still impaired. It was an unbelievalbe struggle to go through life with this condition. I continued to press on, record albums, and sing professionally. I worked in radio for a while after finally completing my degree in Journalism, but holding down work became a real challenge as I tried hard to navigate some very rough terrain with my mental health.

Spoiler alert: Today, after years of struggle, I live a beautiful life in full remission, with medication. My life is balanced and fulfilling and I’m able to work effectively and have thrilving relationships with friends and family, all of which were strained for years.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am thrilled to successfully work as the vocal jazz professor at Kent State for the last six years, as well as a licensed music educator in the pre-k through 12th grade population through Open Tone Music. They are a non-profit organization who bring music programs to inner Akron and Cleveland communities. I love all of the work.

I’ve been writing and recording songs for thirty years. Between that and teaching on the collegiate level, I’ve managed to become a pretty accomplished piano player and able to accompany myself in performances. I’m very proud of that, and releasing nine solo albums and fifteen singles. It’s a substantial catalog. I’ve mostly recorded with Grammy winner Pete Tokar right here in Cleveland. I’ve also done some recording with Multi-Platinum winning artist and producer Tommy Coster. Really, I’m just so blessed with the work I’ve been able to do over the years. God has put some wonderful people on my path.

My greatest accolade is pretty new. My ninth album, “Back at the Bop Stop,” was accepted for Grammy review in the Best Jazz Vocal Album Category this year, 2024. I was not nominated, but I got in front of the Academy, who listened to my album. This was cause for great celebration. I am deeply honored that they accepted it and listened.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’m really proud to finally be writing and recording a Christian album. The personnell on the album is stellar: Dr. Reggie Bowens, Jamey Haddad (Paul Simon), Matt Nelson (Jars of Clay and the Chosen), Molly Pauken, Jack Schantz, Phillip K. Jones. It’s being co-produced by Pete Tokar. I’m hopeful it will be released in early 2025.

My music ministry is also very important to me. I serve on the worship team at St. Mary’s Hudson as a piano player and singer, and at St. Joseph Randolph where I also teach music.

The final cherry on the cake, is that I have completed writing a 60,000 word book about how I overcame Biplar Disorder. It’s essentially a book about mental health recovery, a deeper conversion to Catholicism, and an all around Christian testimony about all that God has done in my life. He has blessed me, and I hope to help others with it. I have overcome, and I know that others can as well. I hope that my book can help to strip away the stigma attached to mental illness.

It is not yet published, but you can read more about my book, and learn more about my music, through www.mariajacobs.com. You can also stream any of my albums and singles on all digital music platforms.

Thank you so much for this interview!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mariajacobs.com
• Instagram: www.intagram.com/mariaevajacobs
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariaevajacobs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariaevajacobs/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/gratefulauthor
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/mariajacobs
• Other: www.linktr.ee/mariaevajacobs

 

Image Credits
The real close up photo only, second picture of the seven, Sylvan Lamar